Cook Memorial prepares to close temporary village hall branch library

When the Cook Memorial Public Library District opened a small branch in the basement of Vernon Hills' village hall in 2003, officials promised the facility would be temporary.

Now that a 20,000-square-foot library is just a few weeks from opening on Aspen Drive south of Route 60 in Vernon Hills, staffers are preparing to shut down the site known as the Evergreen Interim Library.

Having delivered more than 1.5 million items to patrons over the past seven years, the 2,800-square-foot facility will cease operations at 5 p.m. July 3.

"We're extremely grateful that the village of Vernon Hills gave us an opportunity to provide library services for the patrons in the southern part of our district," Acting Director Mary Ellen Stembal said. "Although it was small, the facility provided a good opportunity for us."

The new library will open at noon July 10. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, musical performances and other activities are planned for the grand opening.

The seven-day service gap will allow employees to move books, DVDs and other materials into the new building and to ensure the Aspen Drive site is ready for customers.

Village officials don't yet have plans for the space once the library moves out.

The Aspen Drive Library's construction was part of a $14 million project that also includes the expansion and renovation of the main library in downtown Libertyville's Cook Park.

That construction project is set to wrap up this fall. Until then, patrons are using a temporary storefront library on Milwaukee Avenue at Route 176.

After July 3, patrons who had checked out materials from the temporary library in Vernon Hills can return those items at the Libertyville library, on the traveling bookmobile or at remote drop boxes located at: Vernon Hills village hall; Oak Grove School, 1700 O'Plaine Road, Libertyville; the Sullivan Center, 635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills.

The Sullivan Center drop boxes will be removed when the Aspen Drive Library, which is just to the north, opens.

Materials reserved at the Evergreen library can be picked up after the new library opens. Patrons will have four days to pick up items on hold.

Overdue books can be returned to the Libertyville library or the Bookmobile. Fines can be paid at those locations as well.

Patrons who normally use the Evergreen branch can visit the Libertyville library between July 3 and 10, as always.