The Brookfield Public Library board charted a new course for the future of the institution on May 30, voting 6-0 with one abstention to acquire property at 3507 Arden Ave. The parcel is located in the village’s Hollywood section, directly across the street from the Kiwanis Park oak savanna.

The vote sets into motion a plan to move the library from its current, longtime location at 3609 Grand Blvd., although library officials say there is no timeline to make the plan a reality.

“At this point things look promising,” said Jonathan Platt, the library board president. “We can in no way pull out a fully formed plan, because it requires us acquiring enough property.”

Library Director Kimberly Litland said that the library hopes to close on the property in July. The negotiated purchase price is reported to be $400,000 and will be financed by a combination of reserve funds and financing from a local bank. Prior to cementing the deal, the library board will hold a public hearing on July 9 at 7 p.m. at the Brookfield Library.

Litland said that the library board has contacted several property owners on the block, adding that there are “offers on the table” from up to five other property owners.

Joseph Michalowski, who owns one of two homes immediately north of 3507 Arden Ave., said that the library has been in contact with him about his home. However, Michalowski said there’s no deal on the table for his home.

“We haven’t committed to nothing yet,” said Michalowski, who has lived in the home with his wife for 41 years. “I don’t know if I’m ready to move.”

Karen Mitiu, whose home would be directly south of a new library, said she was unaware of the library’s intention.

“This is the first I’ve heard about it,” said Mitiu last Thursday.

Platt said the library is in no hurry, and that no timetables have been drawn up for the construction of a new library building.

“We’re most interested in what works out for the people of the neighborhood as well as the library,” Platt said. “There are no time constraints we’re worried about.”

Although the library had expressed interest in acquiring property late last year, the possibility of buying property on Arden Avenue comes as something of a surprise. In November 2006, the library sent out letters to property owners on Grand Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, adjacent to the current library building.

After facing opposition there, the library apparently changed tactics and sought out property elsewhere. Litland said she didn’t want to divulge how contacts were made with the Arden Avenue property owners, but said that the idea of property acquisition there was a “mutual” one between the library and residents.

“It was a mutual undertaking of residents and the library,” Litland said.

Calls to the owners of 3507 Arden Ave., William and Carol Hanen, were not returned.

The current Brookfield Public Library was built in 1985, but complaints about the lack of space followed soon after. In 1998, the library underwent a major interior remodeling, which included creating meeting room space in the basement.

But the lack of space has continued to be a sore spot for library officials, who say the building ought to be over twice as big as it is. Litland, discussing the issue back in 2005, said that state library standards call for a building that allows for 2-square feet of space per capita.

For Brookfield, that would mean a building with 38,000 square feet of room. The current library has 13,500 square feet of space and no onsite parking.

The Arden Avenue property, at 19,500 square feet is already bigger than the current library property. The library would seek additional property for onsite parking, according to Platt.

“Part of the goal is to have adequate parking both in terms of comfort and safety,” Platt said, “Which the library certainly doesn’t have right now.”

Asked how the library would pay for roughly $2 million in property acquisition and another several million for construction, Platt said it’s too early to tell.

“We haven’t taken it any farther [than buying one lot],” Platt said. “Until it reaches a point where we’re ready to close, we don’t know what the options are. At that point we’ll have discussions with the public.”

For the time being, the library will be able to buy the one Arden Avenue lot without having to seek additional money from taxpayers. Until the library is able to buy all of the property it needs for a new library, homes will be leased.

“We’ll keep the properties intact and work out rental arrangements,” Platt said.