FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sugar Grove, IL – May 30, 2024

The Sugar Grove Public Library District is moving ahead with a number of improvements thanks to increased operational funding starting in July 2024. Voters approved the operational funding increase in an April 2023 referendum.

In a recent library survey, patrons said they would like: 

• More hours
• A place to get drinks and snacks
• Support for families with young children
• Better programs for children, adults, and family
• Shorter hold times on e-books
• Greater variety of new books, especially nonfiction

The Library is working on answering all of these requests as soon as possible.

Hours: The Sugar Grove Public Library District Board of Trustees approved a 26% increase in operating hours to begin July 12, 2024. As of Friday, July 12, 2024, the Library’s expanded hours will be:

• 2-6pm Sundays
• 9am-8pm Monday-Thursdays
• 9am to 6pm Fridays
• 10am-4pm Saturdays

At 10am Friday, July 12, the Library will celebrate the end of the 60^th anniversary of the Library along with the grand re-opening of Friday hours. The event will feature live music and activities for all ages. Light refreshments will be served. 

Snacks: The Library will install vending machines in the Lobby in May 2024 and will assess how those are used during a trial period. A current option for patrons to get coffee is currently located in the Library’s Now Space and sponsored by the Library’s 501c3 the Sugar Grove Public Library Foundation. The space has a Keurig maker and patrons can contribute a donation towards those supplies when they grab a cup of coffee or tea.   

 Support for Young Families: A growing population of young parents and children in the 0-5 age category are utilizing library services, and the demand to meet their needs better was very apparent in survey results. Many parents are asking for “more”: 

• “A larger kids play area” 
• “More events for toddlers on the weekend when I’m not working” 
• “More toys for my toddler” 
• “More activities and play groups for toddlers”
• “More afternoon/weekend activities for parents with toddlers” 
• “More storytimes” 
• “More children’s activities” 
• “More weekend crafts” 

The Library is actively working to solve these issues including: 

• Hiring a new Full Time Librarian for July 2024 to allow the Library to offer more programming, in addition to increasing staffing during the expanded operating hours. 
• Creating a better space for families and young children to socialize and play together. In-house, staff is rearranging library book collections and purchasing new toys and furniture. The Library hopes to have a gated play area by June 2024 to ease parents’ minds while they are visiting the Library with little ones who tend to run without a barrier.   

Programming for All Ages: The Library’s operations budget increase will mean an extensive increase in funding for programs for children, teens, adults, seniors, and families, as well as a new full-time Outreach Librarian position beginning in July 2024 to help manage the increase in operating hours, as well as programs at the Library and in other places in the 37 square mile Sugar Grove Public Library District.

Shorter hold times on eMedia and greater variety of new books: The increase in Library funding will mean a substantial increase in the new materials budgets for print and digital items as well as increased staff time to order new materials. 

Additional projects: The Library is also researching adding additional databases and online services, including AtoZDatabases, Kanopy, Mango Languages, Tutor.com, Niche Academy, Biblioboard, and more. Other projects include repairing the aging Library building, replacing outdated equipment, and saving toward a brighter future for the Library.

Contact: Genna Mickey, genna@sgp.org, 630-409-1568, www.sgpl.org