CLC board considering $6 million library renovation

The library at the College of Lake County will likely be getting a new look and feel this summer as part of a $6 million major renovation project

The CLC board Tuesday night will consider accepting a $5.7 million bid to do major renovations to the 50,000 square-foot library and resource center at the Grayslake campus. The bid from Waukegan-based Boller Construction Co., has a 5.7 percent contingency added, bringing the total cost to a little more than $6 million.

The project will add new lights and ceiling tiles to the library as well as replace old furniture and give the walls a fresh coat of paint, giving the two-story space at the Grayslake campus a new look.

The library's new feel will, literally, come from a new heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.

CLC spokesman Dave Fink said students won't be able to check out any books, movies or CDs from the library during construction. According to its website, the library's collection includes more than 110,000 books, 900 periodicals, 3,000 films and videotapes, 7,000 audio products and hundreds of other media. To access physical materials, students will have to use the interlibrary loan system.

Fink said most library services will continue as usual during the renovation in a few spare classrooms elsewhere in the building. The services include all electronic resources provided to students as well as student's access to librarians and some reference material.

If the board accepts the bid Tuesday, renovation work will begin May 14 and finish before fall semester classes begin Aug. 20.

CLC originally budgeted $6,875,000 for the renovation.

The board meets at 6 p.m. in Room A013, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.