CRANBURY: Library raises $1.2 million in building funds

By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
   CRANBURY — The Cranbury Public Library is well on its way to securing the funds to start building a new facility.
   According to Cranbury Public Library Board President Kirstie Vernanzi, the Library Foundation is at $1.2 million in money raised.
   ”We’ve received quite a bit in the last week,” Ms. Vernanzi said during the Township Committee meeting this week. “About $100,000 in pledges and we’re very excited about it.”
   According to Ms. Vernanzi, the board requested that she ask the Township Committee to think about setting up a subcommittee to discuss the plans for the new library.
   ”We’ve made big steps going forward about the design and location,” Ms. Vernanzi said.
   She said the currently library is housed inside the school building and many people in the town have suggested that the new library building be at Park Place West where the farmer’s market is rather than across the parking lot from the school.
   According to Ms. Vernanzi, the Planning Board said that it might be possible.
   ”We (also) have a design that’s more traditional in look than our first drawings and we want to talk to you about that as well,” Ms. Vernanzi said.
   While the committee didn’t give an answer about whether or not they would create a subcommittee to discuss the library plans, Ms. Vernanzi said that she hoped they would consider it.
   ”Seeing as we have this much money, close to half the money we need, we would like to seriously have your input on this,” Ms. Vernanzi said.
   The board hopes to have a garden outside the library and other things to give the community many different opportunities.
   For a $5,000 pledge, a community member can get their name on a plaque that would be displayed in the library. Along with the plaque, the foundation also plans on having a brick sale to raise money.
   According to Ms. Vernanzi, they will be starting the public phase for donations with an event hosted by the Library Foundation from 4-6 p.m. on April 7 at Teddy’s Luncheonette.
   Several dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Rush Holt and State Sen. Linda Greenstein are invited to the event according to Ms. Vernanzi.
   ”I think it’s wonderful that you’ve gotten to this point, especially in this economy,” Committee member Jay Taylor said.
   Because of budget cuts, the library had to cut their hours, according to library director Marilynn Mullen.
   Starting today, the library will only be open until 8 p.m. from Monday-Thursday, open until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and will be closed on Sunday.
   According to Ms. Vernanzi, the library has been open on Sunday’s for the past 10 years, but the 8-9 p.m. hour is one of the least used at the facility.
   The library will be able to save money by not having to pay employees to be there on Sundays. In addition to increase revenue, the library will be increasing their copying fee from $0.10 to $0.15 per copy.
   According to Ms. Mullen, because of budget cuts, the library will receive $58,775 less to operate this year, a decrease of 10 percent from last year’s budget.
   The Board of Education also approved to decrease the amount they charge the library for rent from around $58,000 to $51,000 at its Jan. 22 meeting.