City commissioners agreed Tuesday to reopen the process to find a tenant for the vacant Carnegie Library building at Ninth and Vermont streets.

Commissioners more than two years ago had agreed that the building, once renovated, could be used by the Langston Hughes Literacy Center. But commissioners Tuesday said they were concerned that the literacy group would likely need ongoing city money to fund its operations.

Commissioners said they wanted to reopen the process to hear from other groups who may be financially self-supporting. Interior renovation work on the building is expected to be done by 2007.

Commissioners said they’ll put out a request for proposals so that interested groups can present plans to occupy the building. No timeline for that process to begin was established.

Commissioners agreed to reopen the process on a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Mike Rundle voted against it because he said he thought the decision was being made in haste.