Fox Lake Library officials getting ready for the big move

Fox Lake Library officials will spend the next 10 days saying goodbye to their small brick building on Grand Avenue.

Executive Director Harry Bork said the 43-year-old building at 255 E. Grand Ave. that serves as the main library branch for 18,000 residents will close for good April 5.

He added saying goodbye to the 17,000-square-foot building will be "bittersweet."

"There are definitely a lot of emotions connected to this building," said Bork, who was on staff the last time the library was expanded in 1977. "There's a lot of sentiment here for this building, but it's definitely time for a change."

Once the doors close, library officials will begin moving supplies into the new $15 million library located directly behind the current structure.

"We need about three weeks to move everything over, then train staff in how to use the new facility," he said. Work on the new library began in April 2009.

The new facility will open at 9 a.m. April 27, Bork said. The main structure features a children's activity center, a young adult area, quiet reading rooms and an outdoor story garden.

Following demolition of the old library in May, work begins on the second phase to add meeting rooms, a cyber cafe and parking areas.

"It really is exciting right now," Bork said. "It is definitely a beautiful building and we are excited to get it open to the public."

The need for the new library was apparent to voters, who approved a referendum in fall 2008 that funded the project.

The library district serves residents in Fox Lake, Ingleside, Lakemoor, McHenry, and parts of Round Lake, and Spring Grove.