Joint Subcommittee Will Tackle Library Governance In Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The Downers Grove Village Council and the Library Board of Trustees (LBOT) will form a joint subcommittee to discuss and strategize how the library board is governed. The news was shared Tuesday in a joint statement from Mayor Bob Barnett and the library board ahead of a meeting planned for Jan. 2.

The recent moves come after a nonbinding referendum question was proposed for the April 1 consolidated election. The question, first proposed in late November, was as follows:

“Shall the trustees of the Downers Grove Public Library be elected, rather than appointed?”

The proposed referendum question brought opposition from residents and village commissioners, many of whom pleaded for more information and more time before the question was put on the ballot. Others encouraged open discussion between the village council and the library board.

Related: Residents Favor Appointed Downers Grove Library Board: Patch Survey

At the Jan. 2 meeting, participants will consider "a framework for discussions between the Council and LBOT, to explore potential alternative approaches for selecting LBOT trustees and the pros and cons of such alternatives including retaining the current selection process."

Residents will be able to share public comment at the meeting, which aims to explore timeline that will continue into Sept. 2025, when a referendum question may be considered for the March 2026 election.

The subcommittee will be made up of village commissioners and library board members. Another joint meeting is tentatively planned for February 2026 to finalize how the subcommittee will be organized and operated.

As of Dec. 31, the village council is still set to vote on the proposed referendum question on Jan. 7.