Former Library Building Still Drawing Interest

After a long wait, the Effingham Public Library Board might soon be putting the former library home on the auction block.

Library Director Amanda McKay told board members this week that she is "cautiously optimistic" about a possible purchaser. State law requires a property such as the former Helen Matthes Library building along Market Avenue be sold at auction with the high bidder purchasing the building. The sale of the former library building has always been part of the equation for paying off the new facility downtown along North 3rd Street.

The Board discussed its 2020 action plan. The chief item is the children's area and moving a glass wall to allow for more space for kid customers. McKay said 2020 likely will be for fundraising with the actual relocating of the wall to follow. The price of the relocation is estimated at $138,000, but McKay said she's hoping to reduce that cost.

Another action item for 2020 is increasing the number of library cardholders. McKay said that could include going out into neighborhood and doing door-to-door signup.

Board members agreed to update employee pay ranges to adjust for the increase in the Illinois minimum wage. The increases will cost another $23,000.

A roofing project at the library was estimated to cost $150,000, but the bid came in under the estimate, saving the library around $4,000.

McKay said they are starting to budget for the eventual purchase of an automated materials handler. She said the handler would make check in of items as quick as check out.