Renovation Update

Things are moving along on schedule with our renovation. In the back warehouse expansion, drywalling is done and painting has begun. (see pics above)

As a reminder, the library will be closed to the public from Monday, April 19 through Saturday, June 5. We expect to reopen Sunday, June 6. The public entrance/check-in/check-out area will be temporarily relocated to the northwest side of the building until the entire renovation is complete later this summer. This is so workers can renovate the front of the library.

Please make sure you return all checked out items before April 19 and pay all fines so your account is in "good standing." This will allow you to register your card at other libraries in the area and use their services. You can now pay your fines through our website using e-Pay.

Progress on Construction

We're into the 5th week of renovation, and things are progressing great! Expansion into the warehouse is moving along well and includes masonry, metal stud framing, HVAC, and fire protections. Major electrical work by ComEd is scheduled for Friday, February 19 when the library will be closed for the day. Keep checking our website (www.mchenrylibrary.org) for the latest updates.

Building renovation update 1/4/2010

Every two weeks, representatives from Gillespie Design Group (our architects), Lamp Incorporated (our construction management firm), and the library meet for what’s called a project meeting. Contractors who will be working on the expansion/renovation attend also. Requirements, procedures, safety, and scheduling are discussed.

The most recent project meeting was Tuesday December 22, 2009 at 9:30. The schedule for early January 2010 was discussed. All dates are subject to change. Here are notes from that meeting:

· Demolition and preliminary plumbing work will start January 4. Part of this work will involve saw cutting the concrete floor, which will start at 6 a.m. when it does occur and end before 9 a.m.
· Masonry work will start January 8.
· Concrete floor leveling is to start January 12. The amount of time needed for concrete to set will affect work in the warehouse.
· Steel work and delivery of metal door frames are scheduled for January 14
· Fire protection and HVAC systems work is starting approximately January 14th.
· Metal stud framing is to start January 18 now.
· Electrical work will depend on cooperation by ComEd.

If any work related to the expansion needs to be done in the occupied area of the library, such as electrical or plumbing, we are to have two weeks warning and if it affects anyone in the library, we will let staff know. We will also keep the public abreast of any closures or changes in service.

Staff parking is being moved from the northwest corner of the property to along the south side of the building starting January 4, 2010.

Public Meeting Set for Oct. 29th

A public meeting will be held at the McHenry Public Library, 809 N. Front St. in the meeting room from 7:00 pm - 8:30pm. The purpose of the meeting will be to detail the specifics of our renovation/expansion project. For more details, go to our website.

Again, the main purposes of our renovation project are as follows:

1) to solve patron/staff safety/security and ergonomic issues such as improving patron traffic flow, enlarging the staff work area and creating lines-of-sight and an improved service and circulation desk, plus improving interior lighting and designing an inviting/usable patron entrance;

2) to provide some amenities that were discussed in the new building plan such as study rooms, additional public restrooms, a conference room/computer lab, a larger meeting room with outside access, a new genealogy room, and a separate teen area.

Representatives from the library board, our construction firm - Lamp, Inc. and our architectural firm Gillespie Design Group will be presenting the plan, design and construction timetable as well as showing various fixtures and furnishings. Total cost for the remodel project will be approximately $2.5 million or less. This project will not raise taxes at all as it is being funded by money that the library district had been saving for the past five years plus some grant/gift funds and Recovery Zone money.

Please plan to attend this exciting and information-filled meeting.

New Architectural Firm Heads Up Project

The McHenry Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the hiring of a local architectural firm, Gillespie Design Group (Ringwood, IL) to design the new floor plan of the library. The construction management firm, Lamp, Inc. of Elgin, will solicit contractor bids in early November and hopefully construction will start in late November and run through a 6-8 month window. The project will cost approximately $1.8 - 2.5 million. The library has about $1.9 million in a building fund along with procuring $600,000 in Recovery Zone bonds (repaid in 5 years). So, the project will not cost the taxpayer ANY additional money. We will not be adding onto the library but will be expanding into about 5,800 sq. ft of warehouse space. The remodel project will accomplish several things:

1) it will address some safety, security and ergonomic issues for both patrons/staff (improved lighting for reading; a larger, more secure staff workroom; more electrical outlets; ceiling over the storytime room, smaller tables and individual carrel/chairs to accommodate more patrons)
2) it will provide some amenities and patron spaces that were discussed for our new building (i.e. study/tutor rooms; conference room; larger divided meeting room; separate teen spaces; space for more computers with individual laptop areas; a separate genealogy room; a drive-up drop off with interior access for staff; self-checkout units along with improved circulation desk that permits better patron flow)
3) We also want to redesign the entrance to showcase the library - provide a welcoming atmosphere, have a community bulletin board and possible displays plus eliminate the book drops at the front of the building (cars must now go against traffic to drop off) and replace the ornamental sidewalk with concrete (many accidents have happened with the ornamental brick). 4) We have a substantial water problem with the parking lot and storm water drainage system and we'll be fixing that as well. Plus, we'll be adding some landscaping features that will help the water run-off problem and make the area more attractive.

