BUSINESS: Plainsboro library seeks partners in community outreach

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert
   The Plainsboro Public Library is looking to partner with area businesses on two community outreach programs.
   The first is a discount card available for purchase to benefit the library.
   ”The library organizes the vendors who participate, takes care of getting the card printed, and then sells them for $10 each as a fundraiser for the library,” said Virginia Baeckler, library director. “The businesses have no investment, but whatever offer they choose to give. The customers get lots of discounts; businesses get great exposure and hopefully some new customers they wouldn’t have had otherwise and the library gets the difference between printing and sales.”
   One of the first businesses to participate is It’s A Grind Coffee House on Schalks Crossing Road, offering 10 percent off most food and drink.
   ”We’re community oriented and try to do as much as we can to give to the community,” said John Nuzzo, owner of It’s A Grind Coffee House. “I am a strong believer in the library and Ginny is such a tremendous plus to the community and we do what we can to support the library and her.”
   The second project Ms. Baeckler is working on is the library’s annual Halloween Scavenger Hunt on Oct. 31.
   ”The Scavenger Hunt is like ‘Where’s Waldo?’ said Ms. Baeckler. “We will give participants a list of ‘people’ they have to find in the area and rather than having (participating business people in) clumsy costumes that you have to work in all day, we sometimes encourage sort of rebuses—like a person with glasses draped with spider webs for Website.”
   Participants will find all the people and return to the Library, where there will be scary stories, a dungeon, various groups doing crazy exhibits and demos; and of course the announcement of prizes for the winners of the Scavenger hunt.
   ”The Library is frequently described as the ‘anchor’ to the Village Center, which is actually a very fascinating roll to play,” said Ms. Baeckler. “With over a 1,000 visits a day, there is no question that we have brought a great deal of ‘business’ to our neighbors. We’re truly looking forward to the fun of collaborating on some of our regular programs.”
   For more information about either opportunity, call the library at (609) 275-2899.