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January 6, 2009

Bayonne's potential library closings affect students, seniors

by Ron Leir/The Jersey Journal
Thursday December 25, 2008, 1:45 PM

Wilson School eighth-grader Megan Molina is a big fan of Bayonne's uptown public library branch at Avenue C and 51st Street and, perhaps, not so big a fan of Mayor Mark Smith.
"I use the computers there to do research and I get books on school projects," Megan said excitedly last week.
Smith is considering closing the city's two public library branches -- for a projected annual savings of $250,000 -- to help close a municipal budget deficit exceeding $30 million.

That would spell disaster for Megan. "I wouldn't go to the Main Branch" at Avenue C and 31st Street, she said. "It's too far."
"I'll be mad," chimed in fifth-grader Reda Mimouni, who uses the uptown branch at least twice a week, along with his sister, third-grader Ghita, and his brother, first-grader Amin, when asked how he'd feel if the city shut the library's doors. Reda said he relies on the library computer for print-outs of research material he needs for his classwork.
"And I like to go there to read geography books," Reda added.
Third Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa said he's been pushing for the uptown branch to be closed for a few years.
"I've gone there many times and it's very underutilized and we're paying $800 a month in rent," La Pelusa said. "Bayonne is not that big where someone can't get to the central library on 31st Street. It's unfortunate that the city also plans to close the downtown branch but if it's going to generate savings, I'd favor it."
But city Library Director Sneh Bains disputed the mayor's savings estimate. "We don't spend $250,000 on our branches and that's why I think (the closings) won't happen," Bains said.
Bains declined to say how much the library spends for the branches but she said that both branches were "heavily used by young adults for computers and children who come after school and by senior citizens."
"The main library is quite far for the people in the downtown and uptown neighborhoods -- it's difficult for them to commute there so closing the branches will have an effect."
Longtime downtown resident John Regan said that shutting the downtown branch at Fourth Street and Story Court would make it tough on older patrons who visit the building for other senior activities.
"They look forward to picking up books, using the computer, reading the newspapers," Regan said. "That branch gets a lot of use."
Another downtown resident who wouldn't give his name griped that library shutdowns "are the wrong way to cut. There are too many fat cats at City Hall. They should start cutting there."

Posted by tumulty at January 6, 2009 5:53 PM

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