On May 1, hundreds gathered for the highly-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the new Aurora Public Library. From pre-school students to senior citizens who have been patrons of the library for over 50 years, the crowd cheered and counted down as the shovels went into the ground!

Located on the corner of River and Benton Streets, the new $ 28 million dollar, 92,000 square foot main library will be a state-of-theart technological and educational epicenter for Aurora.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White recently visited Aurora to present a $ 10.8 million check from the Public Library Construction Act grant that will be applied to the total costs of construction.

Expected to open in late 2014 or early 2015, the new library will include such amenities as:

• 80 public internet access computers

• 20 small and large group study spaces

• 6 public meeting program rooms

• 2 quiet reading rooms

• A specialized meeting space for teens

• State-of-the-art technology at the main branch and technological improvements at the satellite branches

Rendering of the new state-of-the-art public library Officials break ground( l to r) Alderman John“ Whitey”

Peters, President of the Library Board John Savage, Congressman Bill Foster, Library Executive Director Eva Luckinbill, Mayor Tom Weisner, Alderman Mike Saville

Secretary of State Jesse White presents check to library officials.

SEPT 11-OCT 6, 2013 OCT 30-NOV 24, 2013 JAN 15-FEB 9, 2014 MAR 12- APR 6, 2014