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Fox Lake District Library is celebrating 75 years of service this year and is equipped to face the future with modern features, such as a self-checkout for library items that does not require scanning barcodes. Harry J. Bork, director of the Fox Lake library, oversees all the operations and events the library provides. Bork will celebrate his 38th anniversary with the library in March and recently talked with Lake County Suburban Life writer Kyle Stephans about the importance of the library to the community.
Stephans: Why did the library expand in 2010?
Bork: We were the smallest of all the library communities. People kept asking, ‘Why is this library so small?’
So, we contacted the Needs Assessment Society and had a consultant project a necessary size that would need to be constructed for our population and a 30 year period of growth.
Our library did a demographic study, had a Q & A session with the community about what the public wanted and a vote. On March 5, 2008 the voters of the Fox Lake Public Library District approved a construction referendum.
The newly reconstructed 45,000-square-feet Fox Lake District Library was designed by Dewberry Architects of Elgin and opened to the public on April 27, 2010.
It featured expanded computer facilities, a cafe lounge, a children’s library with an outdoor story garden, quiet study areas, and a large public meeting room that has computer classes open to the public on Wednesdays.
Stephans: How has the Fox Lake Library served its community?
Bork: We serve all the recreational needs of the community. The computers are very helpful for finding jobs, doing school work or research, and keeping in touch with family and friends with email.
In that sense it is a very cost effective way to keep up with technology. DVD movies are very popular along with all types of reading material that we also have online as well. The library is the center of culture.
Stephans: As more books and magazines become available online and for download, do you think that digital media will replace print?
Bork: Eventually digital will, but in the distant future since the demographic still demands hard copies.
However, eight percent of our library residents use our online sources, so it will grow.
Even though we do have digital downloads, we still have a wide variety of all hard copies as we always serve all social constituents.
Stephans: What are some special events that go on in the library?
Bork: We have so much it is hard to say all of it. We always have book clubs and groups.
During the week of April 13 the library will celebrate its 75th birthday along with National Library Week. The events scheduled are: Grant High School’s choir group concert at 7 p.m. April 15; historical re-enactor Betsey Means as American poet Emily Dickinson at 7 p.m. April 16; a harp concert by Laura Fako Utley at 7 p.m. April 17; and a children’s program, “Read! Read! Read! It’s Magic!” with Bob Kann at 11 a.m. April 19.
Stephans: What makes the Fox Lake library unique?
Bork: Our library has a Distinguished Building Award for Merit in Design from the American Institute of Architects.
We are the only library in Lake County with quick and efficient self checkout for any type of material in all departments.
Fox Lake Library is very responsive to the community’s needs.
Stephans: Has the expansion attracted more people to become members of the library?
Bork: Yes, our district library serves 25,000 people. This is a lot considering we are not a city library. Fox Lake library is always welcoming and open to the public, and we have a board of members who are elected and are in charge of making decisions about our events that Gerry Patryon, the president presides over.
Stephans: Where do you see the library in the future?
Bork: In the future I see the library fulfilling its role as a source of learning and recreational materials for district residents in both traditional and digital formats, but also evolving into a community center for meetings, discourse, special events, shared information and continuing education in consumer technology.