PETITION SUMMARY:  We, the undersigned, agree that there is a great  and pressing need for a new, state-of-the-art library in West Rogers Park.  We respectfully request a new facility for the Chicago Public Library Northtown Branch to better serve the area’s richly diverse community.

The Northtown Branch serves more than 140,000 individuals annually, including children, families, and seniors.  Built in 1962, the Northtown Branch has not been renovated or seen upgrades since.  The library’s current layout and configuration no longer meets the contemporary needs of the community.  A new library should house community meeting space, a youth media center, a children’s reading area, and have up-to-date computer and technology resources to better serve the needs of the community.  Neighboring communities in Rogers Park, Edgewater, Albany Park, Edgebrook and Budlong Woods have libraries that were built within the last 16 years; two of them virtually brand new. State-of-the-art public libraries today provide an array of informational and technological services -- and a welcoming environment -- that enrich the lives of their patrons and improve the vitality of their communities. The residents of West Rogers Park deserve no less.

ACTION PETITIONED FOR:  We request your full support and partnership with this community to bring a new library to West Rogers Park.