Lincolnshire library patrons want environmentally friendly building with good parking, survey shows
As Vernon Area Public Library officials develop facility expansion or renovation plans, a survey revealed patrons want a building that's environmentally sustainable and has good parking, among other improvements.
A more convenient entry point and seating also ranked high with customers at the Lincolnshire library.
Architect Rick McCarthy of StudioGC presented the data to the library board Monday night. The surveys were taken by more than 300 people who attended open houses in June or who reviewed information displayed in the library lobby that month.
Participants were given a list of 13 library features and asked to indicate how important they considered each one on a scale of 1 to 10, with the top score being extremely important.
Sustainability ranked highest with a 7.07 average, McCarthy revealed. People want a facility that leaves "less of an environmental footprint," he said.
The library's role as a cultural venue was second with an average 6.86 score. Parking came in third with a 6.80 average.
Creating a more convenient entry point had the fourth-highest score with a 6.76 average. The library's front doors are a long walk from the parking area on the east side of the building.
Vernon Area officials are discussing expanding or renovating the 26-year-old, 53,700-square-foot building because library usage has been rising.
Nearly 328,000 people visited the library between July 2018 and this past June, officials said, up from more than 321,000 people the previous 12-month period.
"We need to do something about our space issues to continue to provide a good library experience for our patrons," library Director Cynthia Fuerst said.
Officials have been considering four options: reconfiguring the library's interior spaces; remodeling an annex behind the main building that's now used for offices and public programs; demolishing the annex and expanding the main building; or constructing a usable structure that would connect the main building and annex.
The survey results show the public wants changes, board member George Goldstein said.
In response to sustainability's popularity with patrons, Goldstein asked if a rooftop garden or solar panels would meet that goal. McCarthy suggested the board consider installing a geothermal heating and cooling system that transfers heat to and from the ground.
The construction project could cost at least $12 million, officials said. The board will seek energy-related grants to cover some of the cost.
Future steps include developing general designs, refining the cost estimate, coming up with a funding strategy and deciding if the work should be done in phases.
It may take McCarthy four or five months to work up some designs.
McCarthy and the board next will publicly discuss the project Sept. 16.