The Lake Bluff Public Library updated the Village Board on Sept. 29 about staffing changes, facility problems and near-term plans to shore up operations and capital planning.

Library Executive Director Natalie Stortozan told trustees the library has onboarded four new trustees and new circulation and reference management staff, and the board recently approved an intergovernmental agreement that staff said they appreciate. The facility has needed repairs: sprinkler-head replacements across the museum and library sides, remediation of a sinkhole in the parking lot, closure of an offsite storage unit and ongoing issues with asbestos-containing materials and a failed backflow inspection.

Stortozan said a capital facility assessment is scheduled to be completed by November; that assessment will identify the needed capital projects and permit the library to create a consolidated five-year strategic and financial plan. She said the library has applied for an additional ADA grant to address accessibility issues and is working with the University of Illinois on a marketing plan.

Operational details and finances
Library staff reported increased program and membership activity. Stortozan said September — library card sign-up month — produced more than 61 new card registrations in the first week; the library has seen continued increases in use. She told trustees the library is pursuing a capital-reserve strategy to address future capital needs but noted state grant timelines are uncertain.

Facilities and safety work
Stortozan described the asbestos abatement estimates filed with the state (the abatement contractor performs removal but not rebuilding), a backflow repair scheduled for October, and other critical infrastructure needs found in building condition analysis. Public Works staff assisted with parking-lot sinkhole remediation, which Stortozan acknowledged. Trustees and staff discussed the need for a full assessment before larger capital decisions.

Why it matters: The library’s condition and funding plan will shape its ability to deliver services and comply with fire, ADA and building-code requirements. The assessment expected in November is intended to give the library and the village a prioritized set of capital projects and cost estimates.

Ending: Trustees thanked Stortozan for the update and encouraged continued coordination on grants and the upcoming assessment.