Fountaindale Has Plenty To Do Despite Impending Move

Correction: This story should have originally stated that "Now until the library's current location closes, children 18 months to fifth grade can visit Creativity Park at the library, which has coloring, drawing, connect the dots, word puzzles and more." Bolingbrook Patch regrets any inconvenience. 

The has had to put many of its programs on hold as the library packs for its move next door. But with the library's new location not scheduled to open until March, the children's services staff wants to make sure kids still have an assortment of fun and educational activities in the meantime.

Now until the library's current location closes, children 18 months to fifth grade can visit Creativity Park at the library, which has coloring, drawing, connect the dots, word puzzles and more.

"In the new building, there is a 30-seat table with a tree and canopy called Creativity Park, where children will be able to work on crafts and then display them from the canopy," said Wendy Birkemeier, manager of children's services.

She said the current "drop-in" crafts taking place at the old library are like practice to get people used to the new concept before the move.

"Because we've packed up a lot of the stuff, like cotton balls, etc., the crafts we're doing now are very simple," she said. "But we keep (the puzzles and color books) fresh and put out new ones."

She said the new library will feature more exciting and challenging crafts.

Birkmeier said the library typically hosts a number of craft events when children are on Christmas break, but hopes the Creativity Park will make up for it.

The programs taking place in Creativity Park run all day, and children do not need to register separately.

Also ongoing will be daily board games from now until closing, and Birkemeier said the library has Sorry, checkers and variety of other games for kids to enjoy.

The board games also will continue after the move in what will be called the World Park, because of its location next to the foreign language department.

The library is on schedule to close in early February and reopen at its new location in early March, said Peggy Danhof, president of the Fountaindale Public Library Board of Trustees. Exact dates will be decided at next week's Building Committee meeting.

"Right now, the library is on time and on budget," she said. "The library staff is currently packing up items that are not essential for the running of the library and construction workers are busy finishing up the inside of the building right now."

The current library was built in 1974 and opened in September 1975. The new $43 million library was funded by bonds issued after voters passed a community referendum in Feb. 2008.