Fox Lake Library plan is a sound one
I was in the Fox Lake Library recently, reading Lee Filas' article about the February library bond issue, when I noticed a 9-foot crack in the thermopane glass next to the fireplace.
What timing. It makes me realize the building is over 40 years old and is costing a lot more to upkeep than new construction.
In 40 years, heat and light have improved, design today is far more useable. Construction materials are better and more cost effective. Library science itself has transformed into electronic media that were unknown then. We still have the best people staffing and managing our library that I know of too.
I look into the shelves full of books and see there is no room for new books. I look at the periodical section and see there is virtually no more space for them either. We need more space now and for the decades ahead.
Mr. Filas' article stated the annual cost per household to cover the new library is about $92, the price of a couple of good magazine subscriptions.
When I look at the past four years, gold went from $400 an ounce to almost $800 and lead jumped from $400 a ton to $3,000. This price inflation tells me that it is time to build a new library.
Because of engineering and design improvements over the past 40 years, operating cost of a new facility twice as big will be close to what we pay now. That saves money for heat and electric going forward. Improved design, energy savings, doubling the space, providing a good meeting/recital room, more electronic capability, quiet space, upgrading and increasing young people's areas, a food court and much more are beneficial and affordable investments for the community.
Waiting to build will only cost us a great deal more. Building now locks in that cost. I always see a lot of people using the library. That shows that the money won't be wasted because so many find value in it and many more will be using it in the years ahead.
The way the library board has figured it out, they have money in reserve to help pay the cost plus the bonds. That does two things. First, it puts the money in hand to work for our community. Second, it makes the new facility a better bargain because the total cost is discounted by the amount of the reserve fund.
I'm going to vote for the library bond referendum.
Thaddeus Kochanny
Ingleside