at a premium,
according to director
Shelf space is
at a premium,
according to director
By dave goldberg
Staff Writer
JERRY WOLKOWITZ The township is planning to build a new $8 million library that would better fit the needs of the community.
NORTH BRUNSWICK — Officials are hoping that the $8 million in the proposed capital budget targeted for revamping the library will improve services.
"We need not to look at meeting the bare minimum; we need to look at making a library that exemplifies North Brunswick as a town that places a premium on our children, education and all the members of our community," council President Francis "Mac" Womack said. "We need a facility that will make the town proud."
Mayor David Spaulding said that the facility will increase with the funding.
"It will be twice as big as the current library," Spaulding said. "We are looking to expand upon what we have available. We need a better facility for our residents. We are currently looking at many different options for the library."
JERRY WOLKOWITZ There are only three Internet workstations at the current North Brunswick Public Library. Proponents of the new library proposal say the old facility is outdated and too small.
The township introduced a capital budget Monday night that includes some $8 million for a new library. The budget was introduced for public comment and will be voted on by the council at the Sept. 3 meeting. The funds are scheduled to be included in the fiscal year 2004 municipal budget.
The council is considering using some of the capital budget money to fund a new library in the township. The library may only cost the township $6 million if the library board is able to get a $2 million grant from the state, according to Chief Financial Officer Gerald Seneski.
Two other items included in the proposed capital budget are road and park improvements.
Library Director Maureen Rees said that there is currently not enough space in the facility.
"The technology in the facility is up to date, but we don’t have enough for the community," Rees said. "There are only three computers with Internet connections. The New Jersey Library State Guidelines say that we need to double our facility. I would love to see much larger community use of our facility. We could do more community, adult and children’s programs."
The library is an essential part of any community, according to Womack.
"A library reflects the character of the community," Womack said. "We need a library that is going to adequately reflect the intelligence of our township. We are a community located between Rutgers University in New Brunswick and Princeton University in Princeton, with major pharmaceutical corporations in between. We need the library to reflect that we are a smart town. We’re not going to play second fiddle to any community in that regard."
The shelf space in the library is very low, according to Rees.
"We need more shelving," Rees said. "We buy books on a regular basis. We take older book from the shelves. We usually have to do this process every eight months because of the tight space. Weeding books is standard for any library, and if there is a need to do this, we will go through the process."
Rees said it is difficult to reach some of the books on the shelves.
"With a bigger facility it would be easier because more shelves would be available. All of the shelves are cramped, and some of the books are on the very top. This is not an ideal situation. Some of the books are on the very bottom. It is difficult for the books to be reached."
Council Vice President Carlo Socio concurred that the library is in need of improvement.
"It is no secret that our current library is undersized," Socio said. "It does not service the needs of our town. Residents should be able to do research within the town. A bigger library would facilitate the needs of the community. It is a necessity at this point."