Another Beachwood Special Report
“Chicago’s showcase Harold Washington Library is in line for a $6 million facelift – including a new roof, generators, heating and cooling systems – courtesy of tax increment financing,” the Sun-Times reports.
“TIF funding for the library equivalent of a 100,000-mile checkup for the 26-year-old central library – and the same for the 30-year-old Sulzer Regional Library – is tucked away in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2014 budget.”
Sources tell the Beachwood the tune-up will include:
* Card catalogs will be brought back to make the library compatible with the Cook County courts.
* The Dewey Decimal System will be replaced with the Dewey, Cheatem & Howe System.
* The library’s popular new 3D lab will be retrofitted to print already filled-out election ballots.
* As ordered by Rahm Emanuel, the library’s infamous gargoyles will be activated to collect overdue fines.
* Also as ordered by Rahm Emanuel, Joe Bookman will be the new head of security.
* The business/management books section will expand to a whole floor and become a TIF district; children’s books will be shrunk to one shelf.
* Library cards by Ventra.
* Chicago Parking Meter monitors will now enforce browsing fees.
* Internet access will be limited to CityOfChicago.org.
* The South Hall will become a United Skylounge – members only.
* Kids programs will now be run by UNO.
* Books will eventually be eliminated.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on November 1, 2013