Building a better GEPL
Societal and technological shifts are changing the way members of the Glen Ellyn community use the library. Here at the library, we designed new spaces to accommodate the Glen Ellyn community’s evolving needs.
We renovated the 2nd floor to give our adult members a space to meet, create, collaborate, and learn. We’re excited to give our youngest members a space better suited to their evolving needs.
What Is New
Expanded Youth Program Room: The program room was enlarged to accommodate more people for youth programs.
A New Middle School Room: A space dedicated just to Middle Schoolers was created toward the front of the department. Middle Schoolers no longer have to walk through the children’s play area to search the shelves for books and entertainment.
Children’s Interactive Play Area: The area features interactive play panels for children of all ages, a pinwheel shaped discovery activity table, a walk-up LEGO wall, interactive magnet board, and custom puppet theater for imaginative play.
Early Reader Nook: The nook has oversized seating that fits both an adult and child comfortably.
Improved Furniture: Additional appropriate seating for all ages — youth to adult — was added throughout the department.
What Become Even Better
Books: The majority of our materials budget was spent purchasing and housing books both physically and electronically.
Music, Movies, Periodicals, and Games: These products continue to be purchased and housed in an updated display area.
Digital Collections: Our digital collections continue expanding to keep pace with our community’s demands. Currently, GEPL provides over 41,000 digital ebooks, music, magazines, movies, and databases. These materials can be located under the Digital Library section of the website.
Programs: The library continues creating great family-oriented programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the redesign entail?
The library’s Youth Department was redesigned. The remodel created a flexible, accessible, and user-friendly space for kids and parents. The new space is an interactive and imaginative area in which children can learn and play.
Where did the funding coming from?
Funding for the project will come from the Glen Ellyn Public Library’s Building, Equipment and Maintenance Fund.
Was the project on budget?
Yes. The Youth remodel project stayed on budget and on time. The library hired Shales-McNutt Construction Management Firm to ensure the redesign project stayed on budget once more. Shales-McNutt has a strong history of managing library renovations including the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Barrington Area Library, and Gail Borden Public Library.
Who designed the GEPL’s redesign plans?
Product Architecture + Design who is renowned for their library renovation work, most notably the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Niles Public Library, and Vernon Area Public Library designed the new space.
How were redesign plans developed?
The library conducted a series of open invitation focus groups in 2010. The redesign plans were crafted after careful consideration for the Glen Ellyn community’s evolving needs.
What happened to the existing library furniture?
Library furniture that was not repurposed in the remodeled space was recycled. Many local area libraries and schools picked up the furniture and were able to reuse it for their facilities.
Why is there film on the windows?
This was added to the east windows to help with early morning glare.
Why is the play area in the back?
With the play area in the back, there are fewer kids wondering outside the youth area and into the lobby and circulation areas; the majority of the noise is confined to the back of the department, so there is less disruption for older members; and, middle schoolers will no longer have to walk through the children’s play area to search the shelves for books and entertainment.
Why did you reorganize the picture book collection?
We found that members generally ask for picture books by topic and kids will enjoy finding new books on the topics they love.
What educational trends are affecting GEPL?
There are a lot of educational trends that affect youth today, such as STEAM, Common Core State Standards, and American Association of School Librarian’s Standards for the 21st Century Learner. Technology is also a huge trend in education, and not only various technologies as tools within the classroom, but learning about technology and the increase of various e-formats now available for students.
What new technologies are you offering in this remodeled area?
Several new computers, charging stations, and outlets were added. iPad stations — similar to the setup in the Adult Department — are available for members to use to search for books. There are two MacBook Airs for middle school students to check out at the desk and use in-house. We will also be able to add a second 3D printer in January, 2016.
When will the lobby and the circulation area be renovated?
The current long range capital plan has the circulation and meeting rooms renovation planned for 2018. Learn more about the Phase III Interior Renovations.
The library held public meetings in October 2009 to address funding for library building repairs and maintenance. Phase I, Roof Replacement and Façade Repairs, commenced in 2010. WJ McGuire, the general contractor responsible for this portion of the work, returned to complete the exterior work on the south walkway and above the two west windows on May 2, 2010. Phase II, HVAC Master Plan Priorities 1 & 2 Implementation, occurred during the spring and summer of 2011.
