Residents Weigh in on New Library

About 50 people turned out to Shorewood-Troy Library Dec. 3 to weigh in on the possibility of a whole new library building.

"They were really just trying to get a feel for if they would like the building and how the building would work for them,"Jennie Mills, library executive director said.

The library district is already under contract to purchase the 5 acres they intend to build on, land which is out by the newly-constructed village hall.

As we reported in April, the library district has outgrown its current space.

"We don’t have enough room for (book) collections," Mills said at the time. "We are getting rid of books that could still be used to make room for new books."

The residents who came out to the December meeting were looking for the library to incorporate certain things into their newly designed space when it is built.

Among their request are better children's space, more appealing children's space, better parking and more technology.

"(They wanted) more computer terminals and more complex software," Mills said

The residents wanted to see more business application software, some Macs in the library and more electrical outlets, Mills said. Residents also would like to see more comfortable seating.

While the library had the funds to purchase the land already available, the ability to build on that land would require approval of the taxpayers via a referendum.

"We are aiming to go to referendum on April 9," Mills said.

While the library intends to ask the taxpayer for an increase when they go to the polls, the amount of that increase is not yet final.

About 50 people turned out to Shorewood-Troy Library Dec. 3 to weigh in on the possibility of a whole new library building.

"They were really just trying to get a feel for if they would like the building and how the building would work for them,"Jennie Mills, library executive director said.

The library district is already under contract to purchase the 5 acres they intend to build on - which is out by the newly-constructed village hall.

As we reported in April, the library district has outgrown its current space.

"We don’t have enough room for (book) collections," Mills said at the time. "We are getting rid of books that could still be used to make room for new books."

While the library had the funds to purchase the land already available, the ability to build on that land would require approval of the taxpayers via a referendum.

"We are aiming to go to referendum on April 9," Mills said.

While the library intends to ask the taxpayer for an increase when they go to the polls, the amount of that increase is not yet final.

Mills said the architectural concept will not be done until end of December and by Jan. 10, they should have an amount.

Mills said in all of the feedback about design and desires of the new library, residents did not complain about the possible referendum.

"We didn’t really hear any anger or upset about the tax law," she said.

Shorewood-Troy Library is part of the Pinnacle Library Consortioum.

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