Library expansion work to kick off this spring
Children's reading area to be expanded; more services being planned

A sketch provided by the borough of South River shows the proposed look of the expanded public library.

SOUTH RIVER - Expansion plans for the South River Library on Appleby Avenue are on track as the design phase nears completion and the construction bidding process is expected to soon commence.

The much-anticipated construction is likely to begin in the spring.

"The addition and renovation of our library will address critical space limitations and will allow South River to offer many of the valuable services that other public libraries now offer," said Borough Councilman Raymond T. Eppinger, who serves as the council's liaison to the library board of trustees. "More space will be allotted for children's services and more nonprint items will be added to an already expanding collection. We're excited about this project, as it will directly benefit each and every resident."

In an attempt to meet the growing demand for Internet access, expansion plans include more public-access computers. There will also be a reading room with serene views of the woods behind the library.

Clearly defined adult and children's areas are planned to provide a separation of services for various age groups. The building addition will also include several quiet study rooms, a computer training lab and a dedicated space for local teens.

A "gallery" area to the right of the present entrance will provide a variety of functions, such as serving as a distribution point for information, an exhibition space for local art and a café area with vending machines. Additionally, off the gallery, the new space is designed to boast a meeting room to be used independently of the library.

"The current building, designed in the late 1970s when personal computers took up entire rooms, is nearly 30 years old and considered obsolete in our high-tech world," Mayor Robert Szegeti said. "It was originally designed as a 15,000-square-foot structure with separate areas defined for adult and children's services."

But high construction costs pared the original building's size down to 8,500 square feet, funded almost completely by a federal grant, the mayor said.

Eppinger said public input has been a key component of the expansion plan. He noted that the library board of trustees held an "open house" last March to give residents an opportunity to tour the library, review the expansion plans and provide input.

"Along with many South River officials, those in attendance were quite excited by the changes the expansion will bring," Eppinger said. "The additional space, meeting rooms, computers and the expansion of existing programs are just some of the benefits of this expansion plan."