SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Several improvements to the South Brunswick Public Library will soon commence at no cost to township residents.
The improvements will be the final set of many that started back in 2005 as part of the library’s expansion project.
“We view this as the completion of the 2005 expansion,” library Director Chris Carbone said.
The township and the state supported the original improvements in the form of a capital plan, with additional help from the Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library.
The project fell short five years ago, however, because of the limited construction budget. Only the library’s most crucial needs were addressed at that time, and several of the other planned improvements were postponed.
Now, as part of the library’s Strategic Plan, the board of trustees has raised enough money to complete the expansion project.
The design plans are completed, and the funding sources have been identified and will not affect the 2010 municipal budget, Carbone said.
The library director visited the Township Council last week and asked that a contract be authorized with All Jersey Mechanical and Construction Inc., which was determined to be the lowest and most qualified bidder for the Library Renovation Project.
Much of the $309,200 estimated cost of the project has already been raised, Carbone said. The library board of trustees raised $100,000 toward the project’s cost, the Library Foundation raised $70,000, and another $19,000 has been raised in Community Development Block Grant funds awarded toward the project over the past three years. Those organizations will continue to raise more money for the project, he said.
There are also some remaining funds that were reserved for the project in a 2006 capital ordinance for library improvements.
“The entire project can be completed with the majority of the cost raised for the project and no impact on the South Brunswick taxpayer,” Carbone said. “We understand these are difficult times for everyone, but that’s why we’re so pleased that this isn’t costing anything.”
The primary areas to be addressed by the project will include the completion of the unfinished lower level, moving staff offices downstairs and thus allowing more public space on the main level; a new program/craft room that can be divided into two smaller rooms; a dedicated quiet study lounge; replacement of five original, singlepane windows for energy efficiency; consolidation of the check-out and returns areas for efficiency; creation of a local history archive and conference room; and the preparation for a future café area.
The renovations are expected to take approximately four months, during which time they will have minimal impact on the library’s operations, Carbone said.
The majority of the furnishings needed for the refurnished areas have already been supplied, Carbone said, donated by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals several years ago during the original expansion project.
“I speak for the library’s board of trustees when I say that we’re just very excited,” Carbone said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Carbone urged the council to authorize the contract because “moving forward at this time will allow library officials to take advantage of competitive pricing,” he said.
The council is likely to authorize the contract at its May 25 meeting. Construction is scheduled to begin shortly after.