- Bid Announcement – June 6, 2011
- ELARA HVAC Master Plan Priorities 1 & 2 Implementation Project Schedule
- Roof Contract Awarded
- Advertisement for Bids
- BTC Presentation, 2/15/2010
- BTC Proposal for Roof Replacement and Facade Repairs
- Construction Photos on Flickr
More Information
- Newsletter Announcement
- Building Repair FAQ
- Library Building Repairs Fact Sheet
- Future Capital Repair Replacement Needs Schedule
- Current Roof Condition
- Infrared Photos of Thermal Air Leakage
- Current Exterior Building Condition
- Immediate Capital Repair Needs Cost by Category
- Revenue Report for Fiscal Year 2009
- Expenditure Report For Fiscal Year 2009
- Powerpoint Presentation From Public Meetings
- Report of Proceedings From Meeting of October 5, 2009
- Report of Proceedings From Meeting of October 10, 2009
Societal and technological shifts change the way members of the Glen Ellyn community use the library. Here at the library, we continue to design new spaces to accommodate the Glen Ellyn community’s evolving needs.
We renovated the 2nd floor to give our adult members a space to meet, create, collaborate, and learn. We renovated the Youth Department to give our youngest members a space better suited to their needs.
Phase III created a new entrance and welcoming lobby area, consolidated Circulation’s workspace, reconfigured the large public meeting rooms, updated the public restrooms, and added two new features: a drive-up window and a café. The bathroom fixtures, service desk, and the flooring in the vestibule and Circulation areas were original to the building, which opened in 1995, and needed to be replaced.
The library began construction on Monday, January 8, 2017. The contractors built a temporary wall, closing off the meeting rooms and the restrooms. The southwest doors of the entrance were closed during this part of the construction, while the southeast remained open. Working within that space, they created new, updated public restrooms and a new work area for the Circulation Department. The new public restrooms opened at the end of April.
On May 2, the library closed the main entrance so construction of the new entrance could begin. The temporary entrance was located at the rear of the building. Construction also began on building the new meeting rooms, Circulation Desk, and cafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will the redesign entail?
The Phase III renovation will create a new entrance and welcoming lobby area, consolidate Circulation’s workspace, reconfigure the large public meeting rooms, update the public restrooms, and add two new features: a drive-up window and a café.
Where will the new entrance be located?
The new entrance will be about the same distance from the library parking lot as the current entrance but it will face directly south, with offset interior doors, to create greater energy efficiency.
Who will operate the cafe?
The café will be operated by two local restaurateurs, Brian Duffy and his business partner Danny Sronkoski.
What will happen to the stained glass windows behind the Circulation Desk and folk art map of Glen Ellyn currently hanging in the Circulation area?
The stained glass windows and the folk art map will be preserved and relocated within the library.
What will happen to the existing library furniture and fixtures?
Any discarded library furniture or fixtures will be repurposed, recycled, or be disposed of appropriately.
Where will the funding come from for the Phase III Renovation?
Funding will come from the library’s Building, Materials and Equipment Fund for ongoing maintenance. The Glen Ellyn Library Foundation donated $50,000 toward the building of a café.
What steps will the library take to ensure construction does not exceed the budget?
The library has hired Shales McNutt Construction, a management firm, to ensure the redesign project stays on budget. Shales McNutt has a strong history of managing library renovations including the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Barrington Area Library, and Gail Borden Public Library.
Who designed the GEPL’s Phase III Renovation?
Product Architecture + Design, who is renowned for their library renovation work, most notably the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Niles Public Library, and Vernon Area Public Library, designed the new space.
How were redesign plans developed?
The library conducted a series of open invitation focus groups in 2010. The redesign plans were crafted after careful consideration for the Glen Ellyn community’s evolving needs.
On April 18, 2013, the Village of Glen Ellyn received over seven inches of rain in less than 24 hours. Sometime between 9 pm on April 17 and 6 am on April 18, the sub-basement of the Glen Ellyn Public Library filled with five feet of water.
The library’s sub-basement houses essential mechanical equipment including air handlers, boilers, sump pumps, effluent pumps, a water heater, and the controls for all of these systems. The fire department was called immediately and responded by pumping water out of the building with a small pump. Later in the day, Public Works arrived with a larger 3” pump and began pumping water out of the sub-basement.
