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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 - November 5 - Referendum OAK BROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY . „,::124,4*, a k '`� „,.. i, ,,,,,,,,, -,,,,,,,,, , . rr• , ,, , .. „.... %, „,,, , , , ik 1 A Community Resource : Good for You . Good for Oak Brook! • Public libraries long have been the heart and cultural centers of their communities. The diverse resources for recreational, educa- Discussion about expanding tional and vocational uses offer something of value to everyone. our Library has taken place Those not skilled in using these resources find ready help from since 1986. The time for information professionals on the Library staff. bringing plans to fulfillment is near. November 5th you • Electronic technology is changing the public library, making the will have an opportunity to indexing and accessing of data easier. Sustained reading and make a new Library a reality. portability still favor the print-on-paper format. This brochure addresses • Libraries responsive to their patrons provide both electronic and questions and issues which paper media as well as story-telling and other children's learning need to be clarified while activities, a variety of cultural events, informational programs, making an informed decision comfortable reading spaces and quiet study areas. as a community. • While new technologies regularly cause the prediction that public libraries are unnecessary, history shows the opposite. Movable Oak Brook Library Association type changed the role of the scribe, but it enhanced libraries. Campaign Committee Television changed delivery of information and entertainment, and libraries became more popular. Computerization seems to be stimulating requests for all types of information. Librarians theo- rize that circulation has increased, in part,because computer ser- OBLA Board Of Directors vices help people discover titles they previously did not know Lucia Sutton,President existed. Mary Ann Nunez,Vice President Joseph Futlan,Treasurer • The future of libraries is as a place in the community containing Barbara Benezra,Secretary Alan Farnell Anthony Ingrisano both collections and electronic resources. It has well-trained Reynold Gottlieb Roberta Petz library staff to assist with access to collections and technology and Nancy Hayden Ardythe Tiesenga is located in a building able to accommodate theses resources. Margaret Tresley The public library is both an edifice and an interface in our future. "Let's Make It Happen” — Vote YES on November 5, 1996 Facts You Should Know Before Voting Why does Oak Brook need a were formed, a real estate tax Why do we need computers? new library? would be levied on the assessed Can't students use them at valuation of all properties in the school? The current building was not district, including all Oak Brook designed for use as a library. properties. Yes. Children can and do use Floor layout, accessibility and computers in school on a limit- space are inadequate. The If we can't merge, can we ed basis. Additional library corn- building is "landlocked"with no contract for library services puters allow greater access to space available to expand the utilize professional library assis- with Elmhurst, Downers structure or the parking. tance. The librarians are infor- Grove or Hinsdale? mation navigators who can assist Why doesn't Oak Brook These libraries have indicated the novice and professional merge with another library? that even if we contracted for user. services, infrastructure improve- All neighboring libraries are ments would be required. One Why is it advantageous to limited by law to their municipal Library stated they would access the Internet at the boundaries. Therefore, they require us to build a new build- library? cannot annex the Oak Brook ing within Oak Brook prior to Library service area without beginning contracted services. Librarians can help direct the both communities passing a user to authenticated sources in complex set of referenda. Either Other capital items such as vans an efficient manner.And, community may reject such an to move books between facilities, Internet access is a free service annexation. Our neighbors additional staff, etc.would also at libraries. which are "home rule"commu- be required. Estimates show that nities would lose home rule this would be more costly than advantages bybecomingAre Oak Brook residents g a providing our own library restricted at other libraries? library district in order to services. annex the Oak Brook service area. Tax cap limitations on our Yes. The restrictions vary but "non-home rule" neighbors Fact:A quality library include a limit of three books make any change in governance raises property values checked out to a non-resident disadvantageous to them. cardholder and priority use of computers by local residents. Children can only participate in How will the Villageand a f Even so, wouldn't this bestory hour programs, etc. in cheaper for Oak Brook new building? their own library. residents? The Village Board has provided No. The Oak Brook Library is careful management of Village How important is it for the not "property tax" supported. finances. Sales tax and other Library to be handicapped revenues have continued to accessible? All expenses are paid from the increase. The Village expects to General Corporate Fund of the be in a financial position to fund It's the law. Currently, the Village (primarily, sales tax rev- a new library building with cash. Library does not meet accessi- enues). If all referenda were This means no bonds would be bility codes required in accor- successful and a library district issued and hence, no out-of-pocket dance with the `Americans with which included Oak Brook cost to residents. Disabilities Act." Funding Issues • Oak Brook residents will NOT be taxed in order to construct or operate the proposed new Oak Brook Public Library. • Oak Brook Public Library is NOT supported by property tax dollars. • Oak Brook Public Library is a "free public library" under Illinois law. • A "free public library," by law, cannot levy any taxes for operations. • The proposed new library will be funded in the same manner as the current library—at NO cost to Oak Brook residents. Site Issues Sports Core Site Another Site • No cost for site or need for an • Possible cost and/or necessity for intergovernmental agreement an intergovernmental agreement • Village-owned, therefore unified • Only municipal department isolat- with other Village operations ed from other Village operations • Enhances green