Sentinel The Shorewood
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Vol. 17 No. 36
Enterprise Publications • www.shorewoodsentinel.com
Building a Library Shorewood-Troy Library Board selects architects for new facility By Sherri Dauskurdas Staff Reporter
T
he Shorewood-Troy Library Board of Directors selected Nagle Hartray from Chicago as architects for a project that would bring a new facility. In Shorewood, Library Director Jennie Mills has cited a lack of space sufficient to serve its 19,000
patrons, as well as limitation on both space and electricity in the current space, which have compromised the library’s ability to meet its patrons’ technology needs. Earlier this year, library’s building consultants completed research to determine among other things, the amount of space needed and the technology requirements. Community focus groups were hosted to get input on the services and accommodations patrons would most like to see in place. The architects will be creating a schematic design so that the Board can determine costs, Mills said, and a conceptual rendering to allow the public to see what a potential new facility would look like. The firm recently designed the Fountaindale
Public Library’s $39.5 million new facility in Bolingbrook, which opened in 2011. The 96,000 square-foot facility includes a teen center, a children’s area with storytelling area, expanded collections in virtually every medium, integrated audio/visual systems and automated handling systems for book returns. In addition to Fountaindale, the firm also designed the Oak Pak Public Library, the Western Illinois University MultiCultural Center and the Warren Newport Public Library in Gurnee “The initial contract will be only through the referendum phase,” Mills said.“Once the referendum is passed, we will contract for a longerterm project,” she said.“We are excited to begin the process of working with them.”
The Library will likely seek a referendum vote in spring 2013 for funds sufficient to build and staff a new facility. A contract has not yet been signed, but Mills said library officials hope to have one hammered out by the end of August. A referendum committee also is being formed. Anyone interested in participating, should contact Helen Valantinas at helenvalantinas@att. net.