Dirk Danker from Nagle,Hartray,Danker,Kagan, and McKay
addresses meeting.

The architects working with the Oak Park Library Board, 
Nagle,Hartray,Danker,Kagan, and McKay presented some
of their plans, photos and drawings to a meeting held for
Oak Park residents on Saint Valentines Day.  The meeting
that was held before drew some 26 persons to it.  This 
meeting only had about ten or eleven people there.  More
people were present, but I am not counting the press, staff,
or the architects in attendance.  There will be another
meeting coming up this Thursday, February 17 
(Arts Community focus) 7:30 p.m., Village Hall B-1
Corner of Madison and Lombard.

photo to show proportions of space of new
building with existing structures. Click on
photo to go to larger view.

drawing for discussion purposes of floor plan of
new library.Click on photo to go to larger view.
 

Nagle,Hartray,Danker,Kagan, and McKay Architects
and Planners Ltd. formed in 1966 and has over 30
architects at their firm.  They are at the meetings to
address concerns that are brought up by the residents
in Oak Park.  They have been working on square foot
requirements for the structure, but not design.  They
promised not to build a Bau House all glass building
to the residents.  The design process would continue
if and when the referendum passes the voters of  Oak
Park on March 21 of this year. 

It was noted that three studies have already been
done for the library since 1991.  All of the studies
agreed on greatly increasing the libraries usable
space.  The proposed new library would contain
100 to 175 places for cars to park underground,
with an elevator leading into the library.
Ann Marone, from 222 North Grove
asked about the elevators.  She was informed
that two passenger elevators would be put
installed (not an elevator for two passengers,
but two elevator systems).  There was  discussion
as to where the entrance should be and how
the flow of people would effect the flow of
cars.  It was noted that studies on traffic flow
analysis would be done later, depending on
the outcome of the referendum. 

The initial questions asked by the architects 
were:
1) Where should the entrance to the library be?
2) What departments should be on the first floor?
3) What department adjacencies are important?

Janet Kelenson, President of the Library Board,
noted that she wanted to increase the use of 
foot traffic, and bike usage to the new library
plan.  It was also mentioned that the parking
garage would help clear up some of the current
conjestion in the area and perhaps help the
Village with its parking concerns.

A resident from 813 West Lake Street
was interested in how the referendum was
worded.  She wanted to know if she could
vote for repairs on the Maze Branch without
having to vote yes to everything.  She was
informed that the referendum was for the
entire package of improvements. Janet Kelenson
did add that the Dole Branch work was 
separate from the referendum and was currently
being done.  The same resident then wanted
to know about what security would be at the
parking garage.  The architects said that there
were plans for a security system, phone access,
plenty of lighting, and perhaps a guard-but that
had not yet been discussed.

A resident from the condominium south of the
library was concerned about the height of the
new structure and where the mechanical portion 
of the building would be housed (this is the location
that has the pumps, air conditioning and other power
units to serve the library).  The mechanical portion
of the building would be on the roof.  This would
add some to the roof, which is already designed to
stand some three stories.  There will be a drive way
and an additional 25 feet before any construction will
occur, but this did not make the resident happy with
his proposed new view.

Bonnie and Mark, from the First United Church of
Oak Park, the church directly west of the library,
were wondering about the driveway between the
church and the library.  The architects and Ed Byers
explained that the current ownership of the land in
question (the driveway) belonged roughly three-quarters
to the church and one-quarter to the library.  The
representatives from the church were concerned how
much of the common driveway was theirs and how
much was not, and if it would be blocked during
construction.  They were pleased to learn that the
library would not block, alter, interfere with any
use now or in the future of the churches use and
furthermore would not construct anything to reduce
its current size. 

A Ms. Meier, from the 900 Block of Ontario
and another woman addressed questions on behalf
of the Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County.
They wanted to know if there would be increased
private study areas that would help tutors working
with students.  They were also concerned with where
they would be able to meet during the possible construction.
They were informed that the library would increase the
areas where they would be able to tutor their students
and that even during construction part of the current
library would remain open and that the other two 
Branch libraries (Dole and Maze) would have increased
hours of operation.

Another resident inquired about additional costs to
run the new library, since it would much larger.
Mr. Ed Byers, the Superintendent of the library
explained that there would be some additional costs
in maintaining the extra square footage, but not that
much.  Mr. Byers illustrated that the right now certain
periodical requests require two separate persons to
handle the request.  Certain items are stored on
different floors from where they are needed or used.
The new library would have better design of space
implemented to require less handling of the materials.

There was some discussion concerning where the
children’s section should go.  Some persons thought
that it was a good idea to have the children’s area
on the first floor for easy access and others thought
that the high volume of traffic would make it the
worst place.

A poll taken after the meeting showed a very
favorable slant toward passage of the referendum
with around 80% in favor of the new library.