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New West Ridge Library Fundraising Meeting Set

By Linze Rice | September 3, 2015 6:06am
 Proponents of the new library say the branch is behind the curve on technology and running out of space, among other issues.
Proponents of the new library say the branch is behind the curve on technology and running out of space, among other issues.
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DNAinfo/Linze Rice

WEST RIDGE — For those interested in brainstorming ways to raise money for proposed improvements at Northtown Branch Library, Friends of the Library will hold a meeting 6 p.m. Thursday at the library in West Ridge.

Though other local groups like West Rogers Park Community Organization, West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the North Boundary Home Owners League, the Rogers Park Business Alliance and the Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park have so far been leading the efforts, organizers behind the newly formed Friends of the Library say they want to pitch in, too.

If the community turnout is good enough, Peter Sifnotis, one of the group's organizers, said he hopes the group can begin planning a fall book sale to get the ball rolling on fundraising.

"The Friends of the Northtown Library will be key to fundraising for a new library in the ward," he said. "With some work, we can get the community involved and show our elected officials that funding for a new library is money well spent."

The group also hopes to recruit new members.

In June, Pamela Stauffer, chairwoman of the West Rogers Park Community Organization board, wrote on the organization's website that she and other area leaders have been in talks for "high-priority" improvements to the building since February, and have been splitting up responsibilities to tackle the project.

In an online petition, more than 625 community members — ranging from residents to neighborhood group members to elected officials — rallied behind the efforts to see the Northtown Branch Library become the state-of-the-art facility they said residents deserve.

According to the petition, the library at 6435 N. California Ave. serves 140,000 residents each year but hasn't had any renovations since it was built in 1962, a fact that organizers of the movement said makes the library's significant updates a "great and pressing need."

"A new library should house community meeting space, a youth media center, a children’s reading area, and have up-to-date computer and technology resources to better serve the needs of the community," the petition states.

Ahmed Khan, co-chairman of West Rogers Park Community Organization Community Planning Board, said the library branch is "greatly used" by the community, but has become technologically outdated and too small for local demand.

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