Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Ida Public Library Expansion Plans on Hold


Economy pauses expansion plans for Ida Public Library. (Rockford Register-Star, 7/12/2011)

Excerpt: The library has been working on plans for a 25,000-square-foot addition and to better use current space since 2009. Its board hired Ollmann Ernest Architects in December, and the library most recently acquired land for the expansion this spring: the former First Church of Christ, Scientist building at 312 N. State St., which was acquired Feb. 28, and the building at 111 W. Hurlbut Ave., which was closed March 31.

Library officials approved the use of endowment and memorial funds to buy two properties neighboring the library and expect to continue researching whether the two buildings could be integrated into an expansion or need to be torn down when funding for the project is available. Before the purchase, the library had been surrounded by buildings and its parking lot, with little open land to expand.

While expansion is still something to be pursued, it will take fundraising, additional donations and more time to see it become a reality, said Ida Library Board President Paul Grover
.

Related post:
Reduced hours, frozen positions @ Belvidere's Ida Public Library. (4/9/2011)

No comments:

Post a Comment