Officials break ground on new Elgin library

Armed with shovels and hard hats, Gail Borden Library trustees broke ground Saturday for their new west side branch.

The groundbreaking, for many, was the consummation of 8 years of hope and planning, library director of marketing and communications Denise Raleigh said.

Voters in 2000 approved the construction of a west side branch.

Library officials waited until there was enough tax revenue growth to operate the branch before beginning construction, Raleigh said.

The new library will sit on Bowes Road west of Randall Road.

Land was donated by Pulte Homes and the city of Elgin.

The library will be built for 10,000 residents, but can be expanded to support as many as 30,000 residents, Raleigh said.

"We're waging on the community growing quite a bit in the next few years," she said.

Considered a "green" building, the new branch will be environmentally friendly, Raleigh said.

The building will feature a popular collection of books and movies, a computer cafe, a children's area, Zen gardens and one of the first outdoor DVD dispensers in the area.

Under the concrete foundation of the building will be placed smooth "wishing stones" bearing the wishes of community members.

For some, a wish has already come true.

"Right now, we have to drive almost 20 minutes to get to the downtown library," said west Elgin resident Amy Young. "Next year, to be able to walk ... that's like a dream."

The library is expected to be finished in summer 2009.