The Plainfield Public Library District received official
notification that its application for an Illinois Public Library Construction
Grant was denied. The grant program offered $50 million in funding for
libraries across the state. Applications from Illinois public libraries
exceeded $112 million in total requests. With grant scores based primarily on
building age and date of last major renovation, the main library’s 1991
construction and 1996 addition placed it in the middle range for these grant
scoring elements.
In the meantime, the historic heat wave gripping the area
exacerbated the Library’s ongoing issues with its HVAC system. Repeated
failures have plagued the system since major components passed their 15-20 year
life expectancy, from roof top units to the antiquated, DOS-based controls. In
recent years, annual repair costs have ballooned to tens of thousands to keep
the system functioning. A building evaluation completed by KJWW Engineering in
February place capital needs for the buildings infrastructure at over $400,000
for the most immediate replacements needed: HVAC system, shingled roof and
windows in the Bay Window area.
When the library was expanded in the early 1990s, the
operating rate referendum to properly fund the operations and maintenance of
the building failed. Drastic cuts to operating hours were made in 1993,
reducing hours open to 48 per week. Due to the housing boom that began at about
that time, the Library was able to reinstate operating hours to 64 per week and
68 during the school year with the addition of Sunday operating hours during
the school year to meet demand. In 1997, the Library was able to implement a
small fee to developers annexing and subdividing property in the district
through an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Plainfield.
Collection of these fees allowed the Library make internal changes to the
building necessary to serve the growing community, such as removing built-in
service desks, adding shelving and replacing carpet. As the collection of those
fees dwindled with the housing bust, external sources of funding for capital
replacement needs, such as the Illinois Public Library Construction Grant were
pursued. A 2009 State of Illinois Capital Bill Grant from the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, through Rep. Tom Cross, was funded to
reimburse the Library for its 2010 purchase of the parking lot on Route 59.
Those funds have not yet been released by the State of Illinois.
The escalating issues with the HVAC system made its
replacement the top priority for the Library Board of Trustee this fiscal year.
Currently, KJWW Engineering is creating the specifications and bid package for
the HVAC replacement project. The anticipated timeline places posting of the
bid notice in August, bid opening and contract award in September and project
construction in late October to early November. Project construction will be
dependent on factors such as lead time for obtaining replacement roof top units
and weather. The Library will be closed at time during the construction phase.
Residents are encouraged to check our web site, Facebook or call ahead when
planning to visit the Library this fall. Replacement of the shingled roof and
windows in the Bay Window Area are also slated for fall 2012.
