The Aspen Drive Library opened with much pomp and circumstance on Saturday, July 10!

Hundreds of people attended the grand opening which included a flag raising ceremony, local student Grace Ferolo’s lovely rendition of the National Anthem, and a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Acting Library Director Mary Ellen Stembal, Board President Bonnie Quirke, and Vernon Hills Mayor Roger Byrne.

Once inside patrons enjoyed music played by the Vernon Hills High School Strings and entertainment by Chris Fascione. A photo booth in the Young Adult area helped patrons young and old commemorate their visit to the grand opening with complimentary photos. Over 2,500 people came through the doors that day and over 4000 items were checked out. Amazing numbers for an amazing day!

From Aspen Grand Opening Photos

From Aspen Grand Opening Photos

From Aspen Grand Opening Photos

A very special Thank You to Mayor Roger Byrne and the Village of Vernon Hills for their very generous donation of the land. Without their support, we would not be here today!

There are many others who were involved with the completion and success of this project who deserve our warmest thanks:

Studio GC

EVS Construction

The Friends of the Cook Memorial Public Library District

Rob Broms of Recordahit

Grace Ferolo

Libertyville/Vernon Hills VFW

Robert Merritt

Vernon Hills High School Strings

Chris Fascione

Countryside Fire Department

Star Auto Authority

All the wonderful student volunteers

Finally, we would like to thank all of our patrons who have donated gifts and trees. Your support means so much to us!

Keep checking back for updates on the Cook Park expansion and renovation. We are still on target for completion in late fall of 2010 when we will be celebrating another momentous occasion!

From Aspen Grand Opening Photos

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Aspen Drive Library Grand Opening!

Don’t miss our exciting Opening Day at the new Aspen Drive Library, 701 Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills, on Saturday, July 10, 2010!

The celebration will kick-off at noon with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony led by Acting Library Director Mary Ellen Stembal, Board President Bonnie Quirke, and Vernon Hills Mayor Roger Byrne. A number of events are planned to celebrate the inauguration of Cook Memorial Public Library District’s new library facility including the singing of the National Anthem by local student Grace Ferolo and music by the talented Vernon Hills High School string ensemble.

There will also be a lively performance by entertainer Chris Fascione, a photo booth to help you commemorate the event and a fun activity to introduce you to the library. Everyone is welcome to attend!

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Goodbye Evergreen, Hello Aspen

Evergreen is Moving to Aspen Drive!

Evergreen Interim Library
290 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills

Aspen Drive Library
701 Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills
(847)362-2330

Frequently Asked Questions:

• When will Evergreen close?
Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 5 p.m.

• When will Aspen Drive open?
The Grand Opening will be Saturday, July 10, 2010 at noon.

• Is the Aspen Drive Library replacing the Evergreen Interim Library?
Yes. Our Evergreen location was designed as an interim facility to provide service until a permanent building could be constructed.

• Why can’t Aspen Drive open as soon as Evergreen closes?
We will need a few days to move library materials to the Aspen location and to make sure everything is in order for the Grand Opening on July 10th.

• After Evergreen closes where can I drop off materials?
We will continue to have remote drop boxes at:
Evergreen (The Vernon Hills Village Hall) – 290 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills
Oak Grove School - 1700 O'Plaine Rd, Libertyville
Temporary Library Center (TLC) – 114 N. Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville
Bookmobile
Sullivan Center – 635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills
(THE SULLIVAN CENTER DROP BOXES WILL BE REMOVED WHEN ASPEN DRIVE OPENS)

• After Evergreen closes where can I pick up holds?
Holds can be picked up on July 10th when Aspen opens. You will still have 4 days from that date to pick up your holds.

• What are Aspen Drive’s hours?
Aspen Drive’s hours will be the same as Evergreen and TLC:
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday (Sept 12 - June): 1 – 5 p.m.

• When will Cook Park Library open?
In late Fall, 2010.

• Can I use my Vernon Area Library card at the Aspen Drive Library?
Yes. If you have registered your Vernon Area Library card with us.

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The latest progress on the Cook Park and Aspen Drive buildings.

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Construction Progress

Despite the many weather issues we have experienced, things are progressing on our building projects at a fast pace and they are really starting to look like the finished products! We thought it might be fun to provide you with side-by-side comparisons of each building that show what each building was designed to look like and what it actually looks like now. Below you will see the original drawings of each project above a photo of the actual building under construction. It really shows how far along the buildings are and what’s underneath all those tarps! Our completion dates of July 10, 2010 for Aspen Drive and Fall 2010 for Cook Park are getting closer and closer!

