Article Summary:

A Peotone Public Library District committee is confronting a major strategic decision: spend nearly $2 million on maintenance for the current building or invest an estimated $5 million in a new facility. The discussion is part of a larger effort to determine the best way to serve the entire district, including a potential expansion of services into Monee.

Library Building Committee Key Points:

• A new library building is estimated to cost approximately $5 million.

• The current Peotone library building is facing maintenance and repair fees approaching $2 million.

• A special committee is tasked with comparing the costs and benefits of repairing the current facility versus constructing a new one.

• The committee will tour modern libraries in Elwood and New Lenox for research and ideas.

The Peotone Public Library District is at a critical crossroads, facing a multi-million-dollar choice between investing heavily in its current aging facility or constructing a new one.

According to minutes from the library’s Special Buildings Committee, a new building could cost around $5 million. At the same time, the existing library is looking at maintenance and repair costs that are approaching $2 million. The significant figures have prompted the library board to form a special committee to analyze the best path forward.

The committee’s main objective is “to answer ‘what is the best way to serve the district concerning library buildings while keeping in mind strategic planning for the future,'” the minutes stated. The group consists of Library Board President Margaret Horne, Treasurer Susan Chisausky, Trustee Mary Jane Carlson, and Library Director Sarah Ehlers.

A key factor driving the discussion is the need to better serve residents in the Monee area, which is part of the library district but lacks a physical branch. The committee is formally exploring the “need for a branch library in Monee” as part of its charge.

To gather information, the committee has decided to tour the Elwood branch library on July 15 and, if time permits, the New Lenox Library. These tours are intended to provide insight into modern library design and functionality as the committee weighs its options.

The financial analysis will be central to the committee’s recommendation. By quantifying the nearly $2 million in maintenance against a potential $5 million new build, the committee aims to provide the full Board of Trustees with a clear, data-driven comparison to guide its long-term strategic and financial planning. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for July 22.