A rebuild of a long-standing Black Country library which has been forced to undergo essential structural repairs is to finally finish next month.

A £200,000 scheme to repair the sandstone entrance at Walsall Central Library, which dates back more than a 100 years, is to be completed in March.

The facade of the Lichfield Street building has needed to undergo improvement work after surveys revealed it was disintegrating.

Small cracks were found in 2008 in parts of the building during routine maintenance work.

Scaffolding was erected around the library almost 18 months ago and work started in June. The library has been able to remain open for business during the restoration project.

Council chiefs have welcomed the scheme nearing completion. Regeneration chief councillor Adrian Andrew said: “The home of our Central Library is one that we’re hugely proud of.

“This represents a significant investment into one of our most prestigious buildings and I would like to thank members of the public for their patience as work has been carried out.” A survey into the building’s drainage system also took place during the work.

The building dates back to the early 20th century and was built with the help of a grant from Scottish-born steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

The library opened in July 1906 replacing the Free Library in Goodall Street which opened in 1859 – a few years after the Public Libraries Act became law.

By 1902 the building in Goodall Street had become too small to house the library, and members of the Free Library Committee began writing to Mr Carnegie. Philanthropist Mr Carnegie, who gave money to build libraries all over the world, agreed to donate £8,000 on condition that the council provided a site.