Andrew Mitchell filed this Daily Chronicle report on the DeKalb Public Library’s pending land purchase to build an expansion. The land purchase is pending the city council’s approval of closing a block of N. Third Street to attach the addition to the existing Haish Memorial Library, according to the report.
The library really needs more space. It’s use has grown and evolved greatly since our historic library was built in large part due to the philanthropy of Jacob Haish.
Board members had previously not discussed details of the proposed expanded library because they felt it was better to make sure they had the land to build on first. But at Wednesday’s meeting, Cordes and consultant Fred Schlipf said certain details would be needed by the city before they could give their approval on the development agreement.
Cordes said an estimate of the expanded library’s square footage was needed to help determine how much parking space the city would require.
Because of this, Schlipf, who previously suggested the library pursue an 89,000-square-foot facility – more than four times the size of the current building – said they might want to reduce that ambition to roughly 65,000 square feet.
“Almost every library is a compromise between what the board thinks would be a proper library for the community and what it can manage,” he said.
But board members such as Alan Genis said he thought it would be foolish of the board to start the expansion process by cutting down on its plans, saying the board should be shaped by the needs of the community and the staff.
“Not because of a silly law,” he said. — Andrew Mitchell, Daily Chronicle (read full article here)
Oh, those silly laws: the Open Meetings Act, Illinois Municipal Code, Illinois Local Library Act. Here’s one (emphasis mine):
(75 ILCS 5/5‑1) (from Ch. 81, par. 5‑1)
Sec. 5‑1. Whenever the board of trustees of any public library organized under this Act determines to erect a building to be used as a library, or to purchase a site for the same, or to purchase a building, or to repair, remodel or improve an existing library building, or build an addition thereto, or to furnish necessary equipment therefor, or to acquire library materials such as books, periodicals, films, recordings and electronic data storage and retrieval facilities in connection with either the purchase or construction of a new library building or the repair, remodeling, or improvement of an existing library building or the expansion of an existing library building, or to accumulate a fund to accomplish any of such purposes, or to do any or all of these things, the trustees may proceed as follows:
If a new building is to be erected, or an existing library building is to be remodeled, repaired, improved or an addition thereto erected, or necessary equipment is to be furnished, or any or all of these things are to be done, the board of trustees shall cause a plan to be prepared and an estimate to be made of the cost. If a site or a building is to be purchased, the trustees shall cause an estimate to be made of the cost of such site or building. The trustees may then determine the funds that will be available from accumulations, and the amount to be raised from a bond issue, by annual certification, or by a mortgage. The trustees shall further determine the term, not exceeding 20 years, over which they shall spread the collection of the cost of erecting a new building, or remodeling, repairing, improving an existing library building or erecting an addition thereto, or furnishing necessary equipment, or purchasing and improving a site or building, or the acquisition of library materials such as books, periodicals, recordings and electronic data storage and retrieval facilities in connection with either the purchase or construction of a new library building or the expansion of an existing library building, or any or all of these things.
For the purpose of Sections 5‑1, 5‑2, 5‑3, 5‑4 and 5‑5 of this Act, the acquisition of library material such as books, periodicals, films, recordings and electronic data storage and retrieval facilities is considered to be in connection with the purchase or construction of a new library building or the repair, remodeling or improvement of an existing library building or the expansion of an existing library building if the determination of the Board of Trustees to acquire such library materials is made within 5 years from the date that a new library building is purchased, or construction of a new library building or the repair, remodeling or improvement of an existing library building or the expansion of an existing library building is completed.
The board shall make a record of their proceedings and determinations and transmit a copy thereof to the corporate authorities for their consideration and approval.
(Source: P.A. 84‑770.)
According to Ancel Glink, (a firm that has originated many publications, including the Illinois Municipal Handbook and the two multi-volume publications of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Municipal Law and Practice in Illinois, and Illinois School Law), Corporate Authority specifically means the Mayor and City Council. Citizens and taxpayers should expect their Public Library to obey all the laws. Even those that board members deem silly.
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6 Comments
Before this blog started I read the original article and thought the paper had misquoted the board member or the board member had mis-spoken. I thought the board member was trying to say it was silly to reduce in size what the board member thought was a proper size for the new library as an initial bargaining position. Until Mac posted I never thought the person was referring to OMA, city over site etc. as ‘silly laws’ and I hope the person was not.
Anyway, I certain hope the library and city do diligence with respect to size and cost of the needed new library. And, certainly the whole matter deserve full public discussion.
To me, new libraries might need less space for books that can be stored in electronic form, but increasingly libraries are playing a public meeting, public (free) education function and I am unaware of how that impact considerations of space.
Herb, Any member of any board needs to be smart enough to not project an image of disregard for the law, whatever they actually think and would like to say. Which “silly law” Alan Genis was actually referring to does not matter with respect to the improper attitude he displayed as a library board member.
Unfortunately, Mr. Genis further sullied the image of an already tarnished library board. I have significant doubts that this board can accomplish what needs to be done for their community. Too bad, because when their president recently stepped down, I thought that perhaps signaled a change of attitude and things would get better. Instead, I’m beginning to think there is not one decent public servant involved with the leadership of the library. That would be tragic if true.
As to the space required, and what is affordable, they need to get real. Equally important, they need to be transparent and proactive in securing the ideas and support of the ENTIRE community, not just those that use the library or are financial or ideological supporters of it.
One more thing…to be fair to the library director/board…the city council needs to accept its responsibility as overseer of the financial/tax aspects of library affairs. The mayor, who appoints to the library board with advice and consent of council, also ought to be reconsidering his choices. State statutes make clear the council has final say in accepting or rejecting any tax levy numbers put forward by the library board. While the library board makes its own budget, no doubt there needs to be conversation with the city as to what might be acceptable or not. Former legal direction from the city attorney and states attorney has been ambivalent. That needs to change. It should not be so hard to follow the law. Laws are not “silly”.
I agree totally with the need for the openness in all public procedures.
What I don’t understand is what the person was referring to when the person said “silly laws.” With a controversial quote like that the newspaper should be more careful in specifying the full context in which the statement was made.
The last reference in the article was to whether or not the library should propose a smaller building anticipating what will or will not be approved by others. To me that refers to (controversial) design and space considerations, not to any laws at all.
Anyway seems to me that the library is trying to be procedural correct this time, Other than my recognizing that a larger facility is needed and being glad it will stay downtown, I haven’t seen enough info to opine on size.
herb
they are going to build a library no matter what the law says. the city council works for them. the mayor is spineless. get it?
Silly board member! Maybe this board member needs to go back to 7th grade civics class and re-read the responsibilities of citizens, especially volunteer public servants. I certainly hope Alan Genis will either retract his “silly law” statement, or step down from this library board.
Why does this particular library board keep putting its foot in its mouth? All volunteer public servants are prone to making some mistakes, especially because they don’t bother to read the law that applies to the work they do, but the DeKalb Library Board and Library Director continue to make foolish if not unlawful statements and directives. When will they ever learn?
And FOUR TIMES the current space? 89,000 square feet? Vacate a street? GIVE ME A BREAK! That’s just a few thousand square feet less than the new HyVee store which serves way more people (with a tremendous range of products) every day than the library will ever see. What are these library guys thinking? Talk about empire building. Not to mention, don’t these library folks understand many, many people are now accessing books and other information by Internet from their homes or workplaces?
As I’ve said many times past, this library needs to show the public a solid and reasonable plan. That should include verifiable (by the community!) space needs considerations. Right now, it seems this board and director are talking pie in the sky.
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Build a children’s branch library across the street with some meeting room space and call it a day.
Yes, it can be that easy.
Sheesh.