January 25, 2024 Update - Part 2

The Lake Bluff Library has reopened. During the replacement of the faulty HVAC unit, there was a problem with the gas line that resulted in a temporary evacuation and closure of the building. The problem has been resolved and the Lake Bluff Fire Department has determined that the building is now safe for occupancy.

We appreciate your patience during this time.

January 25, 2024 Update

The Lake Bluff Library is closed until further notice. We are continuing to experience issues with its HVAC. During the replacement of the HVAC unit today, more gas was detected in the building. We are currently assessing the situation and will share an update as soon as we know more. Thank you for your patience.

January 18, 2024 Update - Part 2

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Lake Bluff Public Library will reopen on Friday, January 19 at 12pm.

After a follow-up investigation and building walk-through of HVAC systems, the Library has been given the all clear to return to normal operational hours. The Library administration and the HVAC company confirmed that no gas remains in the broken HVAC unit or in the building. The building is once again safe for public and staff to use. 

As of January 18, a new HVAC has been ordered to replace the broken unit. The Library Director is working with the HVAC company to expedite delivery and installation to return the building to system standards. There may be some impact to temperatures in parts of the Youth Services department on the lower level; Library administration will continue to monitor and assess the safety, comfort, and usability of the building until the replacement unit is installed.

We appreciate your patience and support this past week and we look forward to seeing you at the Library. Questions or concerns may be directed to Renee Grassi, Library Director.

January 18, 2024 Update

The Lake Bluff Public Library will be closed until further notice due to ongoing issues with the HVAC that impact the safety of the building. All programs, meetings, and appointments have been cancelled.

In an effort to provide full context and transparency about this issue and the service interruptions that have occurred, we would like to share some updated information about our current building challenges.

Following the evacuation and emergency closure of the building on Wednesday, January 17, the Library’s HVAC company evaluated all four of the Library’s HVAC units and determined that one of the units had broken and was leaking a considerable amount of gas into the building. After the source of the leak was found, the HVAC technician and the Library Director conducted another sweep of the building, during which a significant amount of gas was detected on the lower level of the Library. After several hours of airing out the building, the HVAC company confirmed that gas levels were no longer a threat to building safety.

The broken HVAC unit has been disconnected. However, the unit needs to be replaced as soon as possible. In the interim, this leaves the Library without one of its heat sources.

Upon arriving to assess the building on the morning of January 18, the Library Director detected that a faint smell of natural gas was still present. It is currently unclear whether the odor is residual, or from another active leak that has not been identified. We are currently in the process of evaluating the situation and will share more as soon as we have updates.

While the situation with the building is unpredictable and variable, the Library remains committed to open and transparent communication and will provide regular updates on our status.

We are very grateful to the Lake Bluff Fire Department for their prompt and professional response to our calls. Building safety is paramount to our organization and we are grateful to have such an incredible Fire Department that we can rely on during these situations. We are also grateful for your patience as we continue to navigate this issue and we apologize again for the inconvenience. Later today, we will share a post with some information about specific service impacts, such as holds, card expiration dates, and other in-building services that are affected by this closure.

Thank you again for your patience. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Renee Grassi, Library Director.

January 17, 2024 Update

The Lake Bluff Library closed early on Wednesday, January 17 due to continued HVAC problems. All programs, meetings, and appointments have been cancelled. For more information on 24/7 Library services, visit the Explore page.

Due to the recurrence of these issues this week, we wanted to provide additional context and information. On January 15, building temperatures at the Library fell below safe levels. The HVAC system was working, but was unable to keep the building at OSHA-approved and safe temperatures for staff and public. The Library Director was onsite and put in an emergency service request with the Library’s HVAC company. On January 16, the Library’s HVAC company and the Library Director were both onsite to investigate, assess, and address the heating issues. The Library Director was onsite early Wednesday morning and confirmed that the building temperatures had returned to a safe level. Staff arrived in time to open at 10am. At approximately 10:15am, multiple staff members reported smelling natural gas in the Library lobby. The Lake Bluff Fire Department was contacted and the building evacuated. Trace amounts of natural gas were detected throughout the building and the source of the gas was not identified. An emergency service request was placed with the Library’s HVAC company, but an appointment time has not yet been confirmed due to their limited availability resulting from addressing other emergency situations in the surrounding area. As soon as the HVAC company is available to be onsite and fix the issue and the Library Director has confirmed that the building is safe for public and staff to return, we will communicate to the public.

Library Director Renee Grassi and staff would like to express our apologies for the disruption of library services caused by recent weather and building issues in this last week. We are working to resolve our building issues as quickly as possible and appreciate your understanding during these challenges. We hope to be able to safely welcome the community back to the Lake Bluff Library as soon as possible. Questions or concerns may be directed to Renee Grassi, Library Director.