The voters of the Plainfield Public Library District will determine if plans for a new building and expanded library services can proceed at the March 15 primary election.
The two ballot measures would fund building and operating a new 72,000-square-foot library to serve the 75,337 residents of the district, expanding 21st century library services in a building that meets current building codes, including improved access under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the library, if the referenda do not gain voter support, the cost of keeping the 25-year-old current building operational will continue to escalate. The required improvements will reduce already tight space for library services by 20 percent or more at considerable cost and without allowing library staff to maintain even the existing level of services.
The library said that after 25 years of hard use as a public building, the cost of simply keeping the Plainfield Library functional continues to rise. Numerous building systems have failed or are failing, having surpassed their expected life.
A full evaluation of the building in 2012 identified over $2.1 million in repairs and replacements needed to keep the building functional in the long term, not including the upgrades necessary to meet current codes. Over the past five years, over $1.6 million was spent on repair and replacement of building systems and maintenance. Major repairs and replacements include concrete, windows, shingled roof, flat roof, HVAC rooftop units, boiler, HVAC valves, plumbing fixtures, pipe fittings, HVAC control system and front doors. Failure of systems and components are ongoing.
Repairs and replacements needed to keep the building operational in the long term also trigger the compliance with today’s building codes. The cost of that compliance is high in both dollars and space. Built before Americans with Disabilities Act compliance was required for public buildings, accessibility requirements would also impact space available for library services.
Library officials estimate a cost of over $10 million for the replacement and upgrade of systems within the current building envelope, reducing area available for public services, to reach full compliance for safety and accessibility.
The enlarged building in the proposed plan significantly expands library services and community activity rooms, enhancing its position as an attraction for area residents and anchor of the downtown.
The new building, equipment and furnishings will provide at least 20 years of minimum maintenance cost. A new facility would meet the latest building safety and accessibility requirements.
Following successful referenda, the final design process will focus on creating an exterior design that enhances and fits with the atmosphere of the historic downtown.
The $39 million building bond and 19 percent operating tax rate increase will be shared by the 19,000 homeowners and all other property taxpayers in the library district.
The average home in Plainfield, valued to $300,000, would pay an estimated increase of $14.91 per month.
“Status quo is not an option,” said Library Director Julie Milavec. “We can’t band-aid the building’s problems for much longer.”
Approval for the proposed plan will avoid reductions to library services and public space in order to keep the current building functioning long term. An estimated $10 million would be required to make urgent repairs to the existing 25 year-old building.
Library officials said that covering this magnitude of repair costs without increasing available funds would require a 20 percent cut to the library’s operating budget for the next 20 years. In 2015, all expenditures other than staff and library materials equaled 22 percent of the library’s budget.
For more information, visit the library’s website at www.plainfieldpubliclibrary.org