Vote 'yes' for new Fox Lake library
On Feb. 5, the voters of the Fox Lake Public Library District will have an opportunity to make a decision which will impact the quality of life in Grant Township-area communities for many years. Voters will decide whether a new library should be built.
I am honored to serve as president of the board of library trustees of the Fox Lake Public Library District. I have served as a library trustee for over 20 years, been a resident of the library's service area for 52 years and a taxpayer and user of the library for most of that time. As a result, I feel qualified to speak on this important issue.
The Fox Lake District Library has served residents effectively for many years. The library is efficiently run, has longer hours than most in the area, and is governed by trustees who have been careful custodians of public funds.
The fact is that the current Fox Lake Library building does not adequately meet the service needs of a growing population. Library district boundaries include all of Grant Township (except for the Valley Lakes subdivision) and extend into parts of Antioch and Burton townships. Substantial growth is taking place in the library's service area. The district's population is projected to double by the year 2030.
Our library's shelves are overcrowded. Patron workspace is limited, particularly workspace to serve the needs of students and computer users. Space is not available for a much needed expansion of audiovisual materials in formats such as DVDs and recorded books.
As a result of careful planning over the years by library trustees, the district owns land adjacent to the present library. The combined site is sufficient to accommodate a new, larger library building. If the project is approved by voters, the library will be able to provide uninterrupted service in its current facility during construction. This avoids a costly move to a temporary site and avoids confusion and inconvenience for library users.
The plans for a new library facility afford more space for current services and for new services, such as small group study rooms, a quiet reading room and a local history section. The plans also include a children's activity room, a "story garden" and a young adult area intended to draw teenage users to the library.
Library trustees and staff have worked diligently to include the public in the planning process. A focus group composed of area residents met several times to help plan the new building. The library sponsored three open houses and four question-and-answer sessions to provide library district residents opportunities for input.
On Feb. 5, Fox Lake District Library-area voters will have an opportunity to enhance their quality of life by approving a library building appropriate for the 21st century.
Please join my fellow library trustees and me in voting "yes" on Feb. 5.
Germaine A. Patryn
President, Fox Lake Public Library District
board of trustees