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March 2000 events in the Main Library Project

The Library Referendum endorsed by the Wednesday Journal, the Oak Leaves, and the online Oak Park Journal.
The WEDNESDAY JOURNAL editors wrote on March 8, 2000:
"The public Library has always been central to Oak Park's self-image -- cultured, educated, not your run-of-the-mill suburb. Oak Park needs a top-flight library. . .Hardly anyone contends we shouldn't do anything. The current building may be 'only' 36 years old, but even new it was a scaled-back plan after two previous referenda tries failed to convince Oak Park voters in 1940 and 1959. The building was so scaled back, in fact, that they had to build an addition within 13 years. The Oak Park Public Library has really never had a building that met all or even most of the community's needs. . ."

"For all its proclaimed devotion to the Library and its branches, the community has never made a full financial commitment to this institution since James Scoville paid to build the Scoville Institute over a century ago. We believe now is the time."

The OAK LEAVES editors wrote on March 15, 2000:
"Oak Park is a unique community which has a proud tradition of support for education, the arts and literature. Residents also have a very strong feeling for each of their libraries, Dole, Maze and the Main Branch. The Library is the focal point for the community, a gathering place to exchange ideas, research a topic, use a computer or simply socialize. We believe the Library is important enough that it needs the support of the community in Tuesday's referendum. Residents should vote 'Yes.'"

Wording of the March 21 ballot regarding the referendum
"Shall the Village of Oak Park erect a new library building and also perform maintenance work at the Maze Branch Library, all at a cost not to exceed THIRTY MILLION ($30,000,000.00) DOLLARS?" Voters were instructed to mark a cross (X) in the space opposite the word indicating the way they desire to vote: "Yes" or "No."

Referendum Passes
On March 21, 2000 Oak Park voters approved the Library Referendum. The referendum passed 4,911 votes (55%) to 3,996 votes (45%). The proposed new, three-story main library building will more than double the size of the current Main Library, relieve current overcrowding on busy nights and weekends, and offer the flexibility to meet future information needs -- whatever they may be! At the Maze Branch Library major mechanical systems such as electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing would be updated.

July 2000

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