Both Town And School Libraries Besieged By Budget Cuts; Schools Find Ways Of Coping Without Librarians

At a time when many believe libraries to be more important than ever, Montclair schools and residents are facing a loss of librarians and funding this year. Indeed, after losing eight librarians due to budget cuts, schools have come up with a wide variety of creative ways (listed below) to continue offering library services to students.

They are "not the ideal, but certainly the principals and staff are being creative and supportive of 'thinking outside the box' in an effort to provide our children with continued quality educational programming," said district spokeswoman Felice Harrison. "In all cases where there is not a designated librarian or specialized teacher assigned, the classroom teacher is responsible for the 'library curriculum'."

At the same time, the Township Council is expected to approve a 2010 budget next week on Tuesday that will cut $450,000 from the Montclair Public Library's annual $3.8 million budget. Already, the Bellevue branch is open only on Mondays due to budget cuts.

At a council meeting Tuesday night, Tom Flowers, a security guard at the Montclair Public Library, said it's important to save an institution that embraces absolutely everyone in the community.

"There are a lot of children who used to go to the [Bellevue branch] library in Upper Montclair who now are running up and down Valley Road because the library's closed ... and this isn't good," he said. "Kids use the library as a refuge. If you continue to cut off resources to people who need them the most it will hurt all of Montclair."

At least one member of the Township Council, Cary Africk, has asked that the library present a plan for coping with a 10 percent cut in its budget next year.

Previously he's pointed out that Bloomfield operates its library with a $1.7 million budget—half the amount of Montclair's.

Bloomfield's library serves 47,683 people and circulates 86,314 volumes a year, while Montclair's library serves 38,977 people and circulates 338,480 volumes a year.

A few council members have suggested that, at the very least, the Bellevue branch be closed so that the building can be rented out in an effort to bring in additional revenue.

But Montclair resident John Skillin recently said that a public library is the very heart of any civilized community, arguing that the Bellevue branch should be kept open.

"The Bellevue Avenue Branch library of Upper Montclair has served the citizens of the 'north end' since 1914," he said. "This population includes the disabled, the elderly, and hundreds of children at three nearby schools: Mt. Hebron, St. Cassian's, and Lacordaire Academy. These are patrons who do not drive. To suggest they can just as easily use the main library or the academic library at Montclair State University is a fallacious argument."

Meanwhile, here is a list of how Montclair schools are coping with the loss of librarians this year:

Bradford Elementary School

— A Teaching Assistant oversees book check out.

— Parent volunteers are also used.

— Classroom teachers are responsible for the "curriculum", and making sure the books are checked out and returned.

Charles H. Bullock Elementary School

— Two Teaching Assistants (rotating) are assigned to oversee book check out.

— Parent volunteers are also used.

Edgemont Elementary School

— A teaching assistant oversees book check out.

— Parent volunteers are also used.

Nishuane Elementary School

— There is a designated librarian.

Northeast Elementary School

— The previous librarian is training other staff on the procedures of the library.

— Parent volunteers are also used.

Watchung Elementary School

— Language arts teachers bring the classes to the library and oversee the book check out and return.

— Parent volunteers are also used.

Hillside Elementary School

— There is "language arts support" in the library who oversees this resource.

Glenfield Middle School

— The previous librarian is training other staff on the procedures of the library.

— Parent volunteers are also used.

Mount Hebron Middle School

— The idea is to have literacy carts in the classrooms.

— There is also an idea of promoting the library as a "classroom of the future" ... (Infusing content with technology — Technology is not a destination, it's a tool).

Montclair High School

— There is a designated librarian.

— Support staff from the Montclair Public Library assists with book scanning.