Schaumburg library under repair after crash

Repairs began Wednesday to the west entrance of the Schaumburg Township District Library building in Schaumburg. The entrance was damaged late Tuesday afternoon when a minivan crashed through the sliding glass doors. Photo courtesy of Schaumburg Township District Lib

The west entrance of the Schaumburg Township District Library's central building in Schaumburg will remain closed indefinitely as repairs are made after a minivan crashed into it Tuesday afternoon.

The library remains open, however, with all of its programs, services and materials unaffected and accessible through a different entrance. Signs at the west entrance direct patrons to the working door.

No pedestrians were injured and the driver and his passenger suffered only minor cuts when the Dodge Caravan crashed through the sliding glass doors of the west entrance at 130 S. Roselle Road at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The driver -- an 88-year-old Schaumburg man -- was not transported, but his wife, who was in the passenger seat, was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village for treatment of her injuries.

Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl said preliminary indications are that the driver appeared to have panicked after backing out of a parking space, striking a car parked behind him and then putting his vehicle in drive.

Nebl said no tickets have been issued, and it was unclear if any would be -- if for no other reason than that the crash occurred on private property.

Schaumburg fire officials said there was no damage to the structural soundness of the library and the building can remain open with the entrance boarded up.

"We are so grateful that the van didn't strike anyone," library Director Stephanie Sarnoff said in a written statement Wednesday. "We're asking everyone to be please be patient as we repair the damage on the first floor and construct a beautiful new teen center on the second floor. When everything is complete, I think residents will be pleased with the results."