With O’Fallon council’s OK, $17.5M bond issue for new library would go to voters

The O’Fallon City Council will soon decide whether to advance a $17.5 million bond referendum for a new library, now that the city’s library board supports asking voters on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The library board will make a presentation at the council’s Committee of the Whole meeting June 29, reviewing its recommendations on a new site and survey results from residents.

“They could decide to take action, or send back for revisions,” Library Director Ryan Johnson said.

A new library is estimated to cost $22.5 million, but Johnson said the library has $5 million to put toward the project, lowering the general obligation bonds needed to as much as $17.5 million. The bonds would be repaid through a property tax increase.

“We are pursuing grants and private donations, which could lower the cost,” Johnson said.

To be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot, the referendum wording must be filed in St. Clair County in August.

A community initiative, Together O’Fallon Be a Part of What’s Next, conducted sessions in November 2025 and February and March 2026 to measure how the city’s public library could best serve residents’ needs, and held a community workshop in April.

The 2022 Library Master Plan found space is insufficient across all areas — events often fill quickly, study rooms and seating are limited, and outdoor seating is lacking.

At the workshops, feedback was positive about shaping the library’s future as a one-stop destination for learning, creativity and connection, using its resources and services.

“We found out people want the same things we do – more room, better sound for privacy, and usable green space,” Johnson said.

Residents expressed strong interest in flexible multipurpose spaces, expanded study and meeting rooms, larger children’s and family areas, outdoor programming space, and additional community-centered amenities and services.

The final report is available online and details findings from the sessions and workshop.

The community survey indicated most respondents favored a new building (58.2%), while 29.9% were opposed and the remainder were undecided.

Respondents agreed (86.6%) that the library “greatly contributes to the high quality of life found in O’Fallon,” and is a source of pride.

More than 81% disagreed with the statement that public libraries are no longer needed because of technology in homes.

“The final report and recommendation from Together O’Fallon were community led and based on community input. It meets the needs of O’Fallon now and well into the future,” Johnson said. “Perhaps most importantly, it is fiscally responsible. We need to make sure this new library isn’t just bigger, but that it’s exactly what our residents need and deserve.”

The task now is to “get the word out,” he said. “Our goal is to be as transparent as possible so there are no surprises. We want to make residents aware of our community’s needs and let the chips fall where they may.”

New efforts include a blog series, with new posts every Friday, and four focus group workshops set for July. Community library tours are also available.

If approved, plans would move forward to build a 38,000-square-foot library at a site on Seven Hills Road next to the public safety building.

Johnson said the property is city-owned and would not require land acquisition. It includes green space, and the city could expand the public safety building’s parking lot, so a separate lot would not be needed.

Two percent of a property owner’s total tax bill supports the library — 2 cents of every dollar paid. The library estimates the tax impact of a new building would be up to $10 a month.

“We know O’Fallon will continue to grow, both with residential and commercial construction. Every single new rooftop helps spread out that tax burden to help keep costs under control for everyone. The more homes and business there are, the more spread out those taxes become,” Johnson said.

Library Growing Pains

The current library, which opened in 1994 at 120 Civic Plaza behind the U.S. Post Office on Lincoln Avenue, has not kept pace with the city’s growth.

Johnson said demand is strong, with more than 130,000 annual visits, 12,000 event attendees and more than 200,000 checkouts each year. The library hosts about 400 events a year, many for children in kindergarten through 12th grade and younger.

The summer reading program started a few weeks ago, and more than 700 people have registered.

“We’re swamped right now,” he said, noting that 450 people came to the building for the reading program kickoff, and 450 attended planned outdoor activities.

“I feel if people could come in, feel the energy and the vibrancy of the space, they could see the broader appeal we have, the diversity of our programs. We go beyond the traditional services of a library,” he said.

Services include early literacy, STEAM learning, digital access, job help and legal aid. STEAM is an interdisciplinary approach integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

In addition to the annual summer reading program, among the most popular activities are an annual partnership with AARP that offers free tax filing services for seniors, and early childhood programs that often have a waiting list — Book Babies, Toddler Tales and Preschool Storytime.

The mission statement is to “serve as a bridge connecting our diverse and ever-evolving community to learning opportunities, resources, and services that place people first.”

Library Governance

By state statute, the public library is governed by a board of directors appointed by the mayor and approved by the council.

The nine-member board meets monthly. Responsibilities include approving the library operating budget, developing library policies and hiring a library director.

The library opened in 1930 in the First National Bank building, on the second floor, with 700 books on the shelves — mostly donations. Others were purchased by the O’Fallon Woman’s Club, which also sponsored the library through months of fundraising and planning. At the time, the city’s population was 2,300 and membership was $1.

In 1943, voters approved shifting management to the city. After several moves, the library moved to its current site in 1995. It was remodeled in 2015.

Ballot language

Johnson said the Library Board approved this ballot wording at its recent meeting:

“For purposes of providing quiet areas for adults and children, learning areas for children, multipurpose space for meetings of community groups and organizations , study rooms for all ages, makerspace areas for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and arts and crafts projects, flexible areas that can be adapted for future programs, and space for other library programs and classes, shall the City of O’Fallon, St. Clair County, Illinois, construct and equip a new public library?

“Since the current library opened, the population of O’Fallon has more than doubled. O’Fallon Public Library has saved $5 million to use for construction of a new library thus lowering the overall cost by that amount. This proposal enables the City to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of not to exceed $17,500,000 to help fund the project, with the bonds repaid through an increase in property taxes.”