Library board, residents discuss facility's expansion
Board addresses residents' concerns about potential cost
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - Residents had an opportunity recently to sound off on the proposed library expansion.

The library board of trustees held an information session and public forum at the South River Primary School on David Street on Nov. 28, organized in response to a recent petition signed by several hundred residents that raises concerns about the project's cost.

According to those who signed the petition, the cost should not exceed $3 million. The project is expected to exceed the $5.5 million bonded for it.

Resident Marilyn Meloni said she is concerned that the board still has not determined the cost of the project. She said she did not participate in community study groups on the project that were held over four years ago, because she did not want the library expansion project to move forward.

Meloni said the current state of the economy and the housing market has led her to conclude that the borough cannot afford a project of this scope.

"How can people afford this?" Meloni asked.

Library Director Andrea Londensky acknowledged that residents are entitled to know how much the project will cost. She added that the board will know the cost of construction when it goes out to bid.

"I hear you," Londensky said. "I hear all of you who are interested in knowing how expensive this project is going to be."

The trustees have only confidential estimates at this time, Londensky said. The pending cost figures will include furniture, equipment, insurance and all other fees associated with the project.

"We're not going out to bid yet," Londensky said. "When it happens, we'll be able to get the true price."

The trustees can ultimately decide to not go ahead with the project if the cost is in excess of what they believe it should be.

"This is not a blank check," Londensky said.

Londensky said there are no areas that can be cut from the proposed project.

"It's a beautiful design, but there is nothing in that building that is gratuitous, and there is nothing in this building that we don't really need."

Barbara Jensen, co-president of the board of trustees, said the board started talking about this project over 10 years ago, adding that they met with council members as far back as 2003.

"The entire process was open to the public," Jensen said. "This is our final opportunity to present what's happening in your and my community."

Jensen said that residents who opposed the plan had the opportunity to voice their concerns during the first and second readings of the referendum.

Trustee M. Anita Hermstedt, board copresident, said the expansion of the library will allow the facility to keep more titles in the wide variety of formats that require more display and storage space, including large-print books, audio books and DVDs. She added that programs such as book readings and driving courses through AARP also require additional space.

"It will be your new community living room," Hermstedt said.

The entrance to the library will be in the same location, Hermstedt said, but each area of the library will be enlarged. She added that it will include a gallery area where patrons can hook up to the library's wireless connection or read a newspaper.

One of the largest venues available to the community will be the meeting room in the expanded library, which will accommodate 90 people, Hermstedt said. She said the new library will offer a technology training room, an enlarged circulation desk, and a teen area that is glass-enclosed to ensure that noise does not leave the space, while librarians and parents are able to visually supervise.

Quiet areas are also included in front of large windows that offer panoramic outdoor views, Hermstedt said. She added that a conference room and three private study rooms are also included in the library's expansion plan.

"The number of public-access computers will increase dramatically," Hermstedt said.

In response to a question on environmental aspects of the building's design, Londensky said the design will allow a significant amount of natural sunlight to enter the building.

Computers designated for teens will have Internet access, Londensky said, but computers for younger children will have age-appropriate software rather than Internet access. The entire library will be wireless, she added.

In response to a question on the future of the public library, Londensky said that while technological advances have spurred more interest in libraries, books will remain a viable format.

"Books aren't going away, like radio," Londensky said. "TV was meant to replace radio. Well, it hasn't. Radio is alive and well."

Londensky addressed the use of computers by younger patrons to play video games, which she described as a relatively new model quadrant of activity at libraries. She said that libraries are now adapting to fit online games, such as RuneScape, into their missions.

Londensky said the library has to accommodate multiple formats of the various items in their catalog. For example, she cited the 37 items in various formats that the library has that are related to the popular novel "The Da Vinci Code," written by Dan Brown.

Money is tight at public libraries across the nation, including in South River, Londensky said. She added that this project is pivotal to meeting the community's growing needs.

"We need a new library," Londensky said. "We have no place to put this stuff."

Londensky acknowledged that a number of residents think the project is going to be too costly. However, many residents want the additional services that the library will be able to provide with its expansion, and the current library has 30 years of deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed, she added.

"I would not consider downsizing this project until we find out what it costs," Londensky said.

"There is more than one way to finance this project," she added.

With more families expected to move into the borough, according to its master plan, the community will need to have a library that can offer young people a place where they can learn outside of school, Londensky said.

"It's got to be about more than just the money," she added.

Resident Joseph Manzo said the community can only wait until the final cost is known.

"If it's too high, we go to our honorable mayor and council and we request that they turn down the bond," Manzo said.

Resident Lori Lepore said she was pleased with the trustees' progress so far, adding that she supports the library expansion project.

"I'd rather see my children in a library than getting in trouble somewhere," Lepore said. "I hope [the project] does take place."

More information on the library expansion project is available at the Web site www.southriverlibrary.org