Potential Purchaser of Former Library Building

Effingham Public Library board members heard at this week's meeting of a possible purchaser for the former library building on Market Avenue.

Library Director Amanda McKay said a non-profit entity is looking at utilizing the facility and the costs involved in renovation. McKay said there could be some movement on the transaction in the next couple of months.

The library board also discussed moving ahead with a strategic plan to expand the library's service area. The Board has discussed seeking to become a library district rather than a city library. Part of the process now will be identifying what areas could be included in the district. When the question goes to the voters, those in Effingham would have to vote in the majority, and so would those in the target area, for the initiative to be approved. It would take a simple majority of votes in each area for the initiative to pass.

The Board reviewed draft plans for a reallocation of space to grow the children's area of the library. McKay said about 600 square feet of area on the second floor now in the adult area would be included in the children's area. The glass wall and doors leading into the children's area would be moved south to realize the expanded space. McKay said the project would be the subject of the Fall 2020 fundraising drive, with the work to take place in 2021.

Library board members also discussed the Fall 2019 fundraising drive, for which fliers are going out in the near future. Proceeds will benefit early literacy efforts. The Board also heard that work on the library building roof is almost finished. Board members also approved the Fiscal 2021 tax levy. McKay said the tax rate will again be going down.