space • Eliminates green space • Adequate footprint for inside • No site yet identified able to and outside functions meet requirements • Adequate, adjacent parking • Unknown • Pleasing vistas • Unknown Standards Issues The Illinois Standards for an Established Library for a community the size of Oak Brook recommend: • 68,000 volumes; our Library has 40,000 • 226 periodical titles; our Library has 110 • 66 reader seats; our Library has 20 and, our Library has NO public access computer or printer. How the Library Stacks Up Library Purchase Price Hardcover Books Free $20-$30 Paperback Books Free $6-$12 Newspapers Free $200 annually Magazines Free $17-$150 annually Morningstar Report Free $425 annually Value Line Investment Survey Free $525-$820 annually Encyclopedia Free $1,000 Compact Discs Free $15-$20 OAK BROOK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Non-Profit Or g.ge P.O. BOX 3131 U.S. Posta OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS 60522-3131PAID Permit No.371 Oak Brook,IL uoileioossy�(�eJgi�coag hep /q JOJ pied.. pa)1eda�d 9661 `S Ian AO S eagiZ ailgnd jooag )IEO de l}aaa)s II 058 I�lavew!Xoad u aao0 0 �peob X1:1 o a We0 to ap!S ells eu�e auk uo�l.100 pN �S I EI peooaca�eO auk le pu0000cind uo!11!o�£�,aua� S}! eaoda Shod atobu owe'aul u!Ppun� e0�o a6ell!�aur 11 euS Is Mau eoice SPum ooa9)1 -xoadde � az!1!�n�1 II u!ala ypZ 81), c c+� 'S o�z 8 Q: I'm confused by what you mean by a a a"CO "library services". rry,PUBL'ic <i� _ °° A: A traditional library has been a 0 -< catalogued collection of books, periodicals, etc. Today our Library needs access to Internet, on-line '29/ 0�� services of all types, video, etc. We eA00K,\\-\ . must provide not only evolutionary materials but revolutionary access. We want to plan for 2025 and beyond. New at the Library 1112 Oak Brook Road Q: If I want more information, have additional questions or want to become Hours more informed on issues, where do I Monday - Thursday: 10 A.M. - 9 PM. start? Friday & Saturday: 10 A.M. - 5 PM. Sunday (school year only): 1- 5 P.M. A: Further sources of information include the Library Commission Report to the Service Village Board (on file at the Library),the Reference assistance is available during Library Commissioners, the Library all Library hours. Director, the Village Manager's office A wide range of Youth programs and members of the Village Board. is now offered. Call the Library at 990-2222 for details. c e r"' CO Collectionsco 0 ""t , ' Updated and expanding collections, C ;;..:.k,;= youth materials, travel books, d T o business, best-sellers, mysteries. i CO C) mir (JJ L co o '7/- �eome ta eoule! - m 0 ° o _ 6 o ,.. - WO ` lam' Paid for by theo Oak Brook Library Association O a. 0 1996 III Q . Printed on recycled paper Nifty a Alevat Library ? The Oak Brook Library Association Board would lose home rule advantages by Other capital items such as vans to offers this informational brochure in becoming a "library district" in order to move books between facilities, response to the Most Frequently Asked annex the Oak Brook service area. Tax additional staff, etc., would also be Questions about the possibility of a new cap limitations on our "non-home rule" required. Estimates show that this library building for our Village. Itis essential neighbors make any change in would be more costly than maintaining that accurate information be given to Oak governance disadvantageous to them. control of our own library services. Brook voters so that an informed decision can be the result of the November 5, 1996 Q: Even so, wouldn't this be cheaper for Q: How will the Village fund a new referendum. Oak Brook residents? building? The information in this brochure has been A: No. The Oak Brook Library is not A: The Village Board has provided careful developed by the Oak Brook Library Association, a "Friends of the Library" "property tax"supported. All expenses management of Village finances. Sales group that has long supported a new facility are paid from the General Corporate tax and other revenues have continued for our Village Library. Fund of the Village (primarily, sales to increase. The Village expects to be tax revenues). If all referenda were in a financial position to fund a new successful and a library district which library building with cash. This means Q: Why does Oak Brook need a new library? included Oak Brook were formed,a real no bonds would be issued and hence, estate tax would be levied on the no out-of-pocket cost to residents. A: The current building was not designed assessed valuation of all properties in for use as a library. Floor layout, the district, including all Oak Brook Q: If the library can be funded out of cash, accessibility and space are inadequate. properties. The tax bill for homes in Oak why are we going to referendum? The building is "landlocked" with no Brook could range from around $200 space available to expand the structure to over$1,000 per year, depending on A: Our Village Board believes that sound, or the parking. assessed value. responsible,fiscal government is based on meeting the needs of residents and Q: Why doesn't Oak Brook merge with Q: If we can't merge, can we contract for the business/commercial community. another library? library services with Elmhurst,Downers Part of the reason to go to referendum Grove or Hinsdale? is to confirm what the surveys of A: All neighboring libraries are limited by residents showed: They desire better law to their municipal boundaries. A: This is possible, but these libraries have library service. The other reason is to Therefore, they cannot annex the Oak indicated that even if we contracted for continue the dialogue about defining Brook Library service area without both services, infrastructure improvements what "library service" means, not only communities passing a complex set of would be required. One Library stated today, but in the future. Information referenda. Either community may reject they would require us to build a new sources, uses and access are changing such an annexation. Our neighbors building within Oak Brook prior to rapidly. The Village wants to reflect this which are "home rule" communities beginning contracted services. in the services the Library provides. ADVISORY REFERENDUM RESULTS "Shall the Village of Oak Brook utilize funds available in its General Corporate Fund, in the amount of approximately $3.5 Million, to construct and equip a new public library at a site located at the Oak Brook Sports Core, on the north side of Oak Brook Road (31st Street) approximately 2500 feet west of York Road?" YES 2,169 (52%) NO 2,006 (48%)