Your Library in the News
Lake Forest library dome restoration has begun; ‘We’re excited because it has been under a tarp for almost five years now’
The long-planned restoration of the Lake Forest Public Library dome has officially started, as conversations regarding other renovations move into a new chapter.
In early March, scaffolding went up at the library as the first step toward repairing and rehabilitating the building’s 32-foot dome in a project set to last several months.
While renovating the dome for library officials has been of interest to city officials for years, they could not proceed as the community debated aesthetics, functionality and financial issues about the building located at 360 E. Deerpath.
“We’re excited because it has been under a tarp for almost five years now because of leaks and winds,” library board President John Johnson said. “It has been difficult because of some of the uncertainties around town, so now we are prepared to repair and restore.”
The green light library officials were waiting for finally appeared over a year ago. In December 2021, the library board approved a professional services, engineering and design agreement, followed by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission issuing a certificate of appropriateness last May, followed by the library board approving a construction contract in November.
“The whole city is delighted the dome is being repaired,” Mayor George Pandaleon said.
A highlight of the renovation is new zinc-coated copper is expected to be placed on top of the dome. The new materials are believed to be more weather-resistant for the dome that, at its peak, is 46 feet above the main floor of the library, according to library officials.
During the project, six of the library’s 47 parking spots will be unavailable, and the building’s east and west courtyards will be closed.
Interim Library Director David Seleb said the work is expected to be completed around Aug. 1.
Construction costs are projected to be approximately $1 million, according to library officials.
“We have been frugally building our reserves knowing we need to do this,” said Johnson, adding there were private donations to offset some of the costs.
The dome was last renovated in 1984, following the building’s 1931 opening.
The repair to the library’s dome may just be a proverbial chapter to the entire book of an upgrade to the building, which was a donation by two daughters of prominent early 20th century Chicago businessman and philanthropist John Shedd.
“It is a small jewel box of a building,” local historian Arthur Miller said.
Yet given the library’s age, Johnson acknowledged there are issues to be addressed in terms of HVAC, infrastructure and expanding ADA compliance.
“We need to look at how we utilize spaces there,” Johnson said. “That is what we intend to do, but first we need to look at accessibility and take care of that; and second we need to take a look at all the existing space and do some renovation work.”
Johnson said conversations were set to start at the March 14 library board meeting about the next steps for the future as informal conversations have been ongoing for years.
“We welcome input from the community,” Johnson said.
One question ahead is financing a renovation that would likely cost millions. Johnson said there is still some money in reserves, and the Lake Forest Library Foundation has been established that could provide financial assistance with both a capital campaign and endowment.
However, Johnson said securing funds from other sources might still be necessary.
The library is a separate unit of government away from the city, but the city levies taxes on the library’s behalf.
“They are a separate taxing body, but they cannot borrow money without the City Council approval,” Pandaleon said.
Moreover, the mayor appoints the trustees sitting on the nine-member board.
Former City Council members Stanford “Randy” Tack and Prue Beidler, along with resident Paul Hamann are running to succeed Pandaleon in next month’s election.
“We are happy to work with whoever the mayor who gets elected,” Johnson said.
As for the start of the dome project, Johnson was pleased the scaffolding was finally going up.
“After so many years,” Johnson said. “We are excited to have this move forward.”
Lake Forest, Lake Bluff libraries welcoming new directors; 'The most important thing we do is build community'
Two local public libraries are set to have fresh day-to-day guidance with new directors scheduled to start next month.
On Dec. 13, the Lake Forest Library board announced the hiring of David Seleb as interim library director starting in early January. He succeeds Catherine Lemmer, who announced her retirement in October.
Also set to start in early January is Renee Grassi as the new director of the Lake Bluff Library.
Seleb, a Lake Forest native, retired last February after a nearly 10-year run as the executive director of the Oak Park Public Library, according to a library statement.
Prior to Oak Park, Seleb was the director of the Indian Trails Library District in Wheeling, the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District, and the Blue Island Public Library.
"We are grateful for the extensive library experience that David will bring to Lake Forest Library," library board president John Johnson said. "We know that the Lake Forest Library staff and patrons will benefit from his interim leadership as the library board searches for an executive director."
Johnson said in a subsequent interview that the board hopes to have a permanent director named by early summer or sooner as it has retained a librarian executive search to facilitate the process.
Seleb will take charge of a library where the board recently approved a nearly $1 million contract for a restoration of the dome on the building originally built in 1931.
Johnson said construction would begin as soon as weather permits, with the goal of completion by next summer.
This was the first stage in a continuing renovation of the entire building and the board will soon prioritize the subsequent phases.
"We can't do it all at once, but we are deliberately moving forward in stages," Johnson said.
Seleb will replace Lemmer, who is retiring after close to seven years in Lake Forest.
"It is a natural evolution of reaching a certain age," she said in an interview.
Lemmer, who did not comment on her future plans, said she was pleased with the work of her staff during her time in the community.
"We have really renovated services, programming and operations," she said. "It has become a much more effective and transparent institution. We are more responsive to needs and interests of the community. We are hosting a wide range of programming."
She also spoke of the overall importance of a library.
"The most important thing we do is build community," Lemmer said. "Right now, we are in an environment where people are desperately seeking to have conversations that aren't arguments, and to build connections to feel again that everyone has value and that all opinions are valued. That is at the heart of what a library does."
Up north in Lake Bluff, Grassi is set to take over as she had been working at Dakota County Library in Minnesota, leading its Youth Services Department.
Before moving to Minnesota, Grassi worked in different roles at Chicago suburban libraries, including Deerfield, Glencoe and Glen Ellyn.
"We are so looking forward to Renee joining our library team," board president Kathy Meierhoff said in a statement. "It is clear that Renee has a strong sense of the culture of Lake Bluff. She is a team-oriented leader who brings a wide set of experience and skills that will help enhance the excellence of our library."
Grassi succeeds Eric Bailey as permanent executive director. Bailey left last summer to take a director position in Wisconsin. Since then, Katie Horner has served as interim executive director.
2022 Best Video, Video Montage, ELGL Swag, Library, County Building
#CityHallSelfie Day on August 15, 2022 was a huge success – people from across the world took a minute to snap a selfie in front of their local government building. Lake Forest Library took the "Best Library" award.
Lake Forest Reads
Celebrating its 10th year, Lake Forest Reads–a program presented by Lake Forest Library and community partners–will read about Rosalind Franklin in the novel "Her Hidden Genius," the namesake of nearby Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
"Every year we strive to choose a title for Lake Forest Reads that resonates with our community, that is well written, and offers an opportunity to partner with other local organizations," says Kate Buckardt, Head of Adult Services at Lake Forest Library.
Theme of Book May Scare the Pants Off Readers
Getting dressed in the morning is something we all do. Some people set their clothes out neatly pressed the night before; others grab whatever is clean from the top of the laundry basket.
Regardless of how you arrive at the outfit you’re wearing, few of us think about the lifespan of our clothes. The Lake Forest and Lake Bluff libraries hope to make consumers more aware of sustainable clothing with Read Between the Ravines.