E. Dundee library to expand services

The seven-member board of trustees and the Director of the Dundee Township Public Library District met July 26 for an annual retreat to plan for the future growth of its capital allocation, staff and services.

The current library board members are Jennifer Blessman, president, a resident of Carpentersville; Carrie Brecke, vice president; Liz Gade, treasurer; Mary White, secretary; and Lenore McDonald, all residents of East Dundee; Marge Skold, a resident of West Dundee; and Cheryl Nunn-Thompson, a resident of Sleepy Hollow. Elisa F. Topper is the library's director.

The daylong meeting was facilitated by Tom Rich, a library consultant and president of the Zion-Benton Public Library board of trustees.

The retreat culminated a year of intense study, evaluation and analysis by the library board and staff along with two independent reports completed by consultants commissioned by the board.

An environmental scan, completed by Northern Illinois University in June as a part of the study, projected that the population of the library's service area will increase by more than 88,000 by 2030.

The architectural firm of PSA Dewberry was hired to evaluate the structural soundness of the library's current library building, now more than 34 years old, to predict its life span and to present options needed for future growth.

In addition to these two studies by outside parties, the library conducted several internal evaluations this past year, including an in-depth staff utilization study and a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. Department heads worked with Director Topper and consultant Rich to develop long-range goals for facility planning, patron services and staffing.

The board reached two significant conclusions at the July 26 meeting. Aware of the decreased residential growth due to the current economic climate, the trustees decided that the current library building will be refurbished to help meet future needs.

The board also decided to expand services to meet the needs of the population in high growth areas of communities served by the library.

Director Topper will work in coordination with the board and staff to map out the plans for the building and west side expansion.

The library, located in East Dundee, currently serves a population of about 54,000 residents who live in the towns of East and West Dundee, Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow and Gilberts, as well as parts of Algonquin, Elgin and Barrington.

The library is at 555 Barrington Ave. in East Dundee. The Web site is www.dundeelibrary.info.