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The completion of the $950,000 Phase 1 project was accomplished with no debt to the public using funds from the Building Expansion Reserve and private donations. (Photo provided)

Staff Report

CHERRY VALLEY, Ill. — The Cherry Valley Public Library District will celebrate its recent 3,000-square-foot expansion and renovation the week of Nov. 4 with a series of programs (see end of article), culminating in a dedication event at 6 p.m., Nov. 10.

The elected Board of Trustees of the library district, which serves 16,008 residents, has been in discussions and planning for several years concerning the increasingly tight space for books and people in the 13,000-squart-foot 1989 structure.

Along with severe space problems were concerns about noise, inefficient heating/air conditioning, lack of plumbing in the large meeting room, lack of storage, no electric doors for those with disabilities and other building issues.

The expansion and renovation have corrected many of the problems. Revamped staff work space has created new efficiencies in service. The remodeled library interior includes many more areas for seating, wifi use, expanded “new book” browsing, and an overall pleasant ambiance for visitors.

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The remodeled library interior includes many more areas for seating, wifi use, expanded “new book” browsing, and an overall pleasant ambiance for visitors. (Photo provided)

Farrell PCAs funded a new literacy room for tutoring, mentoring and quiet study. A new 21st-century conference room with excellent technology for presentations serves the public as well the library Board of Trustees.

A guiding principal for the Library Board was the contracting of local firms as much as possible to put local people to work during a time of high unemployment. Another guiding principal was a responsible funding plan. The completion of the $950,000 Phase 1 project was accomplished with no debt to the public using funds from the Building Expansion Reserve and private donations.

The remodeled large meeting room is named after the Friends of the Library, the auxiliary arm of volunteers and library supporters, for their tremendous efforts in contributing $100,000 to the renovation and interior furnishings.

The Cherry Valley Library District public and friends are invited to the celebration Nov. 10. Register on the library website, www.cherryvalley.lib.il.us ^[3], or call (815) 332-5161.

Following is the series of celebratory programs:

Nov. 4 — 2 p.m., Illinois Humanities Council — Desperadoes of Early Illinois.

Nov. 5 — 9:30 or 10:30 a.m., Wee Read.

Nov. 6 — 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Precinct 5 voters cast their ballots; 10 a.m., Cuckoo for Kindles; and 6 p.m., Checkmate! Chess Club.

Nov. 7 — 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., Preschool Story Time; 10:30 a.m., New Connections book discussion; and 5:30 p.m., Selling on eBay training.

Nov. 8 — 9:30 a.m., Coffee & a Movie — Hunger Games; and 6:30 p.m., New Connections book discussion.

Nov. 9 — 10 a.m., Selling on eBay training eBay; 10:30 a.m., New Connections book discussion; and 1 p.m., Cuckoo for Kindles.

Nov. 10 — 6 p.m., dedication of library expansion.

From the Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2012, issue