Future Plans

5-20-10:Construction is going along well. The back warehouse space has been finished and work in the main library is ongoing, as is work on the parking lot and front entrance. We expect to reopen to the public some time during the second week in June. After reopening, construction will continue through most of the summer on the lobby, vestibule and parking lot.

2-10-10: We're into the 6th week of renovation, and things are progressing great! Expansion into the warehouse is moving along well and includes masonry, metal stud framing, HVAC, and fire protections. Major electrical work by ComEd is scheduled for Friday, February 19 when the library will be closed for the day. The library is preparing to close to the public starting April 19 and expects to reopen on June 6. Major renovation work will take place during this closing. Please note that our genealogy collection will be unavailable starting April 1, and no programs will take place from April 1 until the renovation is complete at the end of summer or early fall. Thanks for your patience -- the wait will be worth it!

11-17-09: Bid meetings have been held, and the construction management firm, Lamp Inc., made recommendations to the Board of Trustees, who approved the recommendations from Lamp. Drawings have been finalized and work will begin after Thanksgiving on some storm drains/sewers outside. After the holidays, work will begin on finishing the warehouse space, which will take a few months. Then work will move to the main room and front of the library, at which time the library may have to close to the public for a while. We'll keep you posted!

10-22-09: There will be a "sneak preview" public meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 29 in the library's meeting room. Library officials, the architect and construction manager will present the final designs and answer patron's questions.

10-21-09: The Library Board of Trustees have approved the final designs/drawings done by the architect and construction management team, who will go out for bids in early November. The renovation project should start shortly after Thanksgiving and should be completed some time in July. At some point, probably in early April, the library may have to close to the public for a time so contractors can work in the main part of the library, and so furniture and equipment can be moved into the newly finished space.

9-15-09: The board approved the hiring of a new architectural firm, Gillespie Design Group of Ringwood IL. Management and staff are reviewing conceptual drawings and hope to have more formal bid documents within six weeks. Then the construction management firm, Lamp, Inc., will be able to create a renovation timetable and more final budget for the work.

The library got approval from the county to receive $600,000 in Recovery Zone bonds, meaning it won't have to secure a bank loan. The rest of the funds for the approximately $1.8 - $2.5 million project will come from the library's Special Reserve Fund.

6-25-09: A special board meeting was held at the library on Wed., June 24. The board directed library director Jim Scholtz to authorize Lamp Inc., the construction management firm, to hire a civil engineer to begin surveying the building, inside and out, to get estimates of the work that needs to be done from that standpoint. They also directed Jim to meet with Nagle Hartray, the architectural firm, within a week to come up with a more finalized conceptual drawing that the board may approve at their July meeting so the architect can begin drawing bid documents.

6-17-09: Greetings. Since the defeat of the November referendum for a new library, the McHenry Public Library District has been planning the next step. With the economy still reeling, the board voted at the May 2009 meeting to start planning a remodel of the existing building, up to a $3 million limit with no increases in taxes for area residents. The remodel components would enhance and upgrade current safety, security and staff/patron movement needs plus provide some ergonomic changes for comfort. Additionally, the remodel would provide a few amenities discussed last fall in the proposal for a new building.

Our current architectural firm, Nagel, Hartray, Danker, Kagan, McKay, Penney is designing the floor plan and the construction firm of Lamp, Inc. will supervise/schedule the work. Estimated project time is 8-9 months in several phases.

Work planned involves the following (dependent upon prices): parking lot resurface, storm drain renovation, expanding library by 5,800 sq. ft. within existing footprint, adding 1-2 meeting rooms accessible from outside entry, remodel/re-design of Friends book sale area and Circulation area, moving of genealogy area, adult and children's service desks, new soft/hard furniture and more seating, especially in the teen area, converting outdoor message sign to LED, adding larger staff work areas with a couple of new offices for managers. Hopefully, we'll also be enlarging/reconfiguring our entry foyer for safer/easier access and drop-off of materials.

The remodel is only a stop-gap to last 5-7 years until we can mount another capital campaign for a new library, but we are making the best, most efficient use of taxpayer money in this way.

The library currently has more than $1,300,000 in its special reserve fund (called capital fund) to put toward the remodel project. We hope to add about $600,000 to that figure over the next six months with the rest financed. Financing may be through conventional cash loans or with Economic Stimulus money from county Recovery Zone bonds, whichever is most economical for repayment. If you have any questions about these plans, feel free to contact Executive Director Jim Scholtz at 815-385-0036. Thanks.

Drawings and Pictures

Library Board of Trustees E-Mail/Meetings

The library Board of Trustees meet the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the library's 2nd-floor board room. The public is invited to attend. If you'd like to share a comment about the building program or ask a question of the Board, e-mail them and they will respond as quickly as possible.

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