Hanover Library Building Project Moves Forward

By Tom Kocal

HANOVER ­ The Hanover Township Library received a $50,000 construction grant check from the Illinois Secretary of State on June 20. Shari Farral, Director of the library, couldn't be more pleased.

"With the receiving of the grant check and with the bidding process underway, the project is moving forward," she said."We're are rather excited to finally have gotten to this point,"

Farral said that the catalyst for the new improvements to the library - the expansion and the updating of the existing facility - was in making the library completely handicap accessible. The $50,000 grant is, in fact, an Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) grant. "The whole library, in the new section and the current library, will be wheelchair accessible, too."

Farral said the plans for the remodeling of the current library area include a designated multi-media section, a computer section, and remote control access installed on the front doors. The washrooms will be moved into the new addition. They are now in the basement area and not handicap accessible. The new addition will also house the Children's Room, and be used for storage.

A Contractor's pre-bidding meeting was held at the library on Wednesday, June 24th, for interested contractors to look over the library and proposed addition plans and to ask questions before they place their bids.

Shari Farral, Director of the Hanover Twp. Library, with the design plans for the new addition to the library. If all goes as planned, the project will be completed by the end of the year. (PA photos and article/Tom Kocal)

Dan Griffin, President of the Hanover Twp. Library Board, said they had about 10 contractors attend the pre-bidding session. "The Building Project has been in the planning stages for about 3 years. We've had great participation and input from the City and the public. We're ready to go."

Griffin said that to date, including the $50,000 ADA grant, the library has raised nearly $115,000. He added that at least 75% of the grant must be designated for handicap accessibility.

At 6:30 p.m. on July 8th, the bids will be opened and presented at a public forum at the library. At the board meeting set for Monday, July 13th, at 7 p.m., the board will make a decision concerning the bids.

The project is expected to be completed by December 2009.

For more information, contact Shari Farral, Director, at the Hanover Township Library, located at 204 Jefferson St.in Hanover, or call 815-591-3517; e-mail: hanoverlib@mchsi.com. You can also visit their Website at www.hanover-il.com/library/

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