Our new vision of service is "Yesterday's Wisdom, Today's Knowledge, Tomorrow's Dreams." We hope the remodel project will make you proud of your local library and lend itself to more use. Just in the past year, our circulation has gone from 500,000 to more than 700,000 with foot traffic increasing by almost 50 percent!

The intent of this project is to give us another 5-7 years in this building, at which time the board may ask the public to vote on a new building referendum. But, the board members are taxpayers just like you and are concerned about raising taxes in the same manner. They are constantly tracking the local/national economic situation and are as concerned about spending money as you are. We will continue to investigate ways to improve the existing library and keep costs to a minimum as well as providing YOU will exceptional library service. Please watch for notification of upcoming public meetings on the remodel project. Also know that you are welcome to come to any board meeting. They are held at the library on the 3rd Tues. of every month at 7 p.m. You can also call me with any questions - 815-385-0036. Jim Scholtz, Library Director.

Building remodel in the works

Greetings. Since the defeat of the November referendum for a new library, the McHenry Public Library District has been planning the next step. With the economy still reeling, the board voted at the May 2009 meeting to start planning a remodel of the existing building, up to a $3 million limit with no increases in taxes for area residents. The remodel components would enhance and upgrade current safety, security and staff/patron movement needs plus provide some ergonomic changes for comfort. Additionally, the remodel would provide a few amenities discussed last fall in the proposal for a new building.

Our current architectural firm, Nagel, Hartray, Danker, Kagan, McKay, Penney is designing the floor plan and the construction firm of Lamp, Inc. will supervise/schedule the work. Estimated project time is 8-9 months in several phases.

Work planned involves the following (dependent upon prices): parking lot resurface, storm drain renovation, expanding library by 12,000 sq. ft. within existing footprint, adding 1-2 meeting rooms accessible from outside entry, remodel/re-design of Friends book sale area and Circulation area, moving of genealogy area, adult and children's service desks, new soft/hard furniture and more seating, especially in the teen area, converting outdoor message sign to LED, adding larger staff work areas with a couple of new offices for managers. Hopefully, we'll also be enlarging/reconfiguring our entry foyer for safer/easier access and drop-off of materials.

The remodel is only a stop-gap to last 5-7 years until we can mount another capital campaign for a new library, but we are making the best, most efficient use of taxpayer money in this way.

Just for your information - by May 2009, for the fiscal year FY 2008/09, we had more than 512,000 circulations - a record so far!! So the library is really used and valued in our community.

A special board meeting will be held at the library on Wed., June 24 at 7 p.m. where the board will discuss remodel plans. The library currently has more than $1,300,000 in its special reserve fund (called capital fund) to put toward the remodel project. We hope to add about $600,000 to that figure over the next six months with the rest financed. Financing may be through conventional cash loans or with Economic Stimulus money from county Recovery Zone bonds, whichever is most economical for repayment. If you have any questions about these plans, feel free to contact Executive Director Jim Scholtz at 815-385-0036. Thanks.

League of Women Voters Endorses Project

It's official - after a public forum meeting held at the library on Wed., Oct. 8th, the League of Women Voters for McHenry County publically endorsed the library referendum project in the NW Herald newspaper! That's very exciting.

On Sat., Oct. 11th there was a great front-page article on the value of libraries during our currenet economic crisis to provide both information AND recreation. Then again on Tues., Oct. 14th, there was an informational article on the MPLD referendum - so we are getting some press. The Citizen's Committee has been doing an excellent job of getting out and speaking to the public as has Executive Director, Jim Scholtz. Jim has also been fielding telephone calls. Today (Oct. 14th), Jim spoke to the NW Herald editorial board who will make known their views on the referendum issue in upcoming issues. Please remember, Jim is more than happy to take your calls and discuss the referendum but you may have to leave a message - he will get back to you.

Some new conceptual views of the proposed library are available on the large lobby LCD screen - including an animated 360 degree flyby! Please come see it. Referendum information - Fact Sheets, extra copies of The Preface (special edition) and pictures/description of the proposed building are available on the website and at the Info Desk at the library.

It's also important that people look and interact to this blog because this is a great way to share ideas and start a multi-way communication.

Dates of Note: Oct. 26 (Sun) 2-4 pm and Oct. 30 (Thurs.) 7-9pm - open forum where the architects AND construction management firms will talk AND facility tours will be available. See and discuss first-hand why there is a both a NEED and a WANT for a new library.