District to limit public library’s hours

By Davy James, Staff Writer
   CRANBURY — The Board of Education voted Tuesday to reduce the number of hours the Cranbury Public Library will be open to the public during school hours.
   Beginning Oct. 13, the public library will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday, the library will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
   The change in hours was decided upon to benefit the students at the Cranbury School. The public library is located in the same space as the Cranbury School Library.
   ”The library is a shared library between the public and the school and we need to make that distinction,” said Chief School Administrator John Haney. “The public library doesn’t pay rent or utilities. Unfortunately, we’re not able to meet the goals we have for our students under the present arrangement. We don’t mind sharing the library at all, but we need to meet our central mission as well.”
   The change in hours allows the school to have improved security and gives students and teachers improved access to the facilities, Mr. Haney said.
   ”This will benefit our security because the school has tighter security procedures than the library does,” he said. “It’s certainly not the library’s fault, but the school can define who comes in and out. Plus this allows teachers to go in, lecture and have their students read aloud. Plus, I’m sure the patrons think the students make too much noise during school hours.”
   The move will also allow the school to focus on one of its major curriculum goals for the students, literature.
   ”We think it’s important for the students to be able to be in the library to enjoy literature,” Mr. Haney said. “We want them to be able to develop a love of literature that will last a lifetime. It can be hard for them when you have other people in the library.”
   The change in hours isn’t permanent, however, as the board will examine the policy at the end of the school year.
   ”The modified hours will run to the end of the year and will be revisited before next year begins,” Mr. Haney said. “We also plan on hiring a library consultant to work with the public and school ends of the library and help us meet our mission to better meet the needs of the students and the public as well.”