While the space is still not open on a regular schedule, the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives hosted an open house after Chicago's Pride Parade Sunday, June 30. Their new space is located at 6500 N. Clark.
Gerber/Hart Board President Brad Tucker gave a tour of the library and common space areas of the facility, but Tucker could not show the archives area to Windy City Times because he does not have the security codehe said only two other board members have the code, including Karen Sendziak. The status of the archives has been the biggest concern of community members who have been speaking up for the past 16 months against the library's decision-making process.
Tucker said that the city of Chicago Buildings Department told them they could have the open house and other events in the space, even though the building itself has no occupancy permit. No other tenants have signed leases to rent in the buildingthe library takes up the back portion of the second of two floors.
The library portion has books on the shelves and is nearly complete. "The collected has been weeded significantly from the Granville location," which had 14,000 books, Tucker said, but the remaining books are ready for lending as soon as the space openswhich could be in a few weeks.
Tucker also said that the board, which now has five members, has authorized a new maximum of 16 members. They have voted in seven new members and may add another four soon. Those seven new members will be announced after a mid-July board meeting.