The Thomas Ford Memorial Library in Western Springs plans to ask village residents next spring to approve a $2 million tax increase to renovate the building to make it more user friendly to a community that has seen an increase in younger families with children.
If the bond referendum is approved in March 2018, it would be the first renovations the library has seen in more than 20 years, and would raise property taxes $52.97 for a home valued at $$493,740, officials said.
Library board President Mary Greska said much has changed since the last renovation in 1996, particularly in the technology arena and the need for more collaborative work space.
“With the proposed referendum, our library can work within its current footprint, while retaining the charm and quaintness of our library, and better serve the needs of our community,” Greska said.
Proposed changes include reconfiguring the set-up with a new teen/tween-age section that would be more age-appropriate and accompany larger after-school crowds with more space and seating areas.
Library director Ted Bodewes said there is little dedicated study space for school-age children and that existing areas are overflowing into other areas of the library.
“We are basically housing them in a small corner of our adult-services collection because we currently do not have any room,” he said. “One-third of the population of Western Springs is under the age of 18, which means there is no room in the children’s section, and teenagers don’t have any dedicated space.”
Other improvements would include a study room, more areas for personal computing and technology use, the reconfiguration of staff offices to free up more patron areas, new study areas in the adult services section and renovations of restrooms and the community meeting room, according to the report presented Monday to the Village Board.
No exterior changes have been proposed.
Bodewes said plan is the result of two years of discussion and feedback from residents and staff.
The referendum would ask for an increase of about $10.73 for each $100,000 of assessed value of a home in Western Springs, according to the report. The referendum will ask for $2,345,675 in bonds to fund library renovations, payable over 10 years.
Village President Alice Gallagher said that even though the library is a separate political body, it does not have the authority to put the referendum on the ballot. The Village Board will consider the issue in October.
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If the referendum is approved, Greska said construction would probably begin in late-summer or early fall of 2018 with completion in early 2019.
Village Board member Berry Allen said he was concerned library officials chose the spring primary election ballot, as it usually has a smaller voter turnout then general elections. He questioned why the library did not wait until the November 2018 general election.
“Ultimately, the residents will make the decision on this,” Allen said.
The Thomas Ford Memorial Library building was constructed in 1932, and went through renovations in 1957 and 1996, which was the last time the library asked for a referendum, officials said.
David Heitz is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.