Library foundation to auction building pieces

Three years or more may pass before the former Beacon-News site on River Street is transformed into the "21st-century resource" library officials hope to one day put there.

The Aurora Public Library board cannot afford to build a new downtown facility right now after spending $3.2 million of its reserves to purchase the 1.5-acre property.

"This purchase is just the first step in a multiyear process," Library Executive Director Eva Luckinbill said.

"We still have no timetable to build because our board is still trying to decide what our next steps should be and when we start unveiling concepts and building plans to the public."

Funding the construction of the facility may eventually lead the board to seek a bond issue, but Luckinbill said she can't imagine not having citywide support if and when that decision is made.

The Aurora Public Library Foundation, meanwhile, has adopted the theme "Imagine ... the Possibilities" as it begins to develop plans for the future library.

The foundation's next event, a reception, is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 30 at the library's west branch at 233 Constitution Drive. A 7:30 p.m. live auction will feature the individual letters used to spell "Beacon News" on the former building and more than 200 bricks collected during Wednesday's demolition.

"We're hoping there are people out there who will want some of these pieces of history," Luckinbill said. "We've already had several requests for the letters and people wanting to know what we planned to do with them."