From Recently Updated

From Recently Updated

From Recently Updated

From Recently Updated

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The Aspen Library is really beginning to take shape!

Exterior and interior metal framing installation has begun and is proceeding like gangbusters! You can actually see the framework of the main entrance! The parking lot is taking shape as well with concrete for the main entry being poured in mid-October. Above grade plumbing and interior electrical work is ongoing and installation of the concrete block wall at the bookmobile garage began at the end of October. We continue to be right on schedule for a spring, 2010 completion date despite all the inclement weather we have been experiencing.

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Steel has arrived at Aspen!

A skeleton of the building can now be seen at Aspen! Steel started arriving last week and erectors immediately went to work. Erection should be complete in three weeks or less! In addition to that, the bookmobile garage and maintenance slabs have been poured with parking lot forming and curb evacuation progressing as well.

Remember to check back every week for updates!

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Aspen Drive: Starting with a Good Foundation!

Exciting news from our Aspen Drive construction site:

The concrete has been poured and the foundation is set!

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(Almost) Time to Go!

Big changes are underway at the Cook Memorial Public Library District. Construction of the Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills is in progress, and construction of the Cook Park Library in Libertyville is set to start later this month.

Here's a closer look at how the move will affect library service in the Cook Memorial Public Library District:

• Library Closings:
  The Cook Park Library will close its doors at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 19 and will remain closed during construction. All of the Cook Memorial Public Library District facilities will be closed Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. At noon on Monday, June 22, library services will resume at the Evergreen Interim Library, on the Bookmobile, and at the new Temporary Library Center (TLC), 114 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville.
  

• Holds:
  While we are in the process of moving, you will be unable to place holds, Interlibrary loans (ILLs) or LINKin requests from June 15 through June 28.
  

• Returning Items:
  Drop boxes will be locked June 19 (at closing), June 20 and June 21. Library materials will not be due and fines will not be assessed June 20, 21 and 22. All of our drop boxes will be open at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 22. The Cook Park drop boxes will be unavailable until the Summer of 2010.
  

• Expanded Hours at Evergreen:
  Beginning June 23, the Evergreen Interim Library will be open an additional thirteen hours each week. Evergreen and TLC will be open the same hours:
  Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
  Sundays (September - May), 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• Continued Service During Construction:
  Evergreen Interim Library will continue to offer service until the Aspen Drive Library opens in Spring, 2010. TLC will be open to the public until the Cook Park Library re-opens in Summer, 2010.

We appreciate your patience in the midst of all our changes!

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First Foundation Walls At Aspen

The first foundation walls were poured today at the Aspen Drive Library!

Despite the rain, the construction crew at EVS is still on schedule. So far, the crew has dug a detention pond, created a clay building pad, dug concrete footings, and started pouring concrete for the foundation walls. The building is on track to be completed in April, 2010.

For more construction photos, click here.

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EVS Starts Construction At Aspen Drive

EVS construction began construction of the Aspen Drive Library. First up? Preparing the site for construction by building a fence.

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Aspen Drive Groundbreaking!

The Cook Memorial Public Library District officially broke ground on the 20,000 square foot new Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 24. Photos Video

When completed, the new library will feature 120,000 volumes of materials, a quiet Reading Room, space for meetings and group study, a high-tech teen area, a giant fish tank, a colorful children’s area, and a Butterfly Garden.

EVS Construction of Aurora was awarded the $5.39 million construction contract. The new library is expected to be completed in April of 2010.

In 2006, the Village of Vernon Hills purchased land on Aspen Drive for the Cook Memorial Public Library District to bring a full-service library to Vernon Hills. On May 22, 2007, the library’s Board of Trustees approved plans to simultaneously build a full-service library in Vernon Hills and expand the existing Cook Park Library in Libertyville. Both projects will be completed without raising taxes.

In 2008, the Cook Memorial Public Library District circulated 1.4 million items and was named the busiest library in Lake County and the eighth busiest library in the state of Illinois. The Cook Memorial Public Library District spans 48 square miles and serves 60,000 residents from Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Green Oaks, Mettawa, Indian Creek, and unincorporated Libertyville Township.

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Property Title Transferred!

The property title for the Aspen Drive site was officially transferred from the Village of Vernon Hills to the Cook Memorial Public Library District.

