City commissioners will take a step tonight toward bringing the vacant Carnegie Library building back to life.

Commissioners will consider approving a contract with Lawrence-based GLPM Architects to design interior renovations for the historic building at Ninth and Vermont streets.

City officials have received permission from federal officials to use a previously awarded $98,768 Save America’s Treasures Grant on the Carnegie building. The contract with GLPM would be for about $70,000 in design work. The design would include a new elevator, rest rooms and a variety of mechanical and electrical system improvements. The entire project is expected to cost about $930,000 to construct. City commissioners have placed about $700,000 in their 2006 budget for the project.

Commissioners have not made any final decisions about how the building should be used. The Langston Hughes Center – a start-up literacy advocacy organization – had received some commission support to move into the building. But commissioners have since said they may want that project to be incorporated into a new Lawrence Public Library.