Carol Stream library candidates spar over new building

The idea of a fourth referendum question for a new library in Carol Stream has prompted several residents to run against four incumbent board members in the April 7 election.

Although the board has said another referendum push likely won't take place for another decade or more, several challengers still are worried about the idea of raising taxes to build a larger facility.

A strong line has been drawn between the challengers and incumbents vying for four open seats: The former group wants to get rid of the land the library owns for future expansion while the latter group wants to hold on to the seven acres along Kuhn Road.

"That's the last large enough parcel in the village," incumbent Mary Hudspeath said. "How would you acquire it later?"

She said national standards define how big a library should be according to a village's population; in Carol Stream, the library has about 180,000 items in circulation and should have 250,000 based on those standards.

Building a new library is the only option available if residents want a bigger site. Although the current building originally was built to allow for expansion, the changing flood plain makes that impossible. Even building upward wouldn't be an option because of limited parking.

"I do think years down the road Carol Stream will need a new library," incumbent Leslie Shambo said. "The building we're currently in was built in the 1970s, when Carol Stream only had 10,000 residents. The library doesn't reflect the growing population."

For now, library staff gets rid of one book whenever a new book is added to the collection.

However, challenger Michael Wade said the library is never going to be able to store all the books it wants, even with a bigger facility.

"What is so magical about a new building?" he said.

He also suggested setting up a partnership with the College of DuPage, perhaps appealing to it to build a larger district library instead of one just in Carol Stream.

Challenger Dominick Jeffrey also suggested working with the park district, which is always looking for open space, to sell the land. He said the library has cited a cost of $23 million to $26 million to build a library, but that cost doesn't reflect money needed to furnish it.

Robert Douglas, an incumbent, said it's not a good time economically to sell the land, which also has a life estate on it. Nothing can be done with the space until the owner leaves.

Douglas and other incumbents said the library board has listened to what residents want and are making due with shifting around the current library layout to allow for more room.

The first phase of that is estimated at $100,000 and includes eliminating the lobby area, moving the circulation desk forward and converting office space to quiet rooms.

However, some challengers have said the cost for the plan - and the fact that it's even going on - has been hidden from the public.

Unlike some of his opponents, challenger David DeRango said he would never rule out the idea of a bigger building.

But, for now, the land isn't being used, he argued, and will likely not be necessary for a while.

"The growth is very slow in our village," he said.

Still, incumbent Thomas Arends said even if the village doesn't grow any more, the need for the library is still there.

"I hear loud and clearly that a new library in the next years is difficult," he said. But, the future is still uncertain, he said.

Challenger Joshua Jeffrey did not return calls seeking comment.