August 25, 2006
From Ben Schapiro's Desk at the Morton Grove Public Library
Does Morton Grove Need a New Library? Well, yes!
As Library Director, I admit to no small measure of satisfaction when a patron recently wrote to say he has no problem finding materials and that he finds the Library adequate. The goal of every MGPL staff member is to meet the needs of each and every resident so they can be as satisfied as that patron. Unfortunately the patrons satisfaction with things as they have been led to the conclusion that nothing needs to change at the Library.
But we all know one size does not fit all. One patrons source of satisfaction is also anothers inadequate or inaccessible collection. Would a fire department with ladders only tall enough to meet the needs of one or two-story homeowners provide enough safety for everyone in the village?
Over the years the staff at MGPL has done an excellent job of meeting the changing needs of the community despite clearly inadequate space. It may then seem surprising to some that there is a need for a new building.
But it has been apparent for some time that Morton Grove does need a new library building. A 1998 space-planning study determined that the library should be 50% larger than the current building just to adequately house the existing collection and services. To meet state standards for a community our size we need a building more than twice the size of the usable space available now. Half the adult collection is inaccessible to anyone unable to climb stairs. While we have an elevator (added before ADA requirements), there are steps between it and the mezzanine bookshelves.
Not only is the collection difficult to access, the Librarys small size means we cannot add a book to the collection without removing one. For a population of over 22,000, our collection should contain between 139,00 and 201,000 volumes. This number ensures that we can meet the varied needs of the increasingly diverse population. MGPL currently has only 119,000 books, which must be shared among classics and popular titles, both adult and childrens, in the full range of interests such as education, mysteries, history, business, romance, science, philosophy, religion, ethics, and countless others.
Given the lack of space, the minute a book is no longer popular, it becomes a prime candidate for removal to make room for a newer work. We cannot build depth into the print collection, much less house enough audiobooks, DVDs, CDs and other recordings to meet even minimum state standards: while the state recommends a minimum of 24,000 audio and video titles, we currently hold only 14,000.
The age, design and size of the library limit many more aspects of our service to the community. Increasingly, MGPL is the place citizens use to access the Internet with a high-speed connection. Finding a job, staying in touch with others, or privately researching a topic without such Internet access is daunting, and the Library is the only place in town that offers this service. And we do not have enough or even proper space to meet this demand. We cannot conduct our popular computer training sessions for more than one person at a time or in a space that allows some privacy.
Several factors have come together to make this the best time to finance a new library with minimum impact on Morton Grove taxpayers. We can take advantage of revenue from the Lehigh-Ferris TIF tax increment to pay for the bonds to cover some portion of construction costs of a new library. Using TIF funds to finance a new library means the TIF can return a benefit to the whole community using revenue that is going to be collected anyway. The Lehigh-Ferris TIF will be generating increasing tax-increment revenue for 17 years, corresponding closely to the period during which construction bonds would be paid off. Undue delay means a portion of the construction bonds wont be covered by TIF revenue and would have to be paid for some other way.
With a growing population for the first time in several decades, a dedicated revenue stream from the TIF, a Library Board, Village Board and Administration that recognize the power of a library to benefit the whole community, now is the best moment for Morton Grove to build its new Library.
For more information on the new library project, please visit me at the Library or go to: New Library
Posted by at 9:42 AM
July 25, 2006
From Ben Schapiro's Desk at the Morton Grove Public Library
What is a TIF?
Tax incremental financing helps local governments attract new businesses and private development.
The Village of Morton Grove will be having a community meeting to discuss the Lehigh-Ferris Redevelopment District (TIF). To help the community understand what a TIF is and how it can affect each and every resident, the Morton Grove Public Library has found a number of websites that will help explain tax incremental financing (TIF).
Frequently Asked Questions from the Illinois Tax Increment Association.
The Effects of Tax Increment Financing on Economic Development from the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.
Posted by at 4:09 PM
July 17, 2006
Let's Talk about It!
Wednesday, July 26, at 2:00 pm, Ben Schapiro, Director of the Morton Grove Public Library, will discuss current library services and plans for new developments. Join us in the Baxter Room for a lively discussion and light refreshments. For additional information, please call 847-929-5101.
Posted by at 10:10 AM
July 6, 2006
Book a Tropical Escape!
The Morton Grove Public LIbrary is challenging adults and teens to read six books this summer. Here's how the Reading Challenge works: sign up at the Reference Services Desk at the Library. You will be asked for your library card number and phone number. You'll receive a packet of information about the reading challenge, including two lists of recommendations of books to read: Book a Tropical Escape List and Hot Summer Reads List. Complete a brief form for each book that you read and turn in the completed forms at the Reference services Desk. The top part of the form is your entry for the drawing to be held August 7 for one of three Grand Prizes. All entries must be received by 5 pm, Saturday, August 5, 2006. The bottom part of the form will be entered into a binder of anonymous comments and recommendations that readers may browse through at the Library. Everyone is a winner! When you complete three books, you will receive a sports bottle and other small gifts to keep you cool this summer. When you complete six books, you will receive a mini-FM scan radio with light.
