Temporary Library Opens Monday

opens its temporary doors Monday for the coming year while its main facility at 920 Waukegan Road undergoes an extensive $12 million renovation and 10,000 sq. ft. expansion made possible by voters who passed a referendum in November, 2010.

The current 33,000 square foot facility built in 1971 is showing its age both in its confining structure and in accommodating new technology.

hit the nail on the head when he urged passage of the Library Improvement Plan.

“While we’ve been able to update some services to meet changing needs, we face challenges in delivering 21stcentury services from a building that was built in the last century,” Abosch said at the time. “Our residents deserve a full-service library that is better able to meet the growing demands and changing needs of our community.”

said all is in readiness for welcoming the public the doors open in Cadwell Corners at 9 a.m. today.

The temporary location is at 7 North Waukegan Road, just north of the Lake-Cook and Waukegan Roads intersection. For the first three hours librarians will welcome patrons at the former furniture store by providing tours of the 20,000 square foot facility while cookies and lemonade are served and copies of floor plans are handed out.

Pergander said that while it is a temporary location until June 2013, librarians will provide full patron services. The collection will then return home to be housed in a completely new and expanded structure.

Entire Collection Has Been Moved

“We have been able to move our entire collection into this former store-front facility, offering the public full access to our entire collection and avoiding unnecessary storage costs.” Pergander said.

This includes the four major services of youth, adult, audio-visual media, and circulation. Additionally, several quiet areas, a public computer services area, reading-study tables and a tot room are included. There is no space for public meeting rooms due to space limitations, Pergander indicated.

The permanent building is now empty and construction will begin immediately, according to Pergander. Safety fences will be installed around the property this week to restrict public access during construction.

Before reaching the main entrance of the temporary facility with a sign denoting its purpose, two familiar book-drop boxes greet patrons. Since there is no room for a drive-through lane, people must park to deposit your book and video returns on a 24/7 basis. Library hours are unchanged.

Patron Services Desk Greets Guests

Upon entering the main entrance there is a patron services desk at the right with a librarian ready to help find services.

Turning right at the patron services desk (or south), there are a series of reading tables and book stacks of interest primarily to young adults. Just beyond is a staffed adult services desk and the beginning rows of book stacks containing adult fiction and non-fiction. A cozy, quiet four-easy chair reading area with two nearby study carousels is at the end.

Turning left (north) at the patron services desk patrons will find a couple of self-checkout stations, and a used book sales area sponsored by the Friends of the Deerfield Library. Just beyond is the Audio-Visual and Movie collection. A ten-station public computer area is to your left.

Children’s readers and book stacks for youngsters take up the rest of the public space. Very young tots have a small room of their own here with two tubs of readers perfect for Mom’s and caregivers who enjoy reading stories to young children. There are also quiet study areas for school children nearby.

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