A group of La Grange library supporters is making the case for a new fundraising foundation that could pay for major capital projects without raising taxes.
The first big-ticket item it could tackle: a renovation that would transform the library's lower level into a "Town Square" community gathering space, according to the library's event description. The library has architectural drawings in hand, but a project of that scale needs a dedicated funding vehicle, it said in promotional materials — and the foundation is the proposed answer.
On Saturday, April 25, the committee held a free information session at Stadium Club to share its vision for a La Grange Public Library Foundation, a separate entity that would pursue grants, planned giving, and large donations from individuals and corporations to pay for capital projects the library's regular budget can't cover.
"In order to begin a project of this size, without asking the taxpayers for more money, a concerted fundraising campaign is needed," the library said on its foundation event page.
Why now
The timing tracks with a significant jump in the library's capital spending plans. The fiscal year 2026–27 budget shows capital outlay nearly doubling — up 86.5% to $200,500, from $107,500 in fiscal year 2025–26. At the March 17 board meeting, trustees unanimously approved an updated construction project budget presented by architecture firm Engberg Anderson, though the dollar amount was not disclosed in the public minutes.
The library's total budget for the coming year is $3.28 million, a 4.1% increase. Property tax revenue is budgeted at $3.16 million, up 3.45%.
The Organizers
Former Library Board Member Becky Spratford, who served 24 years on the board before stepping down in 2025, hosted the April 25 breakfast alongside La Grange resident Steve Palmer, according to Shaw Local. The Friends of the Library are also involved in the broader effort. Spratford was instrumental in building the current library — she advocated for its construction and led the relocation to a temporary facility during the two-year build from 2005 to 2007.
When Spratford stepped down from the board in 2025, Board President Katie Gardner called her "the La Grange Public Library's greatest champion," crediting her "professional expertise, sound fiscal stewardship, and passionate support" with making the current building a reality.
Foundation vs. Friends
The proposed foundation would operate separately from the existing Friends of the Library, which raises money through used book sales and membership dues to fund smaller programs — things like the Xbox gaming system in the teen room, Spanish Storytime, and an American Sign Language course series. The foundation would target bigger-ticket building improvements.
What's next
The foundation push comes as the library is already leveraging its Carnegie-era roots for new funding, including a recent Carnegie Corporation of New York grant supporting a high school internship program.
The library building will mark its 20th anniversary in November 2027, and the foundation effort is framed as a way to guide the institution into its next two decades. No formal timeline for the foundation's creation or the Town Square renovation has been announced.
