Downers Grove Library Unveils Designs for Interior Renovation

About three dozen residents joined Downers Grove library trustees on June 26 for the first public presentation on a planned $2.4 million interior renovation.

The library board unanimously approved the schematic designs proposed by the project's architect, Product Architecture + Design of Chicago. They also authorized staff to seek out proposals and qualifications of construction management services.

Although the project initially had a budget of $1.8 million, the board was able to come up with additional funding, primarily through the refinancing of bonds, according to President Kathy DiCola.

The new budget of $2,394,000 will cover planning, design, construction, furniture, fixtures and equipment, she said.

Library officials said the renovations are necessary to modernize the building and make its features more inviting to Downers Grove residents.

"Library use has changed," DiCola said. "People are looking for the library to meet different needs. People use the library as a virtual office, a place to tutor, and meet with clients and co-workers."

"We're trying to change with it, and keep the library relevant and useful for the people who use it every day," she said.

The Downers Grove Public Library has been located at 1050 Curtiss St. since 1891, occupying four separate facilities over the past 100 years. Its current building—a 67,700-square-foot, two-story structure—was built in 1999.

Architects Tiffany Nash and Daniel Pohtre said some of the most notable changes will be to the north entrance, which is used by about 75 percent of patrons. They plan to make the vestibule smaller and reconfigure the reception area so patrons can enter more quickly and have easier access to the lobby. 

The children's section, including an expanded story time area, will be pushed to the southwest corner of the library, and a cafe/lounge area with vending machines will be added near the Forest Avenue entrance.

On the second floor, architects plan to increase the number of study rooms from four to 10 of varying sizes. There will be a large meeting room, as well as training and media labs.

The library's entire audio-visual collection will be located outside the study/meeting area. All of the library's computers will be condensed to one area, located adjacent to the AV shelves.

The collection of fiction and non-fiction books will not be reduced, but some of the items will be placed on lower shelving to improve visibility, Nash said. The children's collection is expected to be reduced by about 5 percent.

Another big change to the second floor includes an expanded area for teenagers, which officials hope will attract a new generation of library patrons.

"We have seen teen areas in other libraries that are well-populated," DiCola said. "We want to give our kids a place to go. We're not (currently) meeting the needs of our teen population."

Although the designs received the support of trustees and staff, many of the residents who attended the meeting questioned the need for a larger teen area and more meeting rooms. 

Resident Janet Janko said the plan focused too much on teenagers and not enough on existing patrons, primarily senior citizens.

"There are other services people need," Janko said.

Residents also complained about the plan to designate a cafe area for food and drinks and the lack of adult seating. Some also shot down plans to add more self-checkout terminals, which they said would eliminate the personal interactions with staff.

A few residents said the library did a poor job of soliciting public input during the early planning stages of the project. DiCola responded by pointing out the numerous communications and meetings that have been held since the beginning of the year.

"This has been a long and careful process," DiCola said. "We held open meetings, people came, we talked, we surveyed people online. We have taken a long time to consider all of our different needs."

With the board's approval, architects will now proceed with design development, which will focus more on the details on the appearance, including colors, materials, furniture and fixtures. The board could select a construction manager for the project at its July 24 meeting. 

The project is scheduled to go out to bid in late October, with construction beginning in February. The library will remain open during the renovation, which is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2014.

For more information on the project, visit www.dglibrary.org/renovation.php.