Aurora library referendum question to remain on ballot

Voters still will get to give their opinion in April on whether the West Branch of the Aurora Public Library^[1] should stay where it is, even though the library board has dropped the idea of moving it.

The advisory referendum question was requested by several thousand residents who signed petitions submitted to the West Aurora School District in December. The district owns the land where the library sits on Constitution Drive. The building is attached to Washington Middle School.

The library board voted 6-0 on Jan. 22 to keep the branch where it is. Library administrators recommended doing so, saying there was a lack of money and lack of a suitable place to move elsewhere.

They recommended an advisory committee continue examining ways to improve the West Branch. Patrons have complained it is open fewer hours than the main library or Eola Branch.

The idea of moving the branch to West Galena Boulevard was publicly revealed in September, but critics contended the board discussed the idea long before, in a closed-door session in January 2018.

The plan would have sold the building to the school district and the library would have moved to a smaller space, probably a rental. Minutes of the closed session show a board member was going to reach out to the owners of a shopping center.

Library officials said being on Galena would improve the branch’s visibility and access to public transportation. They hoped to run such a space with fewer staff members and keep it open longer.

Opponents argued that circulation and visits at the West Branch would increase if the branch had longer hours and offered more programming.

The library plans to hire a manager for the West Branch this year.

Meanwhile, the library is getting a new executive director.

Deputy director Michaela Haberkern will take the post in March, when Daisy Porter-Reynolds leaves. Porter-Reynolds has been named chief public service officer of the St. Louis County Library in Missouri.

Haberkern has worked for the Aurora library for three years. Before that, she worked at public libraries in Hinsdale, Skokie and St. Louis.

Porter-Reynolds took the Aurora job in 2014.

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