Politics & Government

Letter to the Editor: Library Board Cannot Build a New Building on its Own

Board of Trustees President, David Levin, speaks on behalf of the Morton Grove Public Library Board of Trustees.

On March 14, 2011, a candidate running for library trustee posted, in reference to a hypothetical new library building, “The taxpayers do not have to vote to approve a new building. Any referendum is only advisory. The library board may overrule it. The village board cannot block it. The simple, frightening truth is that seven people can decide to spend $20-30 million to build a new library no matter what anyone else thinks.”

The statement made by this candidate is utterly false and misleading. 

The library board has neither the authority nor capability to spend money for a new building without approval from the Village Board of Morton Grove.  Not only does the library have no bonding authority on its own – and thus must ask the Village to use its bonding authority to issue the needed bonds – but Local Library Act (75 ILCS 5/5-1 and 5/5-2) states that the library's buildings plans must be approved by the Village if the cost of the building will be financed.

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These two factors – financing and building approval – demonstrate how the ability to build a new library building ultimately rests in the hands of the voters and the Village Board, not the Library Board.  A non-binding referendum on the matter would serve only to advise the Village Board as to the residents’ desire to have a new library building.  The Library Board has no authority to “overrule” any such decision.

The most important function of libraries, librarians, and library trustees is to present clear, accurate information to residents.  All candidates for the position of library trustee should hold themselves to this standard.

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