Aurora library plans for new building

The core of the Aurora Public Library's main branch building has been standing on Benton Street at the south tip of Stolp Island since 1904.

But instead of renovating the aging 43,000-square-foot structure, the library is making plans for a new building one block west that could be ready by 2014 or 2015.

The library plans to spend about $30 million on the new building, in addition to the $3.2 million spent in 2009 to buy the former site of the Aurora Beacon-News at River and Benton streets, library Director Eva Luckinbill said.

A new building is necessary because the library lacks space for additional computer labs, quiet study spaces and public meeting rooms, Luckinbill said.

“It is just not adequate,” she said. “We no longer can accommodate community groups to meet here and a modern library should be able to provide that to the community.”

Alderman Juany Garza, whose ward includes the current main library, said the downtown location lacks technology compared to the east and west branches.

“The other libraries are fantastic,” Garza said. “But this facility, there's not much space, not much privacy ... It needs technology updates.”

The building received its last major renovation in 1969, Luckinbill said, when the side wings, stairway, elevator and modern outer walls were added. Library staff members have rearranged office spaces, books and reference areas to add a computer lab for instruction purposes and a row of public-access computers, but the area has reached its limits.

“It just keeps eating away at the public space, so there's very little comfort space,” Luckinbill said. “There really are no good quiet study spaces here and that is just not acceptable.”

Cordogan Clark & Associates, the company that designed the new Aurora police headquarters, is working on designs for the new building, which will be much larger and fully accessible to people with disabilities, Luckinbill said.

“Our intent is for the entire former Beacon-News building footprint to be library, not parking,” Luckinbill said.

Parking may improve at the new site as well. With the new building site on the western shore of the Fox River instead of on the island, more land is available nearby for parking, Luckinbill said. The library has access to 80 spots in a city lot on Benton Street between Middle Avenue and Lake Street, and is exploring other parking options.

Funding for the new library may come partially from municipal bonds made available through the city.

Mayor Tom Weisner said the bonds are offered through the federal government and do not cost the city anything. The city can provide them to public entities like the library or private-sector entities, he said, but the city has not promised the library any bond funding yet.

Alderman Rick Lawrence, whose ward includes the future site of the new library, said he is concerned about the library's intentions to use bonds. He said original discussions about library construction favored seeking private funding from companies such as Google and Boeing.

Lawrence also said the library needs to seek more input from area school districts to make sure it serves the educational needs of Aurorans.

“Libraries are not just a place for books anymore,” Lawrence said. “There's no need for a library with books. What you need is an educational center.”

Luckinbill said the library will hold focus groups to learn what the public wants and needs as the construction process continues.

“We want to get something the public will be proud of,” Luckinbill said.