This August, the Library Board of Trustees voted to accept Midwest Services and Development’s bid to complete the renovation of the Community Room and Children’s Services office space, and to add a bathroom to the Children’s Room. They also accepted Henricksen & Company’s proposal to provide furniture and furnishings for the project. With a capacity for 26 people, the finished Community Room will be perfect for smaller programs and meetings. The room will have a sink to help with craft cleanup and an AV setup for presentations and classes. The Children’s office space will have three workstations and plenty of room for supplies, and the new bathroom will be a convenient addition to the Children’s room for families or anyone using the Community Room.
This second phase of the project is expected to cost just over $380,000. The RFPL Foundation has generously committed $300,000 to phase two, and the Library also received a $50,000 grant from the Illinois State Library to help fund the accessible bathroom. The remaining balance will be paid out of the Library’s Capital Reserve Fund. Construction is expected to begin this fall and take about 5 months to complete. Please check back for updates on this exciting project!