"New" Reference Desk First Change of Many

If you've stopped in the Library since last weekend, you may have noticed changes. The long, low, built-in Reference Desk is gone, removed by the Maintenance staff and a volunteer (Thanks, Tyler!) and replaced by what used to be half of the Youth Services Desk. Sheets of plastic divide the Original Library Room into two separate rooms, one still accessible to the public, holding the magazines, local history and newspapers as before. As you go down the main stairs, you see the vacant space left by the removal of half of the Youth Services Desk.

This is the first step in the Library's Design on a Dimetm style project. The changes are geared toward continuing service and collections to meet the community's needs until 2015. Why focused on 2015? Well, the first possible expansion referendum date being considered by the Board of Trustees is November 2012. It takes about 24 months from groundbreaking to grand opening for most libraries. That makes the earliest possible library expansion open in 2015, giving us 4 years to try to keep making due and shoehorning things into the space we have.

More changes are coming, as we prepare for new, tall shelving and relocation of existing lower shelves. The construction aspects of the project will begin after Summer Reading Grand Finale, August 6 but disruption to public areas will be minimal.

Look for the next round of changes after the weekend!

Question of the Day: How long will it take to construct the new libraries if it passes?

When the referendum passes, it will take 18-24 months from groundbreaking to opening day of a new library. Finalizing the plans before groundbreaking will also take several months. The minimum estimate is 24 months from the day it passes to opening the new libraries. During that time, the Library will move to a temporary location.

Question of the Day: With the economic situation today, why is this a good time to build?

Earlier this week, our friends at the Glenview Library demonstrated why now is a good time to build a library: the construction bids for their new library building came in nearly $1 million UNDER estimated cost! The competition for the job was fierce, netting overall cost savings on the project.

Low interest rates curently available reduce the project cost.

Fewer library construction projects being undertaken statewide reduces competition for Plainfield Public Library District on state construction grant funds.