Food, drink and even vandalism welcome at library

Everyone knows food, drink and boisterous behavior generally are frowned upon at public libraries.

For two special events in June, however, Cook Memorial Public Library officials will toss their traditional conduct rules into the trash to help celebrate an upcoming expansion project at the Libertyville facility.

During a family reading night, kids and parents will be encouraged to scribble on the library's walls and write down their memories of the popular library.

The building also is set to host games and other activities later in the month on what will be its last day of service for more than a year.

"I think we're going to play some sort of mini-golf in the reference area," spokeswoman Erin Maassen said. "Isn't that cool?"

Serving Libertyville, Vernon Hills and other neighboring communities, Cook Memorial launched a $14 million construction and expansion project this year.

The Libertyville facility, at 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., will gain an extra 11,000 square feet as part of the effort there. Additionally, a new library will be built on Aspen Drive south of Route 60 in Vernon Hills.

The Vernon Hills construction already is under way. The Libertyville work will begin in June after the building closes.

During construction, a temporary library center will operate just down the street at 114 N. Milwaukee Ave. That center will open at noon June 22.

The library's temporary branch at Vernon Hills' village hall will stay open during construction, too, although all library facilities will be closed to the public on June 20 and 21.

The family reading night celebration at the Libertyville library will begin at 6 p.m. June 12. It's free and open to kids of all ages and their parents.

Snacks and stories will be featured, but the opportunity to draw and write on a library's walls surely will bring in some patrons - even if those walls soon will be knocked down.

"The walls will all be replaced, so they can leave their memories of the old library and their wishes for the new library on the walls," Maassen said.

The second event is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 19 and will be the last public shindig in the library before its facelift.

The library will be mostly empty by then, which will allow staffers to set up a small indoor golf course or other activities not usually found inside a library.

Food will be served, too, Maassen said, "because who cares about the carpet?"

That day also will feature a groundbreaking ceremony. George Boehm, a former Cook Memorial board member who was on the panel when the building opened in 1968, is scheduled to speak.

For more information about these events, call the library at (847) 362-2330 or visit its Web site, cooklib.org.