BREAKING

Rep. Welch announcing the reopening of the Maywood Public Library (Photo by Roberto Sepulveda).

By Michael Romain

SATURDAY, MAYWOOD — “Today,” said State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-7th) to news cameras from WGN, CBS and NBC, “I’m honored to be here to announce that the Library will reopen […] on Tuesday.” 

The library’s reopening is possible due to Seaway Bank’s approval of a 12-month extension on $512K outstanding on a loan owed to the Bank by the library, a $150K loan from Seaway (with the library offering as collateral the parcel of land it owns adjacent to the building) and an intergovernmental agreement between the Village of Maywood and the library that,  judging from last Thursday’s special board meeting convened by the Village Board to discuss the library, will likely be in the form of a $150K loan. 

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Both Seaway and the Village of Maywood are demanding severe austerity measures from the library, which will include pay-cuts, a reduction in staff and greater financial oversight.

Library Director Stan Huntington announced the library’s new operating hours: Mon. and Wed. (12pm – 7pm), Tue. and Thu. (12pm – 5:30pm), Saturdays (9am – 5:30pm). The library won’t be opening Monday, due to Veteran’s Day.

“We still need volunteers and a “Friends of the Library” group,” Huntington said. VFP