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Waukegan Public Library Wins North Suburban Library System "Library of the Year 2007" Award
The Waukegan Public Library has won the North Suburban Library System's (NSLS) most coveted award--Library of the Year--for 2007. In recognition of a year that started with a herculean effort to assist Katrina-damaged libraries to the premiere of Waukegan’s own storytelling festival. “We’re really excited to have been voted best-of-the-best by our peers, the members of more than 650 public, academic, school and special libraries throughout four northern Illinois counties" states Richard Lee, Executive Director of the Waukegan Public Library. Lee is only the fifth library director in the library’s 108 year history, but the only one to win such an honor.
 The Library of the Year award is presented to one library for creative and effective practices that support outstanding service and serve as a role model for other libraries. Waukegan was chosen for the award through voting of the staff and trustees of libraries in the NSLS. “The adventurous endeavors of the Waukegan Public Library of the past year have benefited communities near and far,” said Sarah Long, NSLS director. “The library’s efforts demonstrate the power of creativity, partnerships, and keeping an open eye and ear to those you serve.”
2006 started with the library's donation of "Gertie" the oldest continually running bookmobile in the country and 300 boxes of donated books by numerous NSLS libraries to Jefferson Parish Library in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina. (See Gertie at Jefferson Library) It was not an easy task to get an aging bookmobile that far south, but persistence paid off and she left Waukegan (for the first time in over 40 years) on St. Patrick’s Day, an omen of good luck. She is now being used as a branch library for Jefferson Parish.
 Once Gertie was on her way, the mural project on the bookmobile garage doors went ahead full steam. “The Art of the Story, Shimer Mural Project” is a fantastical mural where 100 beloved literary characters interact in unusual ways. The project involved over 200 staff and community members and was dedicated in fall of 2006. The doors are now a destination and enhance the city’s efforts at revitalization.
 In September the library successfully opened its first branch since the late 1930s without raising taxes. $90,000 was raised with $10,000 through the “Buy a Square Foot” project and the 703 square foot space, donated by the Waukegan Park District, was a result of an intergovernmental agreement. The branch is located in the new field house and extends the service opportunities of the Waukegan Library to patrons on the far western side of the city. (Hinkston Park Branch)
 The largest program of the year was the “Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival” the library sponsored at the historic Genesee Theatre. Over 1,100 children and adults were entertained through the art of storytelling with three performances on October 20, 2006. Fourteen sponsors donated over $10,000 and the festival was a huge success and will become the signature, annual event for the library. (Bradbury Storytelling Festival Website)
 Much of the festival success is attributed to the efforts made to involve Ray Bradbury, who grew up in Waukegan. The library board approved a plan to send a filmmaker to Los Angeles to interview Bradbury in his home. The footage was shown at the festival in part, and the rest will be used to create a documentary of Bradbury’s life and work.
Feedback received from other libraries as well as the Waukegan community that efforts are paying off, both in partnerships, donations and increased use of the library. “It is our job to serve the community, but it is gratifying to be recognized for our efforts,” adds Lee.
The library will be honored at the 18th annual NSLS Membership Banquet on March 16. NSLS is an organization of 650 academic, public, school, and special libraries in portions of Cook, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. It is on of nine multitype library systems in Illinois.
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