Cook Park Library Now Open!
>> Thursday, February 10, 2011
Despite the cold weather, over 4000 people attended our Grand Opening on Saturday, January 8 over a four hour time period. The Grand Opening festivities were kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Library Director Stephen Kershner, Board President Bonnie Quirke, and Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler. Once inside patrons enjoyed music played by a very talented clarinet quartet comprised of current and former LHS students. A photo booth in the Teen area was a huge success and a fun way for patrons young and old to commemorate the day with complimentary photos. Positive comments were heard throughout the day from patrons who loved the spaciousness, the windows and all the new amenities including the adult reading room with fireplace, the small group study rooms and the new Children’s wing. Over 6,000 items were checked out that day but the fun didn’t stop there!
The Children’s Wing Grand Opening on Saturday, January 15 proved to be quite successful too with storytimes, face painting and a special presentation by entertainer and juggler Ken Schultz, “The Flying Fool”. So many children attended his two performances that parents had to wait outside the meeting room!
This beautiful library is much more than a building filled with books, dvds, cds, and magazines. We hope you will find our library to be a refuge. A place to not only find information, but a place you can escape to; a place where the community can come together. For us the library is the heart of a community and we are so pleased to be back!
There are many others who were involved with the completion and success of this project who deserve our warmest thanks:
Studio GC
Maggio Construction
The Friends of the Cook Memorial Public Library District
Rob Broms of Recordahit
Robert Merritt
Our clarinet quartet members; Colleen Caniff, Eric Leech, Jackie Hong, and Emmy Bjerre-Jensen
Ken Schultz
Miss Libertyville Alyssa Zizzo
Junior Miss Libertyville Ashley Muller
Little Miss Libertyville Arianna Berner
Finally, thank you to all our patrons for your patience during the long construction phase!