Sugar Grove library seeks feedback on hours

The Sugar Grove Public Library wants to hear from you.

The library staff has created a survey seeking feedback on hours from patrons and residents of the 39-square-mile library district. The staff would like to know which hours patrons prefer to have the library open, given that further cuts will be needed when the new library opens in August.

In other words, what do patrons think would be the best scenario, given the reality of a decrease in hours later this year.

The library is holding a referendum April 7 asking for a tax rate increase to bolster a budget that officials say is inadequate to staff the new facility. Even if the voters approve the increase, the additional funding would not be available until later in 2010. Residents would not see the increase on their tax bill until spring of 2010.

Due to a lack of voter approval in previous referendums, library hours were cut by nearly 20 percent in January 2007, from 58 hours per week to 47 hours per week. The library is closed Monday morning, Wednesday evening and Friday afternoon.

The library district includes the village of Sugar Grove, unincorporated Sugar Grove, unincorporated Aurora in Blackberry Township, Sugar Grove Township and the Sugar Grove Township residents who live in the village of Montgomery. It serves about 15,000 residents.

You can access the survey at two links: http://tinyurl.com/ccuuzk or www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2cupb5vbq_2b_2fMyaHaE7jZVg_3d_3d.

Library Director Beverly Holmes Hughes is available to answer questions about the survey, library services, and the referendum. You can stop at the library at 54 Snow St., or call her at (630) 466-4686.

Learning from the experts: Students from three local community colleges will get a chance to learn about government from former Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert and other local leaders.

The class is sponsored by Waubonsee Community College. It will meet Mondays in April at Hastert's Yorkville office.

Students who have an interest in government from Waubonsee, Elgin Community College and Joliet Junior College are being invited to enroll in the tuition-free "Special Topics for Social Science: Hastert Leadership Series."

Hastert and representatives from local, county, state and federal government will discuss campaigns, policy, legislation and negotiations as they apply to all levels of government.