Fox Lake library board says it's time for new facility

Fox Lake residents will have a lot more room to read if voters approve a referendum for a 38,000-square-foot library on Feb. 5.

Library director Harry Bork said the library board approved the preliminary plan for the new facility and the referendum question that would appear on the ballot.

The approval took place Wednesday night.

He said the board approved asking residents to raise the tax rate by 12 cents to cover the $15 million cost of the new facility at 255 E. Grand Ave.

If the tax hike is approved by voters Feb. 5, the owner of a $250,000 home in the district would see their annual tax bill increase by about $94, Bork said.

People from Fox Lake, Ingleside, Volo, Lakemoor, most of Grant Township and spotted areas in Round Lake and Spring Grove use the library.

Bork said construction of the new library would begin in March 2009 and be completed in November 2010.

The library would be built around the existing 17,000-square-foot facility on Grand Avenue. When the new structure is opened, the older library would be demolished.

The new library would feature a juvenile activity room, a large quiet room, expanded study rooms, an internet cafȩ and larger children and adult areas.

Also, the library computer lab would increase the number of computers from 12 to 26; and a story garden would be built outside for young children.

"We are experiencing tremendous growth in the area, and the library needs to expand with it," he said. "We are building this facility for the future, not for the present day."

He said census figures show there are about 18,000 people who reside in the district, but due to recent growth, that number today is probably around 20,000.

He said the population of people who use the library in the year 2030 is expected to hit 38,000.