A partnership between the Waukegan Public Library and the Waukegan Historical Society over the future of the Ray Bradbury Collection will increase the public’s access to the late world-renowned author’s personal papers and books.
With renovation continuing at the onetime Carnegie Library, turning it into the permanent home of the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, the historical society will soon take possession of the collection to get it ready when the redone building opens in the spring of 2024.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” historical society President Lori Nerheim said. “We have to inventory the collection, and do a conversation assessment. We have a lot of work to do to prepare the collection for the room.”
Bradbury, a Waukegan native and famed author of books like “Fahrenheit 451,” willed his treasured collection of papers, books and other materials to the library when he died in 2012. As a boy, he developed his thirst for reading and love of books at the city’s library.
The library’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to transfer the collection to the historical society during a regularly scheduled meeting Feb. 15 at the library, concluding more than a year of discussions about how best to work together.
When the redone museum opens, Nerheim said the collection of books, papers and artifacts will be housed in the restored children’s reading room, looking as it did when Bradbury was a boy reading books there.
“He developed his thirst for reading in this very place,” she said. “We are proud to be the steward of this collection. Some of it will be held in glass cases. We will make it available to accredited researchers.”
Nerheim said there will be a rotating exhibit of some of the items at the library so people can experience them there. Library Executive Director Tiffany Verzani said between the rotating collection, the Ray Bradbury Room on the lower level and some of its programs, the library can continue to educate people about the author as well as continue its mission.
“Looking at the library’s strategic plan and long-term goals, it’s really important the library focuses on teaching programs and special events,” Verzani said. “We want to have a makerspace and a small business center.”
Jennyfer Cordova, the library’s communications and community engagement manager, said the library will hold events related to Bradbury on his birthday and Halloween. The library’s Bradbury writing contest will continue to be an event to possibly inspire a future Bradbury of the younger generation.
Nerheim said there also will be a joint effort around National Library Week. There will be times the historical society, the library and the Ray Bradbury Experience Museum join forces for events.
Along with the effort between the library and the historical society, the Waukegan Park District, which owns and operates the museum, is continuing its $12.5 million renovation project to restore the former five-story library into a museum.
Park District Executive Director Jay Lerner said the massive project started in October. The gut renovation started preparing the building for restoration. A deep foundation was excavated for an addition to the building’s north, to make it fully accessible for all people.
When the 120-year-old building was erected, needs for accessibility were not part of the plans, as people walked up and down the five flights of stairs. Lerner said the addition will provide elevator access to all floors, easing the way for museum-goers.
Located at the top of a bluff at the northeast intersection of Sheridan Road and Washington Street, the Carnegie is a five-story building with the main entrance on the top floor at the corner of Washington and Sheridan, with all levels visible from the Amstutz Expressway to the east.
“We’re getting the building prepared for renovation of the inside,” Lerner said. “They’re putting in floors. There’s a lot of work you have to do. This is a really exciting time”
Lerner said the project is primarily financed with a $5 million anonymous donation and an assortment of grants from the state and federal governments. Less than 10% will come from tax dollars.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it just all came together,” Lerner said.
