Library Construction Update #1
September 18, 2007
As you may be aware, a Capital Bond of approximately $1.2 million was approved for renovations and repairs to the 90 year old Glen Ridge Public Library. Much needed work will focus on:
- Health and safety issues, including, but not limited to, eliminating water infiltration (both ground and roof), bringing electrical wiring up to code, repairing damaged plaster, replacing warped shelving and updating fire and security alarm systems.
- Energy efficiency, including a new heating, cooling and ventilation system with more zones and controls, more efficient lighting and new energy efficient windows.
- Improved use of space to meet current collection needs, to dedicate additional space to better accommodate our growing younger population, and to develop more patron seating, study space, computer pods and improved community meeting space.
- Exterior work will include repairs and renovations to the entire municipal complex including roofing, gutters, windows, masonry repairs and drainage.
In order to facilitate the construction and renovations, and for the safety of our staff and patrons, the Glen Ridge Library Board of Trustees will close the Library on or about November 1, 2007 and relocate a scaled down operation to a temporary location. We are pleased to announce that our good neighbors, the Women's Club of Glen Ridge, have graciously offered the use of their lower level. We expect to offer a scaled down version of our collection that will include selections from our Children's Collection, best sellers, periodicals, DVDs and Reference collection. Additionally, we plan to have our Historical Collection available on a limited basis as we need to digitize and reorganize this vital community resource. The rest of our collection will be boxed and stored at an alternative location as will most of our furniture.
As you can imagine, we will be very tight on space in our "one room school house" facility and will not be able to offer the complete services that we offer in our library home. We do expect to offer BCCLS pick up, some collection browsing and modified Children's programs. We encourage you become a BCCLS (Bergen County Cooperative Lending System) member if you have not already done so and check out the many offerings at www.bccls.org. Additionally, our student patrons will need to find an alternative location for after school studies, such as the public school libraries or the Glen Ridge Senior Community Center (train station), which is staffed after school by Recreation Director, Jim Cowan, and his competent staff.
We ask for your patience during the construction time, estimated to take between 6-8 months, and we will issue updates via blast e-mail and our library website which may be found at http://www.glenridgenj.org/library.htm. Thank you for your cooperation during this very exciting time for our Library!
|
