The Glencoe Public Library’s Board of Trustees hosted a public forum on October 14, inviting community members to engage in shaping the library’s future. SOM Partner and Glencoe resident Adam Semel, along with Senior Associate Principal Jason Fisher, presented a vision for the library’s master space planning project, emphasizing the evolving role of libraries as vital hubs for learning and gathering. They were joined by Andrea Telli, a former Chicago Public Library commissioner and library consultant with extensive experience in library builds and renovations in the Chicago area.
“At a time when spaces for learning and gathering are rapidly evolving, libraries are more important than ever, and the vibrancy of the Glencoe Public Library demonstrates this perfectly,” Semel said.
The master space plan aims to address current building issues while exploring the potential renovation of the library’s interior spaces, grounds, and infrastructure. This comprehensive plan is set to be finalized by the end of 2024 and will prioritize community input to ensure improvements are sensitive to the library’s historical integrity and context within Glencoe.
Roger Parfitt, president of the Glencoe Public Library’s Board of Trustees, highlighted the community’s desire for a modern yet welcoming environment. “Residents want to retain the library’s warm character, especially the beautiful façade on Park Avenue and the vaulted ceiling in the Johnson Room,” he said. “But they also seek a more comfortable building that meets current needs, including more meeting rooms, enhanced capacity for community events, better climate control, improved accessibility, and necessary updates to the aging building’s mechanical systems.”
