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CRANBURY: Foundation holds event for new library funding

By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
CRANBURY — Easter baskets, with bright spring colors were made to help raise funds for a new public library in town.
   Patty Kraws of Country Florist and Gifts helped about a dozen residents make spring flower baskets at the current town library on Main Street, inside the school on April 15.
   Ms. Kraws says they used pom-poms and purple statice flowers.
   ”It was a lot of fun and everybody had a good time,” said Kraws. “They all did very unique baskets.”
   The cost of entry was $35 and all the proceeds went to the Cranbury Public Library Foundation.
   The Cranbury Public Library Foundation is, according to its website “raising capital funds for a physical facility to adequately house its collections, services, and offer public space for community programs, cultural events, and civic organizations.”
   Currently the foundation has raised almost $1.5 million, with a goal of $3.2 million.
   The current library is at the town’s school, but the foundation believes a new library will be better for the community.
   According to the website, separating the town and school’s libraries will allow each to function fully and serve the community better.
   ”A public library allows open access to all information to everyone in our community, not just children. The library supports our First Amendment rights to free speech,” according tom the website. “A school library supports the curriculum, filters the Internet, and protects the children. Ideally, it is a secure space restricted to students in school.”
   The school library will remain intact and still house the 9,000 books that it owns.
   ”To help the library out is great, and its good to connect with your community and help them out,” said Ms. Kraws. “We did a nice event and people really enjoy them. I would definitely do another one again to help build the new library.”