Bloomington Library Board fails again to select firm to help expansion

Posted on June 3, 2015
The Bloomington Public Library Board voted to a draw Wednesday when it came down to selecting one of two architecture firms to expand the library. (WJBC file photo)
The Bloomington Public Library Board voted to a draw Wednesday when it came down to selecting one of two architecture firms to expand the library. (WJBC file photo)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Public Library Board still can’t come to a conclusion when it comes to picking an architecture firm to help expand the library.

The board voted to a 4-4 tie Wednesday night after two firms, Farnsworth Group of Bloomington and Nagle Hartray of Chicago, made presentations to the board about how they could help the city develop land near the library in order to fit its growing circulation. The board tied two previous times.

One board member, Julian Westerhout, was absent Wednesday and he could have been the deciding vote. Instead, the board will move back its regularly scheduled meeting from June 16 to June 23, so everyone on the board can vote in person.

Board President Carol Koos said the board is being careful on which firm to choose.

“They would need to actually make a total assessment of the grounds, of all this area that the library stands on,” Koos said. “All the way down to where Sugar Creek Packing Company is can be considered in expansion.”

Koos said it’s too early to determine how much the potential expansion would cost.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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