Huntley Area Public Library Proposes a 33,000 Square Foot Addition

On April 16, 2008, the Huntley Area Public Library Board of Trustees met to determine the amount for a referendum question to place on the ballot in November.

Based on a survey of residents, information from financial advisors, and the resources needed for the library to serve its residents, they have decided the question will list an amount that comes to about $5 per month for a home whose market value is $250,000. That equals less than the cost of 3 bestselling books (average in-store price about $25), or 4 newly released DVDs (average online purchase price $14.99 to $22.99). With this amount the board can expand the existing library by about 33,000 square feet, increase its collection and services, and cover operating costs for the expansion. This is about half the number of square feet that would have been added if the 2005 referendum had been approved.

Currently, the library only receives approximately 3¢ of each property tax dollar of a resident cardholder for both operating and bond payments. The rest goes to support villages, townships, the county, schools, the park district and other services. The library has not had an increase in its operating fund since 1989 or in the building fund since 1997. Five-times as many people are library cardholders today as there were in 1999. The library also loans over 11-times more items per year than it did in 1999.

The library board of trustees is mindful of the current economic situation. They also recognize that in times of financial difficulties many people rely on the library as a place to save their families hundreds of dollars each year. Whether it is by borrowing books, videos or music CDs instead of purchasing them, using computers with free Internet access to prepare homework assignments or résumés, or getting answers to questions from our Reference professionals, the library is a valuable resource filled with brand-new and classic literary, audio/visual and informational items for all ages.

Public perception when any kind of a tax increase is proposed is also something the library is addressing. With the implementation of an expansion website, Library Director Virginia Maravilla and the Board of Trustees are communicating directly to residents. Several comments and questions have already been posted at the website (www.huntleylibrary.org/build) that should provide concise answers to questions asked.

“We are not imposing a tax increase. We are placing a question on the ballot so people can have a choice,” Maravilla added.

Serving over 50,000 residents, the Huntley Area Public Library has the lowest space per resident of the libraries in McHenry County. It ranks last among 12 libraries with only .30 square feet per resident, about ¼ the average space per resident of the other libraries.

The Board of Library Trustees has consistently listened to the public when planning the future of the library. Putting a referendum question on the ballot once again puts the decision of a library expansion in the hands of the community.

The Huntley Area Public Library District includes all of Huntley, parts of Lake in the Hills and Algonquin, and portions of Grafton, Rutland and Coral Townships. The Huntley Area Public Library is located at 11000 Ruth Road, Huntley, IL 60142. For more information about the library, please visit us on the web at www.huntleylibrary.org or call us at (847) 669-5386.