Germantown Hills Could Get a New Library
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: February 14, 2012
GERMANTOWN HILLS-The Germantown Hills Branch Library is an old house built in the 1950s. It's been used for books for thirty years.
Director Grant Frederickson says now he's out of room and it's time to turn to page.
"I mean this room looks full, but it's not really that much," he said.
Now, Illinois Prairie District Public Library board plans to build a new branch behind the old Jubilee Food store in Germantown Hills.
The new library would be nearly ten times larger than the current one..
"We have moved branch libraries into different buildings and remodeled and expanded," Frederickson said. "But we've never build a new building."
Currently, the library only has one computer. Frederickson says the library doesn't have any room for any more. He says that's one reason why it needs to expand.
"We want to give them a place where they can come and sit down and relax and read," he said. "Or enjoy in some games and activities that they don't have the opportunity to now."
The plan includes a larger children section and longer hours, which would be more convenient for people in the community.
The library is open three days per week. Alket Koci, of Germantown Hills, says he's sometime forced to go out of town to rent books.
"I could bring my kids here more often actually instead of taking them to Metamora or Washington," Koci said.
Frederickson says support has been overwhelming and nothing is set in stone. He says he only wants what's best for the community.
"We don't want to miss something important that they want. On the other hand, we don't want to have a palace when they don't want one."
There's no word yet on a time line or funding. The director says he hopes to have a more clear plan by March.
