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June 30, 2009

Good news comes in threes for L.B. library

Atlantiville News June 25, 2009

Virtual career center will be state model
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Public Library has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the New Jersey State Library.

The grant was given to the library on June 9 to implement, strengthen and expand the capability of library staff in the areas of job seeking, unemployment and related services to library customers.

These services will include a model career center computer lab, a virtual career center and in-person as well as virtual training in the use of online resources.

Long Branch Library Director Ingrid Bruck said that the grant money is one of three pieces of good news the library received in June.

"We had three pieces of good news recently," Bruck said. "We got the grant money, but we also found out that New Jersey Natural Gas [NJNG] will be purchasing some computers for $10,000 and that the state will use our virtual career center as a model on the statewide level."

Bruck explained that the grant funds will help people qualify for jobs in the community.

T he money will ultimately be used to fund a teacher and state-of-the-art computers to help with the training class.

"The state library funded a teacher so we can have classes for people without jobs," Bruck said. "We got the grant so we can use it on a teacher and equipment."

Bruck said a teacher has not been officially named yet.

The class will begin in the middle of July and run 16 weeks. There will be 12 people attending the class, according to Bruck, and the goal of the class is to get people re-employed.

"The focus of the class will be helping people getting back to work," Bruck said.

The 15 new computers will be purchased using the grant money to replace the computers purchased by NJNG.

Bruck said replacing the computers was very necessary.

"The computers were seven years old and inadequate," Bruck said. "They didn't have USB ports and couldn't burn CDs. Things we really needed.

"Now we will have state-of-the-art computers to assist people," she added.

While the grant money and the career center news was somewhat expected, according to Bruck, the news about NJNG was a surprise to her.

"New Jersey Natural Gas taking our computers for $10,000 was a surprise," Bruck said. "We didn't expect that to happen at all."

The news of the grant and the upcoming class go hand in hand with the news about the virtual career center being used as a statewide model.

"Anyone in the state can use our virtual career center," Bruck said.

Bruck explained the focus of the career center.

"We take resources and bring them to the Long Branch level," Bruck said. "We make some of these resources accessible to the community."

What the career center does is link job seekers to various helpful resources in the community, such as places to apply for jobs and links to the local universities.

"We have about a 100 links up there," Bruck said. "We make everything local.

"You go on and apply for a job at Kmart because Kmart is a store in our community," Bruck said. "We took a big haystack and made it navigable.

"We have links to classes at Monmouth and Brookdale because those are the universities in our community." One of the aspects of the career center that Bruck is most proud of is the work that Diversity and Literacy Coordinator Tanya Badillo has done.

According to Bruck, Badillo has done a lot of work with the career center especially helping out with making it accessible for minorities.

"For Latinos in the community it may be harder for them to find jobs," Bruck said.

Also, the