The Library is Closed for the Final Stages of Construction and Moving. We will reopen June 2024.
Library Building Project
Caseyville Library is getting a new facility right next door to our current library building. This process has been over a year in the making and involved an intergovernmental agreement between Caseyville Library and Collinsville Unit School District 10 (CUSD10). The new library will continue to be an autonomous organization in a separate building from the Caseyville Elementary School. The library traded its expansive allotment of land for CUSD10 to build a new library building complete with much needed facility updates, ADA accessibility, more space, a meeting room for library events, a study room, and more work space for library operations. Read the updates and news articles below to learn more about this process.
Construction/Moving Timeline
February 1-17, 2024
Circulation Services Stop. Limited library services will be available including: print, fax, book/item pick-ups through February 17th.
February 19, 2024
The library will be closed to the public as the library moves and sets up in the new building.
March, 2024
During mid-late March, the old library building will be demolished. Dates will be announced online.
April, 2024
The new library’s siding and exterior finishings will be added.
May, 2024
The library and school parking lots and sidewalks will be constructed and poured.
Mid May/June, 2024
Mid-May to early June is the estimated opening date. Watch your mail for our grand opening announcement and follow us online.
See Library Moving & Construction Updates blog post for more information on the timeline and how to use your library membership while Caseyville Library is closed.
Construction Progress Late March 2024
3-19-24 the old Caseyville Library was demolished. Library Director, Jackie made the first strike to take down the building. Library staff, board members, and previous Library Director, Ashley attended the demo as well. This building served Caseyville Library members well from 1998-2024, but Caseyville has grown and so have its residents' needs. We are so excited to share this new library building and all it has to offer!
Construction Progress Early March 2024
Construction Progress February 2024
The latest interior photos of the new library! CPLD Director, Jackie and Librarian, Eleka measured the new space for furniture. Your library staff have been hard at work organizing and packing up the library, and we will be moving over very late this month and early March. We can’t wait to show you the new space once we get all set up!
A Look Inside the Construction
Time Capsule
The new library will house a time capsule that will be a window into the library's history. Library staff, Library Board members, and the Holland Construction team joined us as we added historical photos, library news articles, and other relevant items like Bob Stephens’ book on Caseyville, A Walk Through Time. The time capsule will serve as a glimpse into Caseyville Library’s history for future generations.
Beam Signing
Caseyville Library staff and Library Board members participated in a beam signing for the new library on July 6th, 2023. The beam is located near the new circulation area.
The Groundbreaking
In the NEws
Collinsville CUSD 10 Unveils Plans for New Caseyville Elementary School
by the Times Tribune
Collinsville, IL – April 11, 2022 – Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 unveiled plans for a new Caseyville Elementary School to be completed in the 2023-24 school year.
The plans include an all new Caseyville Public Library building to be constructed alongside the elementary school. The side-by-side structures represent a partnership between the school district and the Caseyville Public Library District to better serve the Caseyville community.
The existing Caseyville Elementary, located at 433 S. Second Street in Caseyville, was built in 1935, with additions added in 1948 and 1951-61. The property covers four acres and has 20 classrooms. Recent demographic trends and essential infrastructure updates needed to make the school compliant with modern day learning led Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 (CUSD 10) leadership to explore options to finance and construct a new school building.
The current library, built in 1998, sits just outside the existing Caseyville Elementary grounds on Second Street. There has been an ongoing natural partnership between the two entities for years, but once CUSD 10 started looking at ways to utilize the land under and around the school to create a new campus, the location of the library became a key factor.
New School Campus Result of Creative Intergovernmental Agreement
“We approached the library district about acquiring their land and proposed a partnership that would provide new, improved facilities for both entities. Absent of the district and library working together to serve our communities, this would not have been possible,” said Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Superintendent Dr. Mark B. Skertich.
The new Caseyville Elementary School campus will be built using local and grant funding. The projected cost is $19.2 million.
The school district acquired the library property through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA). Following the official deed transfer in January 2022, part of the IGA between the district and library is a long term lease arrangement for the use of the current building and the new facility scheduled to be completed during the 23-24 school year.
