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McHenry Public Library 809 N. Front St. (Route 31) McHenry IL 60050
(815) 385-0036 Open: M-Th. 9-9; Fri. & Sat. 9-5; Sun. 12-4
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Friends of the Library
Recommended Reads/Award Winners
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Your Library ... Your Community
Building Blog -- get the latest information, make a comment and more! Project Update & Special Newsletter Commonly Asked Questions & Answers Population of the library district Map of McHenry Public Library District Proposed new library building (new Design 3 drawings & 3D virtual tour) What will I get for my investment? What is Your Library Worth to You? Value of Your Investment Library Board of Trustees E-Mail/Meetings Recap of Nov. 12 Board of Trustees "Committee of the Whole" Meeting Our board met November 12 with members of staff, the public, members of the Citizens for a New Library committee, the architect, construction manager and bond manager to get input on the recent referendum, which didn't pass (40% yes; 60% no) on November 4. Opinions varied on what the next step should be -- some wanted to try again next April; some wanted to wait and see what the economy will do, but it was clear no one wanted to put more money into the current building, nor did they want to change gears and look into renovating a vacant existing building, because they felt the library would get into a similar situation that it's in now. The majority felt that this community needs and deserves a new library and that we should do it right the first time so we don't have to go back to the taxpayers in several years asking for more money for expansion like some libraries have had to do. The board has a regular meeting November 18, after which this website will be updated with any new developments on the building project. Thanks to those who showed up to provide input at the Nov. 12 meeting. If you're interested in helping the library get a new building, please consider joining the Citizens for a New Library group. Call (815) 385-0036 for more information. Nov. 4 '08 referendum failed by a 60/40 split. The Board of Trustees will meet Nov. 12 to decide their next step. On September 4, a Citizen's Group was formed and met to discuss a campaign on how to educate the community in the hopes of supporting the new library building. Residents interested in helping their effort can call the library at (815) 385-0036. At their August 19 regular meeting, the Library Board of Trustees voted on an amount for a referendum question to be placed on the ballot in November. The ballot question will ask voters to support issuing bonds worth $32 million to construct a new library building and tear down the old. This comes to about $8.68 per month for a home whose fair cash value is $225,000, the average in McHenry. Library trustees have been working on a long-term project since 2004, when they started getting input from patrons, staff, residents, and community leaders as to what the future of the McHenry Public Library should be. Since purchasing the existing building in 1995, the library has grown in terms of collections and staff, and has outgrown the space. Staff has rearranged collections and seating several times to try and make more space, but this hasn't solved the problem. Originally the library board investigated expanding and renovating the existing building, but after a feasibility study was conducted in '06/'07 by architects and engineers, the board learned that the cost to expand, renovate and operate the aging building (built in 1971) was about the same as building a new facility, which would accommodate more than one floor, adequately serve the growing community well into the future and be more energy efficient. So the board changed its direction and decided to pursue a new building. The board, having right of first refusal of the land immediately to the north, approached the owner and in late 2007 reached an agreement to purchase it for just over $800,000. It was paid for out of the library’s reserve fund (built up after paying off the mortgage early) and grant/gift fund. The purchase increased the library’s total property to about four acres. The library has a great central location but needs a larger, more energy efficient and better laid out facility (and one that's up to current library standards) in order to fulfill its mission to enrich community life through responsive library services that meet diverse informational and recreational needs. The board has approximately $2 million saved up to put towards the project, but has to go to the voters in the district to approve issuing $32 million in bonds to cover the remaining project costs, which includes construction, demolition and fees.
1953 – moved to Tesch house on Green St. 1987 – became an independent library district/taxing body. 1988 – district boundaries were expanded to serve not only McHenry, but also McCullom Lake and Holiday Hills, the eastern half of Wonder Lake, and small sections of Bull Valley, Lakemoor, and Island Lake. 1990 – bond issue referendum failed; board looked into other options for expansion. 1995 – library purchased current building (former HVAC manufacturing facility built in ‘70s) for $1.85 million dollars. Made a 25% down payment from the sale of its existing building and undeveloped 10.5-acre property on Green Street; mortgaged the remaining 75%. 1999 – revenues increased due to successful operating funds referendum; more staff, more collections, services and programs offered 2004 – library pays off mortgage six years early; due to space constraints, library hires a space-planning consultant to look at the best use of existing space and to help the board review their options for expansion/renovation. Also holds planning retreat involving civic and community leaders. 2006 – Library hires architectural firm to prepare a long-term plan for possible library expansion/renovation. Community tours and focus groups followed.
Population of the library district The service population of the McHenry Public Library District is approximately 35,300 patrons including the city of McHenry and surrounding areas (at the 2000 census). It is estimated that the library's service population will grow to more than 60,000 by the year 2030.
The building was built in 1971 as a manufacturing facility. It contains 42,000 square feet on mostly one level; a small second floor on the east end of the building houses administrative spaces. The library is currently using 23,920 square feet for patron and staff use, and the remainder is warehouse space used for storage for books we can't house in the main library, and for the Friends of the Library book sales. The chart below shows square feet per resident (courtesy of Huntley Library). Notice how McHenry Public Library is second to last.
Designed by Nagle, Hartray, Danker Kagan McKay Penney Architects, Ltd. Chicago. A three-story, approximately 67,000-square-foot building is proposed. View exterior drawings for
Design 1 ,
Design 2,
Design 3 and
floor plans here.
Your New Library Will Provide: • A roomy, bright, energy-efficient building with more space for a growing collection • Adult Services on one level • More, larger meeting rooms that would be accessible after library hours for various events, • A lobby with space for art/history exhibits • A separate, larger teen area designed by them! • A larger, more comfortable children’s area – with proper area for various ages, and a Storytime room with a ceiling! • A comfortable, quiet "living room" atmosphere for adults to read – with plenty of soft seating • More public computers/a computer lab for adult classes • Study rooms for adults and children • More parking • Improved access for strollers, seniors and the handicapped • Possible vending space for beverages and snacks • A drive-up window for picking up and dropping off materials and other transactions
Did you know ... the average McHenry Public Library patron checks out 25 items each year? That breaks down to 13 books, 4 CDs, 6 movies and 2 books borrowed from other libraries in our system. If you were to buy those items at a retail store, you'd spend about $775! And if you multiply that times 4 people per household, that's $3,100! Currently, the library only receives about 3 cents of each property tax dollar. The rest goes to the schools, county, city, fire district and townships, plus other services. The average household in our district pays just under $150/year in taxes for library services. That gets you free movies, books, music, programs and computer use.
Just as people look for good schools when
moving to a community, they also look at the community's library. Both add to
the value of your home. A library is the cornerstone of lifelong learning and
culture to a community. To see examples of the cost of a new library based on home value, click here. To find out your specific cost (you'll need your property's "fair cash value" from your tax bill or the county clerk's website), click here.
Do you have a story about how McHenry Public Library has benefited you or even changed your life? We'd like to hear it. We’ll publish these stories on our website and in upcoming print materials as we get closer to the possibility of a new library building. Click here to fill out and submit an electronic form.
Library Board of Trustees E-Mail/Meetings The library Board of Trustees meet the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the library's 2nd-floor board room. The public is invited to attend. If you'd like to share a comment about the building program or ask a question of the Board, e-mail them and they will respond as quickly as possible.
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