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Board Action Moves Both Projects Forward

Construction Starting Soon At Aspen Drive Library
Last night, the Cook Memorial Public Library District Board unanimously approved awarding the Aspen Drive Library construction contract to EVS Construction of Aurora.

“EVS was the lowest responsible bidder for the job,” said Aaron Lawlor, Board President.

Out of fifteen bid submissions, EVS was the lowest bidder at $5,390,000. The construction contract will officially be awarded once the property title is transferred to the Library District,
which is scheduled to occur on December 12. At the closing, the title to the Aspen Drive property will be transferred from the Village of Vernon Hills to the Library District. Construction will start as soon as possible after the award of the contract.

“We’re excited and ready to get started,” said John Campbell, EVS Project Manager. “Right now, we are checking the weather to see when we can get started.”

Since 1996, EVS has established a reputation of delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget. The company specializes in municipal buildings and recently completed the New Yorkville Middle School and the East Aurora High School Freshman Center.

Funding for Cook Park Library Expansion Approved
In other action, the Library Board approved an ordinance to authorize the sale of an additional $7 million in debt certificates. Proceeds from this sale will be used to fund the Cook Park expansion project.

“We are still on track to seek construction bids for the Cook Park project this winter and start
construction in 2009,” said Library Director Dan Armstrong. “The coming year will certainly be one of great change and excitement!”

When completed, the Building a Better Future expansion plan will add 30,000 square feet of
library space to the district without raising taxes. The plan includes remodeling and adding
11,200 square feet to the Cook Park Library in Libertyville and creating a full-service, permanent library on Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills. Both projects will be completed simultaneously, with a total budget of approximately $14 million. Funding for the construction and operations costs are provided for in the district’s annual budgets and through the sale of debt certificates.

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Aspen Drive Library Bids Received

Bids for the Aspen Drive project were received, and three of the bids were below budget. The Board of Trustees is reviewing the bid documentation and will announce a construction company soon. Construction on the Aspen Drive project is expected to start by the end of the year.

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District Expands Budget

Cook Memorial Public Library District Board members agreed to increase the library expansion budget to $14 million.

"The district is on sound financial footing to complete both projects," said Board President Aaron Lawlor. "Providing additional funds on the front end gives us the opportunity to build the best possible libraries."

With the increased budget, preliminary plans indicate that the Cook Memorial Public Library District will be able to offer expanded services at both facilities.

At the Cook Park Library, plans include bringing the Youth Services Department to street-level, sun-filled space and developing a quiet reading rooms and community meeting space. The plans include doubling public seating and increasing library materials from 250,000 to 400,000 volumes. In addition, small group study rooms and a large meeting room will be open to the public.

With the expanded budget, the new library on Aspen Drive will feature a 20,000 square foot new building. The new library will hold 120,000 volumes of materials, 80 public seats, small conference rooms, and a meeting room for public use.

“We want to give our community the best possible library facilities. We have the resources to expand the budget and bring even better library facilities to the district.” said Library Director Dan Armstrong.

The project budget can be expanded without asking taxpayers for a referendum or issuing additional debt certificates. The district finished the 2007 fiscal year with $2.2 million in special reserves and expects to finish the 2008 fiscal year with an additional $910,000 surplus. Together, the surpluses will create a reserve of more than $3 million. These funds, combines with the $12 million issued debt certificates, provide a total of $15 million in available funding.

By increasing the budget from $12 million to $14 million, the library will have a $1 million contingency fund while adding 11,200 square feet to the Cook Park Library and building a 20,000 square feet library in Vernon Hills.

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Board Pursues Aspen Drive Site

The Cook Memorial Public Library District Board of Trustees announced on Tuesday, December 18, that they will focus their efforts on building a new library on Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills.

“We’re excited to bring the library into the community campus atmosphere,” said Dan Armstrong, Library Director. “The land’s proximity to major roads, schools, and public transportation makes it an ideal spot for a new library.”

The library district spent recent weeks pursuing financial and legal agreements to bring a full-service library to Vernon Hills. Officials thoroughly explored options to renovate the former Wickes building or build a new library on Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills.

After working closely with all the involved parties and legal counsel, library officials decided that building a new library on Aspen Drive would be the best option for the district.

"The board is working to ensure every option is thoroughly considered," said Board President Aaron Lawlor. "Our goal is to provide the best facility with the highest level of service while ensuring the investment of taxpayer dollars is fiscally responsible and free of legal liability. The Aspen Site achieves this goal and will serve our district well."