Sadly, the flood in the sub-basement caused the effluent pumps to overfill the sewage system, resulting in sewer backup damage to the first floor restrooms and public meeting rooms on the west end of the building. After the water was removed Serv-Pro began the water damage restoration process. Wet dry wall, insulation, and carpet were removed from all affected areas. Then sanitizing agents were used to control odors and stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms. A warm air pump and industrial grade dehumidifiers were put in place to dry the air throughout the building and prevent any damage to the collections.
ELARA Engineering was hired to oversee the inspection of the mechanical equipment, providing recommendations regarding necessary repair and replacement, and the proper order in which each system should be restored. First, the sump pumps received new motors, restoring functionality. The effluent pumps also received new motors to restore their functionality. Then, the sump pumps in the elevator pits were replaced. The elevator packings were changed and the elevators inspected for safe operation.
The fire system and electrical system were inspected for safe operation. The motor in one air handler was replaced and restored to operation, followed by the motor in the second air handler. The boilers were inspected and found to be in total disrepair. The boilers were then dismantled and removed from the building. Drywall, insulation, and carpet were all replaced in the affected areas. Both boilers were replaced.
Engineering Solutions was hired to investigate what caused the library building to flood and to determine how this might be prevented in the future. The flood study determined that a series of events led to the flood, beginning with the amount of rain received in a short period of time. The rain then pooled on the north side of the building, at one point rising over the threshold of the first floor emergency exit doors. Eventually, this water poured over the top of the air intake and down into the well. The sump pumps are connected to this well and tried to keep up with the amount of water from the well and the building drain tile until the motors burned out. Once the pumps ceased operation, the water began rising in the well, coming in and around the doors that open out into the well. When the water began accumulating in the sub-basement, it ran into the effluent pump pits. These pumps began pumping the water into the sewer system until the motors burned out, which overfilled the system and created sewer back up on thefirst floor.
Engineering Solutions then proposed a series of preventative measures be implemented to protect the library from future flooding. First, 15” concrete parapet walls were constructed around both the air intake and exhaust air wells to prevent flood water from running into these wells and penetrating the building. Next, a swale was constructed on the north side of building to hold rain water and direct it to a new sewer drain installed near the northeast corner of the building. Then, another swale was created on the east end of the building, which allows the north swale, when filled to capacity, to flow down the east end of the building and into Duane Street.
The library worked with Village management, Public Works, and Union Pacific to create a swale along the railroad rideaway that would direct runoff further to the west of the library building. Public Works installed a drain from the west end of the railroad swale, under the prairie path, that would direct rainwater collected into the library parking lot and away from the building. Finally, due to a concern that the underground drainage system may have been full to capacity and the sump pumps may have been pumping against a full system, it was recommended that the sump pump system have a bypass valve installed that would sense when the underground system was full. The size of the sump pumps was increased and piping was installed to the exterior of the building on the north side. If the bypass valve closes the water running into the sump pumps will then pump out into the drainage swale on the north side of the building and flow to Duane Street rather than collect in the library sub-basement.
Total cost for repairs and preventative measures was $ 536,168.52.
- $99,226 was recouped from the insurance policy
- $157,469.55 was recouped through an IL Public Library Construction Grant
- $182,532.36 was recouped from FEMA/IEMA Disaster Grant
The suburban backyard is an American original — an invention so familiar it hardly seems invented at all. In the 1950s, America was a nation emerging from the shadow of World War II, searching for ways to enjoy its newfound peace and prosperity.
One postwar trend was the dramatic rise in home ownership, contributing to the development of the suburban backyard.
Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the American Backyard explores the mid-century backyard from the rise of the suburbs and tract houses, to the beauty of postwar garden design, and the birth of the environmental movement.
Filled with vintage photographs, historic drawings, and fun period advertisements, the exhibition reveals how these spaces became such an integral part of American popular culture.
Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the American Backyard is presented by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Smithsonian Garden’s
Societal and technological shifts are changing the way members of the Glen Ellyn community use the library. The way community members consume books, magazines, newspapers, music, and movies has changed rapidly over the last few years and the community is now looking to the Glen Ellyn Public Library as a space to meet, create, collaborate, and learn.The Glen Ellyn Public Library will remain your destination to find physical and digital copies of the latest books, magazines, newspapers, music, and movies. But, the community has made it clear they want spaces to meet with coworkers, business partners, and friends to work on business proposals, study for tests, host book clubs, and practice music inside a soundproof room.
