Open House Report to Guide Priorities for Concept Plans

Thank you to all who attended the four open house sessions last week! In celebrating National Library Week with its “Unlimited Possibilities @Your Library” theme, you had the opportunity to give input for the first time in the Library’s expansion planning process. Ideas for fourteen 21^st century library services from around the nation were presented with participants voting for their top three services. Ninety one people voted for their top 21^st century library services.

With a combined total of 49.9% of the vote, the top five services were:

• ·         Performance Space
• ·         Early Literacy Space
• ·         Digital Studios
• ·         Study Rooms
• ·         Quiet Space

Read the full report!

The Library Board of Trustees will use the information gathered in these sessions to help prioritize services during the expansion planning process. The next step in the expansion planning process is development of concept plans for several options, including size of facility, parking, storm water retention/detention and estimated cost. The concept plans will be scored according to how well they meet the identified community needs and priorities for service. Using those scores, the Library Board of Trustees will determine which concept plan best meets the needs of the community. That concept plan will be the basis for design development of the final plan. The concept planning process is expected to occur during late spring through early summer.

Flyers NOT from the Library Found Around Town

It has been reported to Library officials that laminated flyers have been distributed around town. "Historic Library Puts Town on Map" is the headline at the top and a logo for Northwestern Medicine appears near the bottom of the page, with 5 paragraphs of typed text on the back. This flyer is NOT from the Library and doesn't reflect any plan or design for a future library expansion.

Our apologies for any confusion or misconceptions about the Library's future expansion planing that this may have caused.

The Library's design development phase will begin next week with a contract for architectural services on the April 15, 2015 Board Meeting agenda.

Drop by any of the four Open Houses next week to join discussions of 21st century Library services and what you want from your Library!