The Board unanimously approved a motion to develop an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Vernon Hills, direct architects to progress with plans for the Cook Park and Aspen Drive sites, advance an application for state funds pledged to the district, and develop a plan for philanthropic and community involvement participation in the project.

The Village of Vernon Hills purchased land on Aspen Drive in 2006 and offered the land to the Cook Memorial Public Library District for a full-service library in Vernon Hills. When completed, the new library on Aspen Drive will offer a computer lab, small group study spaces, a meeting room, a teen space, and a children’s area.

The Building a Better Future expansion plan will add 30,000 square feet of library space to the library district without raising taxes. The plan includes remodeling and adding 10,000 square feet to the Cook Park Library in Libertyville and creating a full-service, permanent library in Vernon Hills. Both projects will be completed simultaneously, with a total budget of approximately $14 million. Funding for the construction and operations costs are provided for in the district’s annual budgets.

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Preliminary Designs Unvieled

The Cook Memorial Public Library District is pleased to share preliminary drawings for two locations: the Cook Park Library in Libertyville and the Aspen Drive property in Vernon Hills. Click here to view the online album of preliminary designs.

In Libertyville, Gilfillan Callahan Nelson architects would reconfigure the Cook Park Library to bring in natural light and draw attention to the view overlooking the park. The design will allow for a drive-up window and adequate parking for the community. When finished, the Cook Park Library will have a sun-filled Children's Room , a new Quiet Reading Room, a large Meeting Room and several small group study spaces. Construction for this project is expected to begin in 2009.

The new library on Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills is moving at a fast pace. The community is invited to attend a groundbreaking for the project on January 24, 2009. When finished, the Aspen Drive Library will feature 120,000 volumes of materials, a reading garden, community meeting rooms, and a state-of-the-art computer lab.

Both buildings utilize a similar design language with roof planes that float above continuous clerestories to allow an abundance of natural light into occupied spaces.

“We wanted to create a space that is warm and inviting,” said Scott Delano, Design Director for Gilfillan Callahan Nelson Architects. “Both sites present unique challenges and opportunities. Our design accentuates the best features of each building, while addressing the challenges of each site.”

Using natural ingredients, like stacked stone, wood, and glass, Delano hopes the buildings will invite people “to come in and be amazed.”

The designs are environmentally-friendly and will be built following parameters for LEED certification. LEED recognition is given to buildings that are environmentally responsible.

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Architect Honored; Expansion Plan Moves Forward

"Our firm is honored to secure this important commission to design the renovations and expansion of Cook Memorial Public Library District's facilities," says Patrick Callahan, AIA, LEED-AP, of Gilfillan Callahan Nelson Architects. "We look forward to helping Cook Memorial Public Library District to solve its space issues, which will ultimately lead to improved service levels to its patrons."

"We've assembled a team of experienced and talented professionals. The team includes Pat Callahan, principal-in-charge, who will coordinate the project; Scott Delano, AIA, LEED-AP, director of design, a California transplant with national experience in the institutional and library sectors; and Belinda Roller, project architect, a University of Dublin graduate native who offers strong technical experience in library planning, design and construction.

The 15-year-old firm, which specializes in designing public-sector projects, has successfully completed more than 300 new construction, renovation and addition projects. Its current library clients include Green Hills Public Library (Palos Hills), Oak Lawn Public Library, and Roselle Public Library.

"We'll offer two different approaches to the two different sites," says Callahan. "Each will be respectful to its surrounding community. Our approach begins with engaging the constituents and library patrons in planning dialogue," he says. "We'll work closely with library staff and trustees to manage the project schedule and budget."

"Our plan is to get started immediately. By fall, we will have developed a project schedule, complete with realistic dates for ground-breaking, construction and ribbon-cutting activities. Our goal is to allow the library to continue to offer its patrons uninterrupted service while we perform our necessary work."

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Board Approves Gillifan Callahan Nelson Contract

At the August 21 meeting of the Board of Trustees, board members approved a contract with the Rolling Meadows-based architectural firm of Gilfillan Callahan.

“Gilfillan Callahan is a strong architectural firm that will serve the district well,” said Board President Aaron Lawlor. “They were able to submit a contract that included a broad range of services at a fair fee.”

The architectural contract was approved by a 5-1 vote. Chris Dalton was absent, and Ann Oakley voted against the contract. The contract is subject to legal review. Under the approved contract, the Gilfillan Callahan will receive a 7.5% commission on construction costs.

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