Romeoville Library Reopens

Libraries are known for being quiet places, but on Thursday, the ’s Romeoville branch was abuzz with activity.

“When we opened up the doors this morning, there were like eight people lined up,” Assistant Director/Romeoville Branch Manager Beverly Krakovec said.

The patrons were there to get their first glimpse of the newly renovated lower level, now home to the library’s Adult Services department, a busy new teen room, a quiet reading room, computer workstations and a computer lab, and study/meeting rooms, along with the district’s administrative offices and technical services department, which handles processing of all the materials that come into all three branches.

After closing for more than two weeks to allow staff to shift operations downstairs, the lower level opened for the first time at 10 a.m. Thursday. And it seems the early bird patrons weren’t the only ones eager to see the new digs.

“We’ve been swamped today,” Library Director Scott Pointon said.

Staff members on Dec. 19.

“We love it,” Adult Services Librarian Alecia Kerr said. “It’s more modern, it’s easier to navigate.” 

Already, Krakovec said, the teen room has been a big draw. Enclosed by a glass entrance and large windows, the room features booths and big, plush chairs where teens can congregate.

“The concept behind the teen room is that we want them to have their own space,” Pointon said. Inside the room, teens will be free to talk, use their cell phones and hang out — without bothering other patrons.

“The sound is contained,” Pointon explained. The sleek glass enclosure also gives teens a space of their own while allowing library staff to keep an eye on all the goings-on.

While there are plenty of spots for patrons to sit and read, a quiet reading room was added for those who might be bothered by the hustle and bustle of a busy library.

“One of the things we felt very strongly about was creating spaces where different types of users can feel comfortable,” Pointon said.

Phase two begins

Circulation and the children’s department are temporarily located downstairs as work gets under way on the second phase of the renovation. Eventually, they will move up to the first floor, which will also house the audio/visual department and several meeting rooms, including a large room capable of hosting a crowd.

“We could easily get 300 people in there for a concert,” Pointon said. 

Patrons who arrive at the branch must use a ramp to bypass construction on the first floor, then take an elevator down to the lower level. When the upper level is complete, guests will also be able to access the lower level via a rear stairway.

The completed renovations, with a price tag of $6.3 million, will allow the library to occupy the entire 46,000-square-foot building, doubling the amount of space at the branch.

White Oak Library District purchased the branch in 2010 from the Fountaindale Library District. The building was constructed in the 1970s, but the lower level was never occupied by the library.

“Fountaindale just kind of had a revolving door of tenants” on the lower level, Pointon said. That included , which rented space for its administrative center for a decade, he noted.

“We thought, ‘We can take a 23,000-square-foot building and double the space,” Pointon said.

While the building is not LEED certified, Pointon said the design incorporates numerous energy-saving features, including motion sensor-controlled lights that automatically turn off when a room is not in use.

The renovations were designed to make use of a sunken courtyard outside, with numerous windows added to allow more natural light into the building. In the spring, new plantings will be added to spruce things up even more.

“It’ll be very lush,” Pointon said.

Krakovec said the design is the result of staff collaboration with the project architect.

“Everyone contributed,” she said, with staffers sharing their ideas on everything from paint colors to furniture choices to the overall aesthetic.

New look for Lockport, Crest Hill branches too

Library employees are also involved in the design process for upcoming renovations at the , 121 E. 8^th St., and the new , slated to be built near Weber and Caton Farm roads.

All three projects are funded with a $23 million building bond referendum approved by voters in February 2010.

Construction is scheduled to start on the Crest Hill branch in spring 2013. The current branch, 1298 Theodore St., Crest Hill, will remain open during construction.

Next spring, renovations will begin at the Lockport site.

As for the Romeoville branch, the second phase of construction is tentatively slated to be completed in May. Pointon said the district is planning several events to unveil the completed branch.