Too Much Money At Elmhurst's 'New' Library?

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst alderman questioned this week whether the Elmhurst Public Library has too much money in its coffers for capital projects.

The library has about $1.9 million in the account now, and that is budgeted to increase to over $2 million next year.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Alderman Jacob Hill, a librarian at Elmhurst University, said the amount seemed a "little high."

He said Downers Grove's library, which he considered comparable, has a much smaller fund for capital projects.

"Why do we carry such a large balance in that fund?" he said. "We seem to fund it fairly aggressively, and I'd like to know about the library's thinking on that."

In response, the library's director, Mary Beth Harper, said the library puts $250,000 into the account each year. This is based on an engineering study that projects the building's long-term needs, she said.

The library building turned 20 years old this year.

"People still constantly refer to the library as the new library, but it is no longer new," Harper said. "It's a well-maintained library, and it will continue to be well-maintained."

When building improvements are needed, Harper said, the library wants to avoid a tax increase and debt.

As for Downers Grove's library, Harper said it has $750,000 in its capital account and is planning to put in $350,000 more.

"They recently have done some major renovations to the library. It is an old building. Maybe they spent some down," Harper said.

Alderman Rex Irby differed with Hill's assessment. He suggested the annual increases in the capital account may not be enough.