Story posted Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Library Still Searching For Parking
Niles Public Library trustees are holding off on a plan to purchase a $250,000 home to make way for additional parking.
Library Trustee Dennis O'Donovan told the Journal not all of the trustees were on board with the idea of spending that much money before exploring all in-house options to increase parking on the library's lot when it was discussed at their meeting last month.
O'Donovan said he supported the idea saying that in the current recession use of the library's free services have outpaced the library's capacity to provide parking to patrons.
The library needs about 25 additional spaces to cope with current demand, according to O'Donovan.
Additionally, library staffers are no longer directing patrons to use the Fifth Third Bank lot on Oakton Street as an overflow lot. O'Donovan said insurance concerns halted use of that space.
Several items such as trashcans have been moved in the lot to create more spaces and library officials are in talks with village officials about making spaces for library employees available on Oakton Court.
Other ideas raised to create additional parking include building a second parking deck over the existing lot.
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