The New Helen Plum Library

The current Library is 50,000 square feet. The old library building is 34,300 square feet.

Visit our blog post to learn more.

The disposition of all items remaining in the 110 West Maple Street building is currently undetermined.

We have been contacted by patrons hoping to purchase old card catalog furniture. The Library switched to a digital online catalog in June of 1984 and any remaining card catalog furniture was dealt with at that time.

Sign up for the Helen Plum Library email newsletter, which will link to any new project developments, by visiting helenplum.org/newsletters.

Please see the Master Budget from August 2021.

This replaces an earlier draft of the Master Budget from January 20, 2021.

Final project costs will be available upon the total completion of all constructions and installations.

Building cost increases usually occur as a result of market forces and reflect increases in the cost of labor and materials. Some owner-incurred costs do include the extended design process and the purchase of property.

For detailed information on revenue from the 2016 referendum, please see our blog post, A Silver Lining to the Delay.

Once new operating costs are established (2024 or later), the Board can determine plans for future programs, construction options, early bond payoff, and/or tax levy relief.

For detailed information on tax levy relief, please see our blog post, A Silver Lining to the Delay.

The new library has 105 parking spaces, including 5 accessible spaces, and 2 spaces for electric vehicle charging, along with the convenience of a drive-up bookdrop and pickup window.

Our collections develop and change in response to community interests and needs all the time. For example, during the pandemic, we reallocated material budgets to support online lending, like Hoopla, and increased hotspot lending. In our new building, we will continue to assess usage patterns and add to the collection as needed.

Note: The new building provides more accessible spaces for materials; however, we cannot run a direct square footage comparison due to the inaccessible height of shelving at the old building.

Particularly with the proximity to the Illinois Prairie Path, bike racks are placed near both the East and West entrances.

A bicycle repair station will also be available soon.

We have discussed all aspects of sustainability for the project with the architects and have taken a larger review of possibilities for green technology or other enhancements to improve building efficiency. This includes a selection of enhanced roofing materials, two electric vehicle charging stations (available at minimal cost), addressing natural lighting and sunlight/heat absorption, and the potential for future solar panels.

In addition to sustainable energy considerations, the site includes an asphalt parking lot with concrete walkways and permeable pavers incorporated into the project.

Like many area libraries, we have a high-end vending café that includes fresh bean-to-cup coffee options and a wide range of beverage and snack items.

Architects employed a number of methods to deal with temperature including glazing, a shade system, and shading of building overhang.