Officials: New Vernon Hills library worth wait
The intensity of the effort has ebbed and flowed, but the interest in having a new library building in Vernon Hills has not diminished since being added to the wish list years ago.
Now that the Cook Memorial Library District is pursuing plans to do that -- and expand the main building in downtown Libertyville -- reaction has been understandably ecstatic.
Vernon Hills village officials in 1993 identified a library as a key capital project they wanted in town.
That now looks like it will come to pass, following unanimous action Tuesday by library trustees. The new building will be built on land the village bought specifically for that purpose.
That was welcome news to village leaders, who envision a library as a main component in a new civic gathering place that possibly could include the Vernon Hills Park District as well.
"This is the last key community institution we identified," Mayor Roger Byrne said Wednesday.
Village Manager Mike Allison said the new building will become a focal point.
"It's exciting. A library is just one more of those facilities that brings a community together," he said.
The branch library in the basement of village hall has increased in popularity since it opened nearly five years ago. Circulation rose 8 percent in 2006 over the previous year and a similar jump is expected this year.
Still, patrons are eager for more and conveyed that to staffers there Wednesday.
"Lots of positive people, especially moms who are excited to have their kids go to school near the library," said Erin Maassen, public relations coordinator for the library district.
The exact size, design and configuration is to be determined. But the new building will be located on a portion of about 9 acres owned by the village on Aspen Drive south of Route 60.
The village bought two parcels for more than $3 million specifically for the library. Details of how that will work also will be determined, but the library will have basically free use of the property.
"I'm sure we can work that out to everyone's mutual satisfaction. That's why we got those parcels," Byrne said. There also will be land left over, which could become a spot for senior housing.
The area is near three Hawthorn Elementary District 73 schools as well as the Vernon Hills Park District's Sullivan Center and Family Aquatic Center. The park district also could be part of the mix.
"We don't have a lot of land north of the Sullivan Center, but we do have enough there (that) we could put an addition," there at some point, Executive Director Larry DeGraaf said.
The district also owns 10 acres to the south.
"That's the last quality land the park district owns, so we're going to be very careful how we use it," he said. "There's no pressing need to decide."
Village officials and DeGraaf plan to coordinate with Cook on the site.
"It could be a nice public services campus, certainly," DeGraaf said.