Phil Hubbert photo
The first bits of dirt take to the wind at the Aurora library’s groundbreaking ceremony May 1.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, May 9, 2013
     Of the hundreds that turned out for the May 1 groundbreaking ceremony of Aurora’s new $28 million library, it was explained that children will benefit the most from the facility.
     Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner explained children will have continued access to state-of-the-art technology, allowing them access to resources and learning. “This library will be relevant for the next century,” he said.
     The 92,000 square foot library will be built on land purchased in 2009, on River and Benton streets. It is expected to open by late 2014, early 2015. Local construction management R.C. Wegman Construction will build the facility — creating hundreds of union jobs.
     People are looking to the library as a shot-in-the-arm to Aurora’s downtown economy. Rep. Bill Foster commented the library is one part of the “rebirth” of downtown Aurora to make it a growing, thriving hub for economic and educational progress.
     In general, “libraries are an integral part of learning and of personal enrichment and they will always play an important role in our community,” Foster explained.
     Aurora Library Executive Director Eva Luckinbill said the future for the library is bright. “Our River Street friends will learn the library will have an economic impact to the neighborhood. Schools and colleges will find we’ll be able to provide expanded resources to allow for even greater collaboration,” Luckinbill explained.