Here at the library, we’ve designed new spaces to accommodate the Glen Ellyn community’s evolving needs.
What Is New
Additional Study Rooms: GEPL added four new study rooms, increasing the total to seven. This will meet the demand for private spaces where small groups can work and study.
A soundproof Media Lab: A Digital Media Lab was created, allowing members of the library to work on artistic endeavors including practicing musical instruments, filming a short movie, and recording an audio creation.
A Large Study Area: Perfect for groups of 8-10 people.
Space to Relax: The Lounge, featuring comfortable seating, is a perfect venue to host a book club or relax with a newspaper. Overall library seating increased by 21%, creating more comfortable options.
Improved Furniture: New tables include power outlets to accommodate laptop, tablet, and smartphone charging.
Energy Efficiency: The upgraded electrical system and enhanced lighting system provide the appropriate amount of light to all library areas.
What Became Even Better
Books: The majority of our materials budget was spent purchasing and housing books both physically and electronically. The redesigned third floor increases productivity and helps deliver the most in-demand books faster than ever before!
Music, Movies, Periodicals, and Games: These products continue to be purchased and housed in an updated display area.
Digital Collections: Our digital collections continue expanding, working to keep pace with our community’s demands. Currently, GEPL provides over 41,000 digital ebooks, music, magazines, movies, and databases. These materials can be located on the main menu under the Digital Library section.
Programs: The library continues creating great family-oriented programs. The additional second floor spaces provide a better experience for classes and clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the redesign entail?
The second and third floors of the library were redesigned. Both floors received new paint, carpeting, lighting, and an upgraded electrical system.
Where did the funding coming from?
Funding came from the library’s Building Reserve Fund for ongoing maintenance.
What steps did the library take to ensure construction did not exceed the budget?
The library hired Shales-McNutt Construction Management Firm to ensure the redesign project stayed on budget. Shales-McNutt has a strong history of managing library renovations including the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Barrington Area Library, and Gail Borden Public Library.
Who designed GEPL’s redesign plans?
Product Architecture + Design, renowned for their library renovation work, most notably the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Niles Public Library, and Vernon Area Public Library, designed the new space.
How were redesign plans developed?
The library conducted a series of open invitation focus groups in 2010. The redesign plans were crafted after careful consideration for the Glen Ellyn community’s evolving needs.
Will there be changes on the first floor?
The Youth Department went under construction in September 2015 and reopened in December 2015. Learn more about the Youth Department remodel. Phase III Interior Renovations, including the Circulation and meeting room areas, went under construction in 2018. Learn more about the Phase III Interior Renovations.
What happened to the existing library furniture?
Any discarded library furniture was repurposed or recycled.
What job trends are affecting GEPL?
Many careers require employees to use laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices to work remotely. Many GEPL cardholders conduct business and perform work related tasks in the library. This need is increasing and required the library to create additional study spaces, a large study area, a study lounge, increased seating, and additional access to power outlets.
What educational trends are affecting GEPL?
District 87 is providing iPads to all freshmen. Students need to charge these iPads as they work in the library. The new furniture includes easy to access power outlets, enabling easy charging.
Throughout 2015, the library maintenance staff was challenged by the many components of a poorly functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Many service calls were conducted to keep the system running. It became apparent that an HVAC overhaul was necessary to not only keep members and staff comfortable, but to maintain a proper temperature for computer servers and collections.
Representatives from ELARA Engineering, a consulting firm, presented their recommendations for replacement of the HVAC Condensing Units to the Board of Trustees in January of 2016. The recommended project included:
- Installing new condensing units
- Using a more environmentally friendly refrigerant
- Replacing the old direct expansion (DX) coils with new DX coils and associated piping
- Adding demand controlled ventilation and associated air handling unit controls
The project went out to bid in February and Core Mechanical was hired as the contractor. HVAC installation began in March and was completed in May of 2016. All components of the new HVAC system are functioning properly, with only routine checks by library maintenance staff.