As the La Grange Park Public Library approaches its 50th anniversary next year and moves back into a refurbished building at 555 N. La Grange Road, the library board appointed a long-time employee to be its new executive director.
Gabe Oppenheim, 47, who had been serving as interim director for six months when Juanita Herrel resigned suddenly six months ago, was officially made executive director on April 18.
“People are going to be excited at all the new things we have,” he told the Doings in a recent interview, a reference to the library renovation that saw the library offering limited services at its temporary home at the First Baptist Church of La Grange.
The conditions of Oppenheim’s employment are that he will be an “at-will” employee, meaning that he serves without a contract. His total compensation package will be approximately $122,125, consisting of a $98,000 salary, a $13,298 insurance benefit, and an estimated IMRF pension contribution of $10,827.
Born at La Grange Memorial Hospital while his parents lived in Lyons, Oppenheim grew up in La Grange Park, graduating from Lyons Township High School in 1995. He now lives in Oak Park with his partner.
He then attended Dominican University in River Forest, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s in library science.
But even before his college education, Oppenheim was an employee of the La Grange Park Public Library, beginning as a page for one year in high school, then being hired on as a full-time employee in 1996.
He worked his way up through various positions, beginning as a circulations clerk, assistant circulation service supervisor, LAN administrator, reference librarian, IT director, director of facilities operations, and adult services director.
The limited services at First Baptist during the renovation presented challenges during the last eight months.
“I think staff really made the best of the facility we had there,” Oppenheim said. “It was limited, obviously, in a lot of ways, especially in terms of the materials we offered. But we offered most of the services that we had here.”
Oppenheim estimated that the library was able to provide 5 to 10 percent of its normal materials, and while the magazine collection was limited during the renovation, all of the movies available for lending were available to library patrons. Oppenheim credited library patrons for their understanding during a difficult period.
“I think most of our patrons were very happy that we were still able to offer them programming and the books we were able to offer them,” he said.
Aside from a structurally sound building, the refurbished facility will provide additional new features, including three new private study rooms, a “maker space” room designed for patrons to do STEM programming, crafts, and cooking, and an expanded children’s department. The library will also be getting new furniture.
The tentative date for the building reopening is May 6.
Asked about what the future might hold for him, Oppenheim said he was committed to the La Grange Park Public Library.
“I’m planning on staying here,” he said. “This is a library that I know and love.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
