To Save Or Not To Save: Montclair's Public Libraries

This past week's article on the future of Montclair's public libraries (reprinted below) prompted a lot of responses. Obviously people have very strong opinions when it comes to their local library.

For example, Montclair resident John Skillin wrote eloquently of how a public library is the very heart of any civilized community.

"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."

Skillin and others pointed out that the building itself is one of the most beautiful and distinctive in all of Montclair and that it's undergone signfiicant renovation in recent years, including a new copper roof, and has been included in the national registry of historic landmarks.

"Adapting the building to some other use would be costly and impractical," he said. "If the library were closed, the building woudl undoubtedly languish and deteriorate, as has happened to Carnegie libraries in other parts of the country - a tragic loss."

Skillin pointed out that the library branch has been threated with closing before. "During the Great Depression of the 1930s, volunteers augmented the regular staff and helped keep the library open until the economy recovered," he said. Attempts to close the brand in 1977 and 1989 were successfully challenged by community leaders with a shared vision of a better future for Montclair."

Here's the original article below. Please email me at Shelley@patch.com and tell me what you think.

Whose library is better—Montclair's or Bloomfield's? And should Montclair's Bellevue Branch Library be saved? These are just two of the questions being asked in the face of a dramatic budget crisis that will have a major impact on the library system going forward.

First, Gov. Chris Christie's budget calls for a 74 percent decrease in funding for statewide library services. Once state funding is lost, New Jersey will lose an additional $4.5 million federal funding, meaning less access to the Internet at libraries and an overall loss in library programs.

Second, Mayor Jerry Fried said that Montclair's proposed $69.9 million budget calls for a large cut - probably about $450,000 - from the Montclair Public Library's annual $3.8 million budget.

The Montclair Public Library Board President Clifford Kulwin said that the number for the proposed cut to the library is actually $700,000, which was in the original version of the Town Manager's budget.

"The library, in my opinion, is the model operation in the Township," said Mayor Fried on Friday. "They've been operating with a flat or declining budget in the last five years.

"And they've managed to increase services and programs despite these budget issues," he said.

Mayor Fried pointed out that Montclair does indeed overfund its library, adding that—under state regulations—the town should be funding it by a bit more than $2 million.

At least one member of the Montclair Town Council, Cary Africk, wonders if perhaps even more should be cut from the Montclair library program. He pointed out that Bloomfield operates its library with a $1.7 million budget—half the amount of Montclair's.

A quick comparison of Bloomfield and Montclair libraries reveals the following:

Bloomfield: Serves 47,683 people; has 157,042 volumes; and circulates 86,314 volumes a year.

Montclair: Serves 38,977 people; has 210,507 volumes; and circulates 338,480 volumes a year.

Both Montclair and Bloomfield libraries offer a wide range of programs. Montclair, for example, offers Shakespeare plays, Zumba dance workshops, and photography exhibits—all this month. Bloomfield, too, offers piano recitals, health seminars, and Chinese language classes.

The subject of libraries, and comparisons between Montclair's and those in other towns, have sparked a wide range of reactions.

Montclair resident Nancy Toomey said she doesn't visit the Bloomfield library often but, when she is looking for a specific book, "often Bloomfield has it on the shelf but Montclair simply does not have it."

In addition, "Bloomfield's children's section is also wonderful but I haven't used it in years since my kids are older, of course."

Another gripe: "At Montclair, a book will be listed as not available but then it's on the shelf or it will be listed as available and then simply is not there ... this can be frustrating."

Mayor Fried said that: "I don't know whether Bloomfield's library is good or bad. But my guess is that Montclair offers a lot of services that Bloomfield doesn't."

When it comes to whether to save the Bellevue branch, which is now only open one day a week thanks to budget cuts, there are definitely opposing viewpoints.

Mayor Fried said that perhaps the Bellevue branch could be turned into more of a community center or, at the very least, a place that could be utilized by students at Mount Hebron Middle School, which is just across the street.

"The Bellevue branch is actually more efficient than the other branch as there aren't as many personnel there," he said.

Montclair resident and educator Maura Grace Harrington said that Montclair needs to expand its concept as to how to make this Bellevue branch work for the entire community.

"As an educator, I am keenly aware that many books and periodicals that were formerly available only in hard copy are now available online," she said. "I wonder whether there might be grant money available to make the Bellevue Avenue Branch a satellite library that focuses on accessing books and periodicals electronically, rather than as a storehouse for many volumes, which perhaps could be moved to the main library.

"Could there be personnel at the main library who could be directly contacted via Skype or some other medium by patrons at the Bellevue Avenue Branch who need help locating materials?" she asked.

In short, Harrington believes that the Bellevue Avenue Branch library is a building that has come to symbolize, in many ways, what's best about Montclair—sense of history, a value placed on learning, and the building of community.

On the other hand, Montclair mother of three Emily Grand expressed frustration over how she's often had to get books via interlibrary loan since so many items are not available at the Montclair Public Library.

"They are often available at the Bloomfield library," she said. "It's been a puzzle to me. Our tastes run to the pretty ordinary so it's always surprising when the books are not available."

Grand added that, although the Bellevue branch is convenient to her, she's not certain it's very cost effective and she could see sacrificing it as the town grapples with a tight budget.

"We rarely find the books we want there, but instead have books sent up from the downtown branch and pick them up on Bellevue," she said. "I would love to see some type of collaboration between the Bellevue branch and Mount Hebron school whose library is also very ineffective."

Certainly it's worth a look at how other nearby towns fund their libraries.

Maplewood, for example, funds its library above the state requirement as well. The library, which is a standalone organization run by its own board, is nonetheless dependent on the state and the Township. The Maplewood Library received $1.687 million from the town in 2009 and has asked for $1.652 million in 2010—the lion's share of its budget. The total 2010 library budget is $1.767 million.

The library is more dependent on the state for the programming and services listed above rather than funding: nevertheless, the library is looking forward to its projected $11,000 check from the state this year—although it has been cut 50 percent from $22,000 and is down from $30,000 in 2009. This money is used to buy books and materials.

To see what's being done to help save NJ Libraries go to the Facebook page here.

What do you think about the library issue? How much do you depend on the Montclair Public Library? And what about the Bellevue branch? Please comment!