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October 1, 2008

Study to decide fate of Perth Amboy Public Library

By SUZANNE RUSSELL • STAFF WRITER • September 30, 2008
Courier-News Online Sept. 30, 2008

PERTH AMBOY —From the outside, the Perth Amboy Public Library appears to be a grand architectural structure.

"This building is a beautiful building," said Herschel Chomsky, principal library assistant, who has worked at the 13,500-square-foot library for 20 years.

The inside of the Jefferson Street building, however, tells a different story.

Portions of plaster walls and ceilings are cracking, peeling and falling due to a leaky roof that has not been adequately repaired. Many light fixtures don't work, possibly from water damage above. And when it rains, large plastic drums are placed in the reference section to catch the water that cascades down the wall.

"The first priority is the roof," said Chomsky, adding it would be waste to do other repairs without taking care of the core problem.

The roof may finally get the attention it needs.

Recently City Council members authorized the library Board of Trustees to enter into a contract with Dennis Kowal Architects of Somerville to conduct a feasibility study to renovate or build a new library.

The $30,000 study will be paid for from library trust funds. Kowal was selected because he has previously done library renovation work.

The study will examine whether to rebuild the existing library, a 1903 structure financed by millionaire Andrew Carnegie, who funded libraries throughout the country, or if it is more cost effective to build a new library.

The study will include a detailed inspection and cost estimates for improving and preserving the library and possibly expanding it, a plan supported by several library board members. The study is expected to take about 90 days to complete.

In addition to repairing the leaks, the library needs more space.

In the fiction section, books are piled on top of other books and on top of shelves.

"We need more room," Chomsky said.

The computer reading room, where newspapers, magazines and videos also are kept, features large arched windows which are marred by water stained and crumbling walls also in the room.

"It's not going to get better," Chomsky said.

The room has seven computers for the public but could use many more. Patrons are allowed to use the computers for a half hour. Patrons waiting to use the computer sign a waiting list.

Downstairs, the bathrooms function, but are very old. They are not handicapped accessible. No bathrooms are located on the library's main floor.

A study room and community room also are needed.

The Children's Library, which formerly had been located in a separate building that burned in the 1970s, also is located on the lower level. A separate entrance is located off Jefferson Street.

Chomsky said the children's library is a former auditorium that was converted to be used by the children.

He said the basement, which features a large 1935 terra cotta rendering of The Three Little Pigs, used to leak so badly that children's librarian Melanie Bolick had to put on rubber boots to walk through four to five inches of water to get books. French drains installed underneath the children's section have helped with some of the flooding problem. The porch still leaks from the outdoor entrance to the children's room.

Space is tight in this section as well.

"I have to discard something if I bring in something new," said Bolick, who has served as children's librarian for 16 years. "We could have more books if we had more room."

Bolick said she has many books in Spanish. She said sometimes while a child may be reading a book like "Harry Potter" in English, the parent may want to read it in Spanish.

Chomsky said he'd hate to see the library building torn down.

"I think they can fix it. The problem is money," he said.

"It's a shame they didn't take care (of the building)," said Chomsky, noting that the library is probably used by more taxpayers on a daily basis than any other city department. "We were never a priority."

Posted by tumulty at October 1, 2008 9:08 AM

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