Happy New Year and thanks

I want to wish all of our patrons a happy new year. Thank you for your generous support in our recent fundraising efforts. Every dollar we receive helps in our goal to implement our new interior design. We hope to complete our "Interior Makeover Project" in 2010.

Note: the Library is now on Facebook. Look us up and join the group. You will be able to keep informed about news and events at the Library and post comments on our wall.

Again all the best for 2010,

Daragh

Fundraising campaign in full swing

Our Interior Makeover Project fundraising campaign is in full swing. The awesome mailer that we worked on over the summer has been sent to every home and business in River Edge and the response has been terrific.

We are receiving donations every day along with messages of support for the goals we are aiming to achieve, a newly designed interior that meets the expressed needs of the community.

In a major boost to the prestige we enjoy our excellent, devoted Youth Services Laura Grunwerg received a major award in recognition of her outstanding service to the community. The "I Love My Librarian Award" is sponsored by the New York Times and the Carnegie Foundation of New York. Laura is one of 10 winners nationwide out of 3,600 applications. A number of River Edge library patrons nominated her for the award. They gave her high praise for her hard work and innovative approach to delivering excellent library service to the community. I am so proud of her achievement! I think the whole community should be proud to be served by Laura.

New design rollout

Last Sunday I unveiled the new interior design that we hope will be implemented next year. The Board and staff have worked for 4 years on this project, taking our cue from the expressed needs of the community. For the last year we have had the services of Globus Design Associates, the leader in the field of library interior design in New Jersey.

Every square foot of the Library's 14,000 square feet of space has been scrutinized and evaluated. The result is a design that, when implemented, will result in a warmer, more spacious library that more effectively meets the considerable needs of the community.

Artist renderings and samples are currently posted at the entrance to the Library for all to examine. I am happy to answer any questions or concerns.

We will begin fundraising in earnest next month with a mailer that we hope will get the whole community talking.

Whew! What a summer!!

This summer was busier than ever with hundreds of children and young adults participating in our summer reading programs. How cool it was to see 100 River Dell students lining up to register for our Talk It Up and Talk Back book clubs! I was delighted to see some of the awesome programs, like Bubblemania attended by over 100 parents and children. We thank the Friends of the Library for sponsoring many of the summer programs for children.

Our computers were in great demand. Those patrons who are looking for work, or who simply cannot afford Internet service made use of the high quality, free Internet service we offer. In this and many other ways the Library is making an essential contribution to economic recovery in the community of River Edge.

The 6 day furlough meant that Mondays were the busiest we have ever experienced with over 1,000 items circulating each day. We hope we can avoid furloughs in 2010.

6 day furlough

I regret to announce that the Library will close for 6 consecutive Fridays this summer. Budget cuts have made this action necessary, even as we are experiencing greater demand for our services than ever before. We chose Friday because it is usually the quietest day of the week during the summer.

I am hopeful that furloughs are not necessary next year.

On a happier note, a bill introduced in a State Senate committee that would halve the minimum level of funding for libraries, has been abandoned. In the last week over 2,000 messages of support for public libraries were received by our State senators. Advocacy works!

Big turnout to protest cuts to REPL

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." — Anne Herbert

This quote was used by one of the many concerned citizens who recently turned out at Mayor & Council to protest cuts to the Library's budget. I'm very grateful and encouraged by the response of the community in our time of need. Thanks.

Hard times for public libraries

Budget cuts are impending and will mean shorter opening hours, cuts to programs for seniors, families and children and less computer, homework and reference help available. Naturally everyone is disappointed and we plan to have a vigorous advocacy campaign for the rest of the year to heighten awareness of the value of the public library in the community.

We encourage you to speak to the staff, or a Board member, or a member of Borough Council to voice your concern over the cuts.

Interior Makeover presentation

This week we eagerly anticipate a presentation by our interior designer Suzan Globus. Suzan will unveil a new floor plan for the Library that will greatly improve the level of service we offer our patrons. The staff and trustees have been working with Globus Design Associates for about 9 months now. While Suzan has shown herself to be a leading expert in the area of library design, many of the best ideas have come from the staff and from public comments.

Once the new floor plan has been accepted by the Board graphic renderings will be produced, so that the public will have a clear visual idea of what we are working towards.

3 new Internet computers & Town News article

I am very happy to announce the installation of 3 new PCs. They are reserved for public Internet use and feature MS Office 2007 (perfect for homework assignments, resumes, letter writing etc.). They also have 17" monitors that are easy on the eyes.

The new PCs come courtesy of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We hope to add two more by the end of 2009 when additional funding becomes available, bringing our total to 10 public Internet work stations.

I had the Town News here on Tuesday to witness the large crowds that now converge on the Library between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday. I'm hoping for a nice article about how public libraries are more necessary than ever now that we have hit economic hard times.