10 Reasons the Library Wants to Move

To a lot of folks who've lived in Geneva for a few years but maybe haven't followed every news story, the Geneva Library District's purchase of the Cetron building sounds, well, um …

Nuts.

Why would anyone want to give up that prime position downtown? Located at Second and James Streets since it was built in 1907, the Geneva Public Library building is an icon that has a special place not just in the downtown historic district, but in residents' hearts.

The potential move is even difficult for Library Board members who made the decision to take the first step by purchasing the former Cetron building at 7 Richards Street.

"I grew up in Geneva and sat cross-legged on floor of children's library, too," said Library Board President Esther Barclay. "But as a library trustee, I have to think of what's in the best interest of patrons."

Here is the line of logic that led to the purchase agreement, in 10 parts for easy reading.

(1) The present building is too small.

The Geneva Public Library presently is about 27,600 square feet in size, all in. Based on present and projected population, the library needs 40,000 to 65,000 square feet.

"The rule of thumb from the Illinois Library Association used to be 1 to 2 square feet per patron," Barclay said. "Now they say, 'Do what you think is right for the community.' "

(2) Technology alone doesn't reduce the need for space.

"The space is shifting," Barclay said. "There is more focus on community space and interactive spaces, although we do still need space for books, movies, CDs and all our other selections.

"Right now, if people returned every book checked out, we wouldn't have the space to hold it."

In past years, the library's "float" in the Swedish Days parade consisted of officials, volunteers and staff pushing book carts. They can't do that anymore, because the carts hold the overflow of books.

While Digital Age advances suggest that space needs would decline, "that is not what the trends show in the library world," Barclay said.

(3) The district extends to LaFox.

"(The Library District includes) all of Mill Creek and goes to LaFox. It's a much broader patron base," Barclay said. "And from the library's standpoint, we're just not going to be able to handle the number of people. A new library has to be the priority."

Until the economy went into the tank, officials had hoped to find an appropriate site and go to referendum in 2011.

That's all on hold now, until or unless the residential growth rebounds.

"That's the question mark," Barclay said. "We're prepared to sit back for a few years and not go to referendum because we don't have a grasp on the variables yet."

(4) Building a branch office and keeping the present site is too expensive.

"We actually went to a financial advisor, and they advised to never build a branch until you get to 50,000 people," Barclay said. "Even at full build-out, we'll never get to 40,000."

Barclay noted that St. Charles, a much bigger library district, decided not to build a branch office out west.

"The biggest cost in any budget is personnel, and if you build a branch library, you're duplicating," Barclay said.

(5) Residents want the library downtown.

About seven years ago, the library conducted a community survey, and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the Geneva Public Library in the downtown.

"We're listening, and trying to follow through with what patrons told us in the survey," Barclay said.

(6) Finding a site downtown isn't easy.

It's not easy to find a site in downtown Geneva that would have adequate square footage and parking.

A LoopNet.com listing for the Cetron site describes it as "one of the last developmental sites of this size and magnitude left in downtown Geneva."

LoopNet lists three lots, each with different zoning. One of the lots has frontage on State Street and has B-2 business zoning.

(7) The former Sixth Street School site isn't available.

For years, the Library Board had anticipated moving into the former Sixth Street School building, which presently is owned by Kane County and is the home of the Regional Office of Education.

The Library District actually sold the Sixth Street School property to the county years ago and by contract has the right of first refusal should the county decide to sell it. County officials have not closed the door to that option but no one seems inclined to move that property any time soon.

The right of first refusal does hedge the library's Cetron bet.

"If something were happen with Cetron, we have that." Barclay said.

(8) The Cetron building price is right.

The building and site has been independently appraised at $4.1 million, Barclay said. The library bought it for $2 million.

The deal will not be sealed until the Library Board and seller do their due diligence. Presently, the deadline for the closing has been moved to Sept. 17.

(9) The Cetron site could be a natural extension of Geneva's downtown business district.

Barclay said that when Geneva business owner Joe Stanton constructed the buildings at 514 and 524 West State, he effectively expanded the Geneva downtown. She says something similar might happen with the industrial property around the Cetron building, and the library purchase and development of that site could be a catalyst.

"I feel strongly that this could be the western gateway to the downtown, which is kind of exciting," Barclay said.

(10) Just one word: Parking.

"Parking is huge," Barclay said. "I can't tell you how many complaints we get on daily basis about parking."

The size of the building determines the number of spaces needed, but Barclay estimates room for 125 to 150 spaces on the Cetron site. Presently, the library relies on street parking and the nearby city lots.

For more information, the library has a very good Q&A on its Web site. Barclay says she knows there will be plenty of discussion and some push back.

"People will say, 'We want to stay.' But when they see it's a viable site for everybody, I think they'll be open to new ideas."