We're Moving!

The Cook Park Library is closing its doors at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 19 for the duration of the library's expansion project. The district will open the Temporary Library Center (TLC) at Noon on Monday, June 22. The TLC will operate at 114 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville, during the much-anticipated construction project. Construction of the Cook Park Library will begin in mid-June and is expected to take more than a year.

Programs, meetings and other activities normally staged at the Cook Park library will be held elsewhere in the district.

The temporary library will have popular books, DVDs, CDs, kids materials and public computers. Items in the library's collection that are not on hand can be ordered and picked up at the TLC, the Evergreen Interim Library or a bookmobile stop.

The Cook Park library will be remodeled and receive an 11,000-square-foot addition as part of a $14 million construction project. A.J. Maggio Co. has been awarded the site's construction contract.

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Cook Park Library Construction Contract Approved

At the April 21 Board Meeting, trustees unanimously voted to award the Cook Park Library construction contract to A.J. Maggio Company. Over 14 contractors vied for the construction contract, and A.J. Maggio Co. had the lowest bid, totaling $5,012,500 with alternates.

"This is a very competitive bidding climate and we are fortunate to partner with A.J. Maggio Co., a well respected company. By selecting a qualified low-bidder, we are continuing our commitment to completing our projects on budget and without a tax increase," said Board President Aaron Lawlor.

A.J. Maggio Co. has been in business since 1961, and the majority of their work is comprised of commercial, institutional and government construction. The company previously worked with the library's architects, Gilfillan Callahan Nelson, to complete the Green Hills Public Library and the Plainfield Law Enforcement Center.

"Gilfillan Callahan Nelson Architects continues to enjoy its working relationship with A.J. Maggio Company," says firm proprietor Michael Gilfillan, AIA. "This familiarity with each other's work processes-along with the fact that our respective offices are located within four miles of each other-means that the Cook Memorial Public Library District will have both a veteran and accessible team dedicated to delivering this Cook Park Library project on-time and on-budget."

The 11,000 square foot addition and renovation is scheduled to start Monday, June 29. Before construction starts, the Cook Park Library will be moved to the Temporary Library Center (TLC). The TLC, located at the northeast corner of Milwaukee and Route 176, is scheduled to open to the public at Noon on Monday, June 22. The Cook Park Library is tentatively scheduled to reopen in August of 2010.

During construction, the library district will expand hours at the Evergreen Interim Library and add additional neighborhood stops to the Bookmobile schedule.

Construction of the Aspen Drive Library started in March and the facility's building pad is almost complete. The Aspen Drive Library will open in the spring of 2010.

View the Daily Herald article: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=288360

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TLC Zoning Approval

The Village of Libertyville granted the Cook Memorial Public Library District zoning approval to temporarily move the library to 610 Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville. The facility, to be titled Temporary Library Center or TLC, will open on Monday, June 15. The TLC will be open during construction of the Cook Park Library, which is expected to take about a year.

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Village Approves Expansion Plans

Construction to Start This Summer At Cook Park Library!

On March 10, the Libertyville Village Board unanimously approved expansion plans for the Cook Park Library.

“I am happy to report that the Libertyville Village Board unanimously approved our expansion plans,” said Library Director Dan Armstrong. “We expect to put the project out to bid before the end of March and award a construction contract in April.”

“With the village board's vote, we can now get the Cook Park project out to bid," said Board President Aaron Lawlor. "We are in a strong position to move forward. The library district has the funds it needs to complete both projects and the current bidding climate is in our favor."

"Many local construction companies are looking for work and we can provide them with a great project. The climate may change in the coming months when stimulus funding hits the streets, so we need to act quickly. Our project is about as shovel‐ready as it gets," added Lawlor.

The Library Board, concerned with the safety of patrons, frequent disruptions of library service, and the level of noise during construction, has asked staff members to investigate relocating during construction of the Cook Park Library. “We want to offer a safe and enjoyable library environment to our patrons during construction. We hope to move out before construction begins in June,” said Armstrong. Moving out will speed up construction by six months and cut construction costs. The project is expected to be completed one year after construction starts.

The Cook Park Library expansion is part of the Library Board’s Building a Better Future plan, which also includes building a new, full‐service library in Vernon Hills. The $14 million expansion project will be financed without raising taxes. For more information, call (847) 362‐2330 or visit www.cooklib.org.

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