Three Grand Prize Winners will be drawn on Monday, August 7. Winners need not be present at the drawing and will be notified by phone. Two of the winners will receive MP3 players and the third winner will receive a DVD player. All Grand Prizes include a $50 gift certificate from Lord and Taylor, two Ravinia Lawn Passes, a Subway gift certificate, and a Morton grove Public Library bag of gifts. For additional information, please call 847-929-5101.
Posted by at 10:59 AM
March 23, 2006
From Ben Schapiro's Desk at the Morton Grove Public Library
By now, Books and Beyond readers may have noticed I have an affinity for technology in Libraries. In part this is because I spent almost two decades working in the software and library automation industry prior to joining Morton Grove Public Library. So I have seen how technology, when used to serve patrons, can multiply the effectiveness of a library.
One of my goals is to broaden the appeal of MGPL by making our collections and staff more accessible to the Morton Grove community. The WiFi project has a great success. We致e seen many new patrons in the Library using their own laptops to access everything the Library has to offer--plus the whole World Wide Web--without the limitations of using our public access PCs and their two hour time limit.
Our newest service, MyMediaMall Digital/Audio book project is up and running nicely. Anyone with an MGPL card can log in and borrow, for free, any of more than 1,000 Digital or Audio books without coming to the Library. The Audio books can be played on a PC or MP3 player or, and this is really cool, burned to a CD for playback in your car. This feature is great for those long commutes on the Edens or METRA. It is also an easy and free way to entertain the kids on those long vacation road trips.
While we池e proud of all our innovations here, no library can serve its community only with technology. The cornerstone of MGPL痴 reputation for service is our staff. Our employees, with their connection to the community, expertise in literature, research and other resources, are what make this Library useful and meaningful.
In April, the Library will welcome a new full-time Teen/Adult Service librarian, Kathryn Opderbeck. Kathryn痴 tasks are to extend our very successful youth services efforts to middle school and high school students. Teens are an underserved population and Kathryn hopes to build an environment here that will serve them academically and become a fun 電estination� where they can gather. An experienced middle school librarian, Kathryn is very enthusiastic and has a real passion for Young Adult literature. Next time you are in the Library please stop by and say 蘇ello� to her.
[As always, please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself to me and let me know if I can be of any assistance.]
Posted by at 3:50 PM
January 1, 2006
From Ben Schapiro's Desk at the Morton Grove Public Library
By the time you are reading this the Library will be well on the way to implementing a new service allowing patrons to download digital books for either reading or listening.
This is a chance to respond to the changing demographics of our community and provide wider access to the Library. The explosion of transit oriented housing and the increase in juvenile circulation indicates a shift to a younger and busier population. This part of the population not only wants more immediacy in service delivery, they are much more comfortable with online activities. Checking out digital or audio books from the Library痴 webpage, using your own computer, PDA or MP3 player, seems a good fit with this demographic. The Library can be closed or you can be on the far side of the planet (or home in your pajamas) the materials are available at any time.
This latter benefit溶ot having to come to the Library building預ddresses a growing concern of the Library葉he fact that there are still segments of our community that are not using or being reached by the traditional library approach.
Thus our goal is no longer simply to get bodies in the door to benefit from our services, it must also be to get patrons the materials they want or need when or where they need them.
A consortium of local libraries runs the service we are looking at and we can join for such a minimal cost that our current book budgets remain unaffected. Every digital or audio book circulated is, in effect, a second copy that makes the paper copy that much more available. Since the online collection is chosen by the participating local libraries the titles should be desirable to the Morton Grove population. And for those residents with a library card, the service is free.
Digital/audio books are now a well-developed, mainstream, product that has proven valuable to many library communities around the country. The service makes sense economically and in terms of reaching out to an underserved and important population without negative impact on existing services or collections. This really is something that offers great promise and is worth a try.
Posted by at 3:45 PM
December 17, 2005
Morton Grove Public Library has gone wireless
The Morton Grove Public Library has gone wireless. Computer users can bring their WiFi enabled laptop computers and surf the web. The system went online December 8, 2005.
During warm weather, the free wireless connection may be utilized by laptop users sitting on the bench in front of the building.
WiFi users will have access to all Internet and computer services except they will not be able to print documents. Only web browser-based e-mail services such as Yahoo!, AOL and HotMail will be available. Stand-alone programs for e-mail like Outlook and Eudora and other protocols cannot be used on the WiFi network.
Posted by at 12:14 PM
December 7, 2005
New Internet Computers at the Morton Grove Public Library
The Morton Grove Public Library has just replaced its public Internet computers with new state-of-the-art computers. Each computer has Microsoft Office loaded in addition to Internet access. Reservations can be made by calling the Reference Desk at 847-929-5101.
Posted by at 10:56 AM