The League of Women Voters held a meeting at the  Oak Park
Public library to have a forum on the new library and the
upcoming referendum.  The meeting began at 7:30 am and
index cards were passed around the audience so that people
could write down any questions that they had about the plans
for a new library building and the upcoming  referendum
coming up this March 21.

The referendum will read as follows:

“Shall the Village of Oak Park erect a new library building and also perform
maintenance work at the Maze Branch Library, all at a cost not to exceed
THIRTY MILLION  ( $30,000,000.00) DOLLARS?”
 

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.  The Veterans Room at the Library was filled 
to the brim with persons.  A from the League of Women Voters read 
the questions and members of the Library Board and Mr. Ed Byers 
(Director of the Library) answered the audience.

Janet Kelenson, the Library Board President fielded most of the 
questions posed. Some of the questions from the audience include 
the following:

A resident had written, “What part of the $30,000,000.00 was to go
towards the parking problem?”

Janet Kelenson stated that there were several variables involved, depending
on how many space were to be developed.  Ed Byers went on to explain that
a total sum of  1.4 million had been set aside for the parking funds and that 
the figure might be reduced if fewer spots were neeeded.

Another resident wrote, “ Will parking be for Library patrons only?”

Answer: During hours of operation yes, perhaps we could generate
some additional funds for times after hours.

Another card read, “Will there be a fee for parking?”

Answer:  Nothing has been finalized yet.  Perhaps the first
hour would be free and after that a small fee might apply.

Question:  “When will we know what the library will look
like?  I also find it hard to vote on something that I don’t
know what it looks like.

Janet Kelenson responded,  “ We have a lot of comments
on how things should look from the residents.  (there was 
further comment showing that there are no concrete designs
on the table yet…)

Question:  “Will there be spaces for bicycles and
shopping carts at the library?”

Answer:  Bike yes, but haven’t heard anything about
shopping carts yet..

Question:  “What is the new buildings growth
potential, if we need more space?”

Janet Kelenson offered:  “ The new building
could have an additional floor added.”

Question: “What was the cost of the Evanston
Public library, and how large is it?”

Answer:  The Evanston Public Library cost $25 million.
It is 12 to 15,000 square feet larger.  The Evanston Library
was also built in the early 90’s.

Question:  “Will the 30 million dollars be used to
pay for the increased staff?”

Ed Byers answered,  “No, the money in the referendum
is not for increases in staff.”  Mr. Byers went on to add that
he did not feel there would necessarily be any increases in staff.
He noted that Evanston, with it’s new library did not have
any additional staff required. Mr. Byers explained 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.

Question:  “What background do the architects have in
building libraries?”

Answer:  There were numerous examples cited some
of them are a University Library at the University of
Chicago, the Evanston Public Library, and a list of other
school libraries.  It was also noted that several buildings
in town have been done by Nagle,Hartray,Danker,Kagan,
and McKay.  One of their buildings is just across
the street from Tasty Dog.
(we will have some photos of their local work up for your
viewing soon..)

There were some additional questions and public comments.
One man left early because he didn’t write a question on an
index card (though he had been given a chance earlier, and
was offered a card just before he left).  He said that he
would write a letter to the Oak Leaves and stormed out
of the room.

Bill Garfield of Oak Park complained that he didn’t
want any of Gov. George Ryan’s pork projects being
used in Oak Park.  There were other areas of the State
more in need of money than Oak Park.

Daniel Brennan, who owns an Automotive
repair place near the library stated; “ I’m
getting taxed to the limit.”  

Mimi Ortiz-Glass, past President of the League of Women Voters,
speaking for her own concerns stated; “I use many other
libraries because when I am looking for a specific book it is often
not here and I need to go to another library to get it.”  She is
hoping that with the new library, additional books will be had 
and she will not need to go to River Forest for it.

Some people wanted to know that if the population in Oak Park
is not expected to increase very much, why should we need
more space at the library.  Mr. Byers explained that even though 
the population has not increased much to speak of, the usage of 
the library has.  People from the audience spoke up and stated 
that they could barely find a seat at certain times of the day.

This was a very lively meeting with a lot
of things discussed and defined.

Ed Vincent

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.