New Lenox Library Opens Wilhelm Cafe, Addresses Early Signage and Wi-Fi Issues

New Lenox Public Library District Board of Trustees Meeting | February 17, 2026

Article Summary:
The New Lenox Public Library successfully opened the new Wilhelm Cafe to the public in early February. While the launch has been celebrated, the Library Board noted some early operational issues, directing staff to fix crooked signage and boost the Wi-Fi signal in the newly renovated space.

Wilhelm Cafe Key Points:

• Grand Opening: The Wilhelm Cafe officially opened to the public on Monday, February 2, 2026.

• Memorial Donation: Pat Morissey donated funds to cover the full cost of a commercial-grade Keurig machine in memory of her late son.

• Signage Issues: Board President Alex Vancina reported that the lettering on the cafe’s signage is crooked and appears unstable.

• Connectivity Problems: Vancina also noted poor Wi-Fi connectivity in the cafe space, prompting an IT review to boost the signal.

The New Lenox Public Library District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, celebrated the successful opening of the new Wilhelm Cafe, while immediately moving to address a few early operational snags in the highly anticipated space.

Executive Director Michelle Krooswyk reported that the cafe officially opened its doors to the public on Monday, February 2. To support the launch, local resident Pat Morissey donated funds to cover the full cost of a commercial-grade Keurig machine in memory of her late son. A temporary sign acknowledging the donation has been placed next to the machine.

Krooswyk noted that all current signage in the space is temporary until final mounting locations are determined. However, during the meeting’s closing comments, Board President Alex Vancina raised concerns regarding the physical stability of the cafe’s primary branding.

Vancina informed the Board that some of the individual letters spelling out the library’s name in the cafe are crooked and “look like they are not stable.” He suggested that the library install a backing to provide better stability for the lettering. Krooswyk stated she will connect with the architectural firm Studio GC to find a permanent solution.

Vancina also flagged a technological issue, noting that the Wi-Fi connection within the cafe area is currently “very poor.” Krooswyk confirmed she will direct the Information Technology Coordinator to investigate options for boosting the wireless signal in the space.

To support the cafe’s operations, Studio Manager John Morgan reported his department successfully created new signs for the space, while IT Coordinator Devin Arbuthnot confirmed that new self-checkout machines have been fully installed and the Envoy software is working as expected.