“Our library has a wonderful working relationship with Collinsville CUSD 10. We’ve partnered on supply drives and distribution events, having Co-Op students work at the library, local libraries involved with school registration events and many other programs and services,” said Caseyville Public Library District Director Ashley Stewart, “Cooperation in this situation wasn’t a hurdle, but it could have been. Members of both boards understand the importance of lifelong learning and the continuity of service for students, staff, and families.”
The joint agreement allows the Caseyville Public Library District to focus their funds on expanding staff and programs, instead of building maintenance and upkeep. The library will gain 1,500 square feet, making it 50% larger than today’s location. The new facility will include a study room, meeting room to accommodate 25-30 people, a special children’s zone and interactive area, bilingual materials and signage, as well as dedicated outdoor space for the Caseyville Community Garden.
The new library building will be steps away from the school building. Caseyville students will have exclusive access daily from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. before the library opens to the public. Being next door provides countless opportunities to utilize the library’s resources.
Elementary School is First Major Building Project in District Since 2003
The new Caseyville Elementary School and public library will be built directly behind the current buildings and face Second Street. The existing buildings will be razed and become parking lots and green space. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2022. FGM Architects designed the campus. Holland Construction Services is the general contractor. Bids will be solicited beginning in early May 2022.
The school’s design provides an ADA compliant state-of-the-art learning environment with larger classrooms, adequate space for support services, a modern gym/cafeteria, dedicated conference room, improved restrooms and better air quality. In addition, organized pick-up and drop-off areas for cars and buses will improve traffic flow around the school during peak times.
The lobby will feature a large mural utilizing images of Caseyville students and positive messages shared in both English and Spanish. The goal is to reflect the spirit of the community and school district.
This undertaking to build a new school from the ground up is the first in Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 since Collinsville Middle School was constructed in 2003.
“The district is really excited about our partnership with the library. The benefits to our students and community is something both the Board of Education and Library District Board are committed to for years to come,” said Dr. Skertich.
Site Plans & Renderings
LORI EVERETT, AIA, LEED AP
Project Architect
“The library upgrades will result in a space that will better serve the community and provide support for the adjacent school for the next 20 to 30 years. From discussions with the library board members, it’s evident that Caseyville is an engaging community with an appealing small-town feel. The library is an essential part of this community and because of this, they want to ensure that they are providing the best services and support for their patrons with a facility that is ‘warm and inviting,’ and a ‘community hangout’ with the flexibility and square footage needed to provide a variety of functions.
It’s clear from current conditions that the existing building is greatly undersized. With the added square footage provided by a new building, the library could offer far more services including space for community events, a study room, increased programming for children, teens and adults, and a local history and genealogy area. There are plans to have copies of all student textbooks in addition to bilingual books and reference material for the large Hispanic population in the community."
Ground Broken at Caseyville School -- Edwardsville Intelligencer
“'We approached the library district about acquiring their land and proposed a partnership that would provide new, improved facilities for both entities. Absent of the district and library working together to serve our communities, this would not have been possible,' said Skertich."
"The current library, built in 1998, sits just outside the existing Caseyville Elementary grounds on Second Street. There has been an ongoing natural partnership between the two entities for years; once the district started looking at ways to use the land under and around the school to create a new campus, the location of the library became a key factor."
"The new library will gain 1,500 square feet, making it 50 percent larger. It will include a study room, meeting room to accommodate 25 to 30 people, a children’s zone and interactive area, bilingual materials and signs, as well as dedicated outdoor space for the Caseyville Community Garden."
-- Charles Bolinger, Edwardsville Intelligencer.
CUSD 10 breaks ground for new Caseyville Elementary School -- Times Tribune
Caseyville Public Library District and CUSD 10 broke ground on January 5th, 2023 on the land that is to become the new Caseyville Public Library District building and new Caseyville Elementary. These organizations will remain separate entities with a co-beneficial relationship that will aid Caseyville Elementary students and the Caseyville community.
"Ashley Stewart, library director for Caseyville Public Library District explains the impact of city government and community working together for the greater good of the community. 'This building project is an example of the interconnected systems framework in action,' Stewart said. 'Progress is made when local governments share the same vision and work together to meet the needs of the community.' Stewart also pointed out that services and resources for city residents are provided in a coordinated and coherent way and the impact is viable" -- Devese “Dee” Ursery, Times Tribune.