Work on a new branch hasn’t begun, but the Forsyth County Public Library’s brand is under construction.

The library’s logo, mission statement, Web site, brochures and more soon will sport new looks.

The changes aim to give the library a fresher and more modern appearance, said Carla Beasley, assistant director for planning and facilities.

"[We want] to present the image of a progressive, well-managed library system," she said. "And we want to refresh our face to the public."

Beasley presented the ideas in progress to the library board during a meeting Tuesday night.

A draft of the revised logo, which Beasley said is the most comprehensive step toward rebranding the library system, should be ready soon.

The current picture features an open book with shooting stars in the library’s teal color theme.

Once the group has selected its new logos, the design for other types of communication should follow that look, Beasley said.

Though the colors and theme haven’t been finalized, some redesign of the Web site has begun, adding more graphics and less text to the pages.

Viewing a preview, board member Jean Bowline said she liked the new "slick, clean" appearance.

The library’s new-look welcome brochure will follow that same track by reducing text and focusing more on some of the main features.

"This, to me, says ‘go to the library,’" board member Bob Keller said, looking at a brochure.

Beasley also unveiled drafts of the library’s new mission and customer services statements.

Instead of separate mission and vision statements, as last formulated in 2000, the library plans to have one combined statement, she said.

The draft reads: "The mission of Forsyth County Public Library is to open portals to knowledge and imagination for the entire Forsyth community."

The mission statement will likely be incorporated into the new logo.

"We really like that concept that the library is a portal, rather than a destination," Beasley said.

Board members also reviewed plans for the library’s next location, a Post Road branch.

The opening date hasn’t been determined due to funding constraints.

The board, however, wants to break ground on the construction project so it won’t miss out on a soon-to-expire state grant.

The project’s design work is under way, and Beasley presented some of the color choices and ideas for the branch’s look Tuesday.

A wall painted with library quotes, photos of Forsyth’s historical families and wooden touches are some of the ideas to meet the theme "where the past meets the future," Beasley said.

Board members offered some input, but library director Jon McDaniel reminded them that they have time to get it right.

"It’s not like this is going to open next year," he said.