Short break for Cook Memorial library
As she prepared to tee off Friday morning, Libertyville resident Jessica Yin took a moment to enjoy the golf course's unusual surroundings.
After all, it's not every day you get to play miniature golf in what used to be the adult nonfiction department of a suburban library.
"This is pretty cool," said Yin, 14, who was among the many children - and a few adults - who hit the scaled-down links inside the now-cavernous Cook Memorial Public Library building in downtown Libertyville.
The course was set up to celebrate the library's last day of service before a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation project begins. The extra space will bring the building to about 44,000 square feet.
After a weekend moving break, library services will be available in Libertyville starting noon Monday at a temporary storefront site at 116 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Much of the library's tables, shelves and other accoutrements were removed ahead of this weekend's relocation, which allowed the library staff to set up the nine-hole course.
Antioch resident Amy Wiatt followed her 3-year-old daughter, Megan, through the layout Friday.
"This is her first time playing mini golf," said Wiatt, who had come to Libertyville Friday to enjoy the annual Libertyville Days festival being staged nearby. "And she's doing pretty good."
Friday's activities at the library weren't just golf-related. A brief groundbreaking ceremony was held, too. Among the attendees was Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler, who's excited about the project.
"We've needed an addition to the library for a long time," he said. "We're going to have a new facility that everyone's going to be proud of."
The Libertyville effort is one of two Cook Memorial library projects to get under way this year. A new, 20,000-square-foot library also is being built on Aspen Drive south of Route 60 in Vernon Hills. It will replace the branch at Vernon Hills' village hall.
About $7 million will be spent on each project, both of which should be completed next year.
Cook Memorial board President Aaron Lawlor is proud the project will be done without raising property taxes.
"I think it was absolutely essential," Lawlor said. "For years, (expansion) has been the main challenge facing the district. And we are addressing that challenge."
The Vernon Hills branch will be closed today and Sunday to allow staffers to set up the computer system at the temporary Libertyville site. No library materials will be due until Monday.