A modified schedule of operating hours for Lake Bluff Public Library will go into effect starting July 1, 2024:

Hours Pilot

• Monday: 10AM – 6PM
• Tuesday: 10AM – 6PM*
• Wednesday: 10AM – 6PM
• Thursday: 10AM – 8PM*
• Friday: 10AM – 5PM
• Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
• Sunday: Closed

*Updated Schedule; Hours Pilot extended through September 30, 2024

Read the letter from Library Director Renee Grassi explaining this change. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did the Library change its hours?
A: The last four years have provided many opportunities for Lake Bluff Library to reevaluate delivery of services to best support the needs of the community, develop a sustainable staffing model, and, ultimately, be good stewards of the public funding that the Library receives from Lake Bluff. The most influential factors that contributed to this decision were budget constraints and low visit count. The Library installed new technology in October, 2023, which allowed staff to gather statistics about building traffic. This new data gave the Board new information in evaluating its schedule of hours and building use. In addition, the Library continues to experience critical staffing needs with a calculated turnover rate of nearly 30% in just the last 1.5 years (Jan. 23 - June 24). The reasons for this high rate of turnover are varied—retirement, internal promotion, full-time job offers elsewhere (currently 18 out of 22 Library staff are part time), out-of-state moves, and career changes. In Fall of 2023, the Library Board unanimously voted to approve a pilot with a reduced schedule of hours. To learn more, watch the Library Director's presentation to the Board of Trustees and the discussion of the hours pilot during the November 2023 Regular Board Meeting. Throughout the original 6-month pilot, which began January 1, 2024, Library Administration presented monthly reports to the Board to assess the effectiveness of the organization and the use of the Library. Reports included evaluation and statistics of staff capacity, building visit count statistics, public survey data, and written community feedback received by the Director. Despite the Library's best efforts, organizational capacity did not improved as a result of the pilot. At the June 2024 Library Board Meeting, Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees considered a new proposal from Library Administration for modified hours and an extension of the pilot. After discussion, Library Trustees discussed and voted to approve the additional modifications of the Library's hours of operation. The Board also voted to approve extension of the pilot for another three months. Ultimately, the Library’s current financial profile is a major reason why Lake Bluff Public Library is not able to increase staff and immediately add back hours of operation.

Q: How long did the original pilot last? How long will this extended pilot last?
A: The original pilot was 6 months long from January 1, 2024 - June, 2024. The modified schedule of the pilot will go into effect on July 1, 2024. As a result, the pilot will be extended through September 30, 2024, with the short-term goal to regain operational stability to improve capacity long term for the organization. At the September 2024 Board meeting, the Board will convene again to reevaluate organizational and operational capacity. There are several possibilities of actions the Board could take, including making the hours of operation permanent, adjustment of the hours, or another extension of the pilot. 

Q: How many staff does the Library have? Will there be a reduction in staffing because of this change? 
A: As of July 1, 2024, Lake Bluff Public Library has a total of 5 fulltime 40 hr./week employees, including the Library Director. The Library has an additional 18 part time employees. The total FTE of the organization is 13.2 FTE. There will not be a reduction in staffing and no library employees will lose their job because of this change. All staff hours will be redistributed into the workweek, which will allow the Library to be more fully staffed and provide better customer service during its new hours of operation. The Library Board is also exploring opportunities to increase staffing if financial resources allow. 

Q: What about working parents and caregivers who cannot visit the Library during the day who want Sunday hours returned and increased evening hours? Why won't the Library consider this feedback? 
A: The proposal submitted to the Board by Library Management to further reduce hours was the result of compiling 6 months of gathering data; sharing monthly reports at Board meetings; gathering and responding to comments; evaluating building traffic data; implementing and reporting out on an Hours Pilot Survey; quantifying available staffing hours and more. What the Board and Library Administration heard loud and clear was that Lake Bluff wants the return of Sunday and evening hours to support working families that unable to visit during weekdays. Even though this newly modified schedule of hours does not address this feedback immediately, Library Administration and the Board are actively exploring pathways to be responsive to this feedback as soon as possible, with the hope that operational improvements can be made sometime before the end of 2024. In order to make that happen, the Board will need to consider the budgetary implications needed to increase staff hours. Discussions on this topic will take place over the next month during Board Committee meetings with guidance from the Library Director.

Q: What benefits will the Library gain from this change? 
A: This change will allow the organization to strengthen its staffing model in order to provide optimum staffing levels at all service desks. It will also increase the Library's ability to ensure trained staff are available in the building during all operating hours for possible emergencies. This is especially important, given the Library's aging infrastructure that caused a gas leak in January, 2024. The Library also does not have indoor or outdoor security cameras on the property or an alarmed door system. Lake Bluff Public Library is a small organization with limited staffing and budget constraints, compared to our peer libraries on the North Shore. Reducing hours of operation will require less staff to manage the desk and provide direct customer service, which frees up time for managers to accomplish important projects pertaining to safety, building and grounds, technology, and long-range planning that have been on hold.

Q: What metrics will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this next three months? 
A: Unfortunately, the Library's high turnover rate of nearly 30% has affected the Library’s operations considerably, which has put a strain on every aspect of service. Evaluating and increasing staff capacity is the primary concern of Library Administration and the Library Board. The goal for the next three months is to work towards regaining operational stability, so that the Library can have a chance to add some hours back into its schedule. 

Q: Will this affect the availability of the Library’s programs and services? 
A: Throughout the Summer and Fall of 2023, the Library had to make the difficult decision to cancel programs due to critical staffing needs, which influenced Library Administration's decision to propose the original Hours Pilot to the Board. Data compiled and presented to the Board at the June 2024 Board meeting shows that, despite the Library's best efforts, program cancellations due to staff capacity continued to occur. Over the course of the 6 month pilot, a total of 12 library programs were cancelled, although 5 cancellations in January 2024 were attributed due to building issues from the Library's gas leak. The modified hours of operation will have an impact on the availability on programs and services, limiting building access in the evenings to one evening a week. In addition, evening programs for adults will need to be scheduled earlier Thursday evenings accommodate the earlier closing time on Thursdays. However, the Library recently received feedback from older adults in the community there is a preference for an earlier start time for adult programs and events, so this change allows the Library to address that need. The Library is also happy to report of its regained capacity for hosting adult programs. As of Summer, 2024, the Library has returned to full capacity and schedule for adult programming. 

Q: If I need to use library services, but the Lake Bluff Public Library building is closed, what can I do? 
A: Your library card already provides you with 24/7 service to our online catalog and your online library account. Visit our website to search for books and place holds from the comfort of your couch. We also provide free 24/7 access to a variety of online resources. At any time of the day, cardholders can download digital materials on Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, and Bookflix. Lake Bluff Library cards provide free access to in-demand online resources, such as Consumer Reports, LinkedIn Learning, ProQuest, and Rosetta Stone. Because of downloadable, online and app-based services like the ones we provide, modern public libraries are so much more than what is housed in their buildings. In addition, your Lake Bluff Public Library card can be used at any other Illinois public library as part of a service called “reciprocal borrowing.” Simply bring your physical card with you on a visit to another Illinois library, ask to register your card as a reciprocal borrower, and you will be given privileges to check out materials at that library.

To share feedback, ask a question, or send a message about the pilot, please email Renee Grassi, Library Director.