Reimagine Your Library

The Library first opened in 1931 as a 20,000-square-foot facility. An 8,000-square-foot Youth Services addition was built to the west of the building in 1960. The Library last underwent an expansion in 1976 with a 19,000-square-foot Adult Services addition. 

The current Library facility lacks many modern features and has operational constraints. Notably, the Library’s Youth Services area is smaller compared to comparable community libraries and is not conducive to provide a full level of youth library services for the community. 

In 2020, the Youth Services department was reconfigured in order to create an activity room for programs, crafts, and more. To better meet the needs of the community’s youth, the Library recommends an expansion of the Youth Department to provide space for reading, study, collections, and play. 

Recent remodeling projects have maximized options without expanding the space. To meet key needs as referenced in the 2017 needs assessment, expansion of the Library is necessary. 

With an average of 700 visitors daily, the Library stands as the most frequented public building in Highland Park. 

Youth participation increased notably with a 23% increase in youth program attendance between 2003 (16,571 attendees) and 2019 (20,491 attendees). Also, youth storytime attendance rose by 189% from 2003 (2,299 attendees) to 2019 (6,648 attendees). 

The Library receives meeting room requests from various community groups such as book groups, the League of Women Voters, scout troops, military family support groups, condo associations, the Chamber of Commerce, the Sister Cities Foundation, and more. 

The expanded Library will offer improved accessibility, up-to-date amenities, and enhanced services to all residents in a central location, supporting the educational, social, and cultural needs of residents of all ages for many years to come. 

FGM, a Chicago-based design firm, was hired in 2006 to review the current library facility and future space needs. FGM’s findings recommended an additional 25,000 square feet. 

Engberg Anderson, a Milwaukee-based architectural firm, was hired in January 2008 to provide pre-construction services. The scope of the expansion project was reduced from 25,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet due to budgetary constraints.  $6 million was earmarked for the project by City Council in the summer of 2008. The 2008, 10,000 square foot addition was to be located on the south and west sides of the Library with the majority of the structure built on property owned by the Library. A small portion of the building was to crossover to Park District land.  The Library received assurances from the Park District Board that use of the Park District land would be allowed.  Designs for the addition were presented to the Design Review Commission in May of 2009.  Soon thereafter, the project was suspended due to the nationwide economic downturn. 

The City Council approved funding in 2012 to remodel the Adult Services wing and building entries. The project included the addition of four small group meeting rooms but did not address the need for an expanded Youth Department and several other critical space needs. 

In 2017, Williams Architects performed a formal needs assessment of the Library while also exploring options to create a Community Campus including other City services. At the culmination of Williams’ work, it was determined that the other City services would not be included in the Library’s proposed expansion. 

In 2020, the Library completed an interior reconfiguration and renovation to repurpose space for a Youth Services storytime and program room, a larger Film & Music area, a Middle School Room, and five additional group meeting rooms. No square footage was added to the building. 

Using the property east of the Library is impractical for the expansion design goals due to the current interior layout and budget constraints. Expanding eastward would require an additional 7,427 sf (est.), significantly increasing project costs.  

Much of the expansion will focus on the Youth Services spaces, currently on the west side of the building, to provide comprehensive services to the community’s youth and families. Relocating and increasing youth services spaces to the east would require a larger expansion to also address program spaces. 

Additionally, expanding eastward would necessitate a new exterior entrance, a new public service point, and more staff. 

Therefore, based on the architect’s recommendation to use our limited budget wisely and achieve project goals, the expansion will use the property west of the Library. 

The overall project cost estimate of an east expansion is $11M (est.), with increased annual operating costs of at least $200K. 

The overall project cost estimate of an east expansion is $11M (est.), with increased annual operating costs of at least $200K. 

West Concept (current plan)

• Project Cost: $6,965,000
• Construction Cost: $5,689,495
• Total: $7M (est.) 

Addition Square Footage: 7,845

• Meeting Room & Storage 3912 sf 
• Youth Servies & Work 3,933 sf 

Renovation Square Footage: 16,000 

• Main Level is 10,125 sf. Lobby, Elevator, Youth Services, Staff Work 
• Youth Services & Work 7,427 sf 
• Upper Level is 1775 sf. Archives, Passageway, Elevator 
• Lower Level is 4,100 sf. Entry, Lobby, Elevator, Maker Space, Staff Work 

East Concept 

• Project Cost: $10,730,420 
• Construction Cost: $9,017,291 
• Total: $11M (est.) 
• Additional annual operating costs (2026): $209,000 for staff, maintenance, etc. 

Addition Square Footage: 15,272 

• Meeting Room & Storage 3912 sf 
• Youth Servies & Work 11,360 sf 

Renovation Square Footage: 16,000 

• Main Level is 11,125 sf. Lobby, Elevator, Services, Staff Work 
• Added Main Level renovation of 1000 sf at East Wing. 
• Upper Level is 1775 sf. Archives, Passageway, Elevator 
• Lower Level is 4,100 sf. Entry, Lobby, Elevator, Maker Space, Staff Work 

A preliminary exploration of this option was conducted in 2023, and determined this option would greatly exceed the available funds. Some of the factors that would impact the high costs include: 

• 16,000 sf of the public area on the main floor would require the addition of pillars or other supports. 
• Significant effect on current rooftop mechanical system. 
• Library operations could not continue during construction, resulting in an extended closure or relocation. 

Based on this, the Board representatives found the option too costly and unsatisfactory due to its negative impact on Library services. 

The properties located at 444 and 466 Laurel Avenue were listed for sale in approximately the beginning of March, 2016. In light of the interest in expansion of the Library, the City began negotiations with the property owners of the subject properties in the first quarter, 2016 to negotiate a possible purchase of the properties. The intent was to explore a Library expansion with increased parking capacity and to also evaluate the possibility of relocating the Senior and the City’s Youth Services programs to an expanded Library facility. The purchase of the two properties made a facility or parking expansion project more feasible. 

The City Council approved the residential real estate contract for the acquisition of the subject properties at the October 24, 2016 City Council regular meeting.  The City closed on the properties in December 2016. 

The Park District of Highland Park, City, and Library are exploring the possible use of their land for expansion purposes.  The Park District has not formally authorized the use of their land by the City or the Library. The City and Library will seek formal approval from their respective corporate authorities.