S.R. moves ahead with library expansion
Boro funds design to add space for staff, activities, materials
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - The borough's public library may soon be doubled in size, with an expanded parking lot and additional services.

The library conducted a study last year, determining that a larger building is needed. The borough is now paying the architectural firm of Arcari & Iovino, of Little Ferry, $352,000 for the design phase, and the project will go out to bid after the cost of construction is determined, Borough Business Administrator Joseph Kunz said.

"Once we go with this phase, we will have a better idea of the prices and [the Borough Council] will make a decision based on that," Kunz said, adding that part of the new design is limited by the neighboring firehouse.

Library Director Andrea Londensky said the library has completed its initial phase, involving schematics and conceptual drawings, and the second phase, meeting with the architect on the design, will begin today.

"It has been wonderful so far," Londensky said. "We started out by doing an extensive planning process to find out what we needed. We held focus groups with the community, and the architect made conceptual plans for us."

Londensky said it is too soon to tell how much the cost of renovation will be, but she estimated that it could reach $5 million based on the square footage needed and the current construction market conditions.

The project's planning dates to 2003, with the library's Board of Trustees and the council's financial committee helping with the decision-making process.

"We keep them apprised of what is going on. They asked for a cost estimate, but it is so early in the process, it is hard to give an accurate estimate. We gave them the best estimate based on other libraries in New Jersey. Construction prices keep rising, so as construction prices rise, we want to get this in at the lower prices."

In assessing their needs, library officials found that they do not have enough staff and activity rooms, so that space will be increased with this plan.

"People wanted more space for children's activities; we only have a tiny space for children. Also, public-access computing is something all of the public wants from the library. We are very heavily used in that area," Londensky said.

The library is also looking into having more room for its media collection, as publications now often come in several different formats, including audio book, video and large print

"One title can have four different formats, so we need four times as much room. The trend is very heavily weighted now towards media. It used to be that a small portion was media. Now 20 percent of what is used in the library is in nonprint format. It is the era of the audio book."

The five-phase project also includes construction planning in the third stage, bidding in the fourth, and finally, construction.

"We looked at what we are doing, what we could be doing and should be doing, and we match what we would like to do with what the community wants, because it is the community's library. You really want to hear their voice during the budgeting process."

Londensky hopes the cost of the library project will be defrayed with state funding through an Assembly bill that would increase the maximum amount of bond issues by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority from $45 million to $95 million for library construction and technical grants.

"The last round of funding was in 2001, so we are hoping to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of state money. South River does not have a lot of ratables; it is mostly taxpayer money, so we want to make this as palatable to taxpayers as possible," she said. "We made sure to do all the prerequisites to apply for that money. We have met all of the requirements as far as I understand. Now we need to get the Legislature to pass the bill in the New Jersey Assembly."

The library's ability to get state funding depends on how many libraries apply for it, Londensky said. The state would match up to 25 percent of the library's funding of the project with that grant.

Many municipal libraries were built around the time as South River's - in the late 1970s and early 1980s - and therefore many are in need of renovation, Londensky said.

"Now all of those buildings are in need of restoration and additions," she said. "So, there are a lot of libraries out there competing for those funds. If the legislation passes, though, we will be in a good position to put our hand out for them."