Proposed Rolling Meadows Library addition to add meeting space

The Rolling Meadows Library is planning an $800,000 addition to the west side of its building to offer meeting rooms and group space.

Built in the 1960s, the library at 3110 Martin Lane does not have any small-group study rooms, something that is a frequent request from library patrons, Director David Ruff said.

The library board will take up the planned addition at its meeting on Sept. 6.

Plans call for a 1,625-square-foot addition to create two small-group study rooms and a larger lounge and meeting area with vending machines. The small-group spaces would have whiteboards as well as flat screen TVs so users can plug their laptop computers in and project on to them, Ruff said.

"This is not a big project in square feet, but it's going to be a big project insofar as increasing our capabilities," Ruff said. "It's going to give us a few things that we have not been able to offer our patrons up until this point."

The library would fund the expansion through its reserves.

"I think once the bids come in it is going to be under that ($800,000) number," Ruff said. "We have been building up our reserves for years to pay for this project."

Once the library board approves the financing for the project it will become part of the 2017 budget, which will be approved and presented to the city council in October. The library board is appointed by the mayor.

Library officials plan to start construction in May 2017 and complete the expansion early next fall.

"This has been in the works for a long time," Ruff said. "Now we're just excited to get into all the detail work."