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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Your Library's ROI

Libraries are economic assets that provide a wealth of material and services to a community. A thriving, attractive library not only attracts businesses, but is also good for everyone’s bottom line. Libraries of all types stretch their resources to provide everyone with access to items such as books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, and services such as Internet access, use of expensive databases, and a wide variety of educational and cultural programs. By investing in the library, you are helping to build a better future for the community.

Discover What You Save By Using The Library

Your tax dollars fund and support all these services plus your library building and its operation. “Cash in” on this investment by visiting today--you will discover a wealth of materials, resources, and experiences waiting for you!

• Individual Assistance and Attention Cook Memorial Public Library District is a fantastic place to go to start your research, find something good to read, watch, or listen to, and get assistance with crafting an Internet search. The staff at your library has been trained to help you and enjoys doing so. Don't be afraid to ask a question, after all, information is our business.
• Better, Faster, and More Accurate Online Resources The Internet is great way to find information. However, what you find isn't always accurate, in-depth enough, or exactly what you want. Cook Memorial Public Library District subscribes to several online databases that are filled with reliable, accurate, and detailed information on topics such as medicine, current events, investments, and genealogy. These online resources are designed to save you time by making your search more effective and productive. Ask your librarian how you can use these resources in the library or from home.
• Location Assistance We might not own every book, CD, or magazine but, Cook Memorial Public Library District does offer a service called Interlibrary Loan (ILL). This means that the item you want is located using an online database, then requested to be sent to Cook, and finally, you are notified of its arrival. A similar service is the Reciprocal Borrowing Program (RBP), which allows you to go to a neighboring library and checkout materials. These services are the product of library cooperation and are designed to allow you easier access to a broader collection of materials.
• Language Assistance English may not be your native language but, library staff will be happy to help you locate books, online resources, and material in many languages. Often these materials can be found in your library but, may also be borrowed from other libraries for your use. Cook Memorial Public Library District also offers programs for non-native English speakers, so don't be afraid to ask for more information!
  Great Connections Cook Memorial Public Library District is a community gathering spot for people in both the traditional physical sense and in the online, virtual sense. Programs for children, teens, and adults are still offered, but now you can sign-up for them online.

The library also encourages you to come in and use our high-speed Internet connection or WiFi access. Our website provides you with access to events, information, and services anytime of day wherever you are at.

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