The next group of Hinsdale high school students chosen for the Hinsdale Public Library's Junior Advisory Board will walk into a building mid-transformation, tasked with helping program a brand-new teen space that didn't exist when the board launched four years ago.
Applications for the 2026-27 JAB closed Saturday, Aug. 1, at 9 p.m. The library expects to notify selected members by Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The JAB, now entering its fifth year, puts teens in charge of designing programs for their peers and volunteering at library events. Members commit to attending at least seven of nine meetings during the school year. The board also runs Homework Helpers, a drop-in tutoring program for grades K–5 offered Mondays and Thursdays from 4–6 p.m. during the school year.
The library at 20 E. Maple St. is deep into a $4 million interior renovation that began in February and is expected to wrap by the end of 2026. One of the biggest changes: a dedicated teen space moving to the lower level, giving students more room while keeping adult areas quieter. The project is funded entirely from the library's existing capital reserves, with no new taxes or borrowing.
That means the incoming JAB cohort will be the first to help shape programming for a space built specifically for them.
The renovation followed three years of community conversations and public meetings that began with the library's 2022 strategic planning process. The Village Board voted unanimously on March 3 to waive noise ordinance hours for the project, allowing construction crews to start at 6 a.m. on weekdays to keep the timeline on track.
Executive Director Karen Kleckner Keefe has led the library through the planning and construction phases. The Library Board of Trustees, led by President John Bloomfield, held a special meeting on Wednesday, July 29, with a furniture proposal on the agenda, according to The Hinsdalean. That signals the renovated spaces are nearing completion.
The library said the board welcomes students interested in civic engagement, volunteer work, and community involvement. The JAB launched in January 2022, when its first cohort began brainstorming program ideas and assisting youth services staff. Students selected for the 2026-27 board will begin meeting this fall.
The JAB maintains an Instagram account at @hpljab to promote library programs and events.
Hinsdale week ahead
- Library Board of Trustees meeting — Tuesday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m., Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St. Open to the public.
- Homework Helpers — Mondays and Thursdays, 4–6 p.m. during the school year (resumes with fall semester), Hinsdale Public Library. Free drop-in tutoring for grades K–5, staffed by JAB volunteers.
