This Elmhurst Library Problem Minimized

ELMHURST, IL – For several reasons, parking at Elmhurst Public Library is not as bad as it used to be, an official said Monday.

"It was my No. 1 complaint," Mary Beth Harper, the library's executive director, told Elmhurst aldermen. "Lately, I haven't had as many complaints."

She attributed that to the library's leasing of parking spots at the neighboring Elmhurst Art Museum and the increased use of digital library loans.

Also, scheduling has played a role, Harper said. For instance, the library has eliminated back-to-back programs such as story times, which bring dozens of people.

The library has also stopped allowing meeting room reservations during its busiest time, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Harper said.

"Some people don't love this, but we're still able to accommodate patrons all those other hours," she said.

Previously, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., those who got meeting room reservations were happy.

"But so many other people were really unhappy because they would be coming to the library and not finding a place to park," Harper said. "It really upset our senior population, too, because they can't park far away."

Harper also said the library believes its hours fit local needs. She said it was better to have evening hours on Friday rather than expanded hours on Sunday.

She said Friday evening library usage was almost as much as on the other nights.

"Friday night programs are well-attended by school-age kids," Harper said. "They almost hold a jam session every Friday night for kids who can play music and who can't go to bars and play. They're looking for another venue to play in. So that's something that works very well."

Harper was taking aldermen's questions as part of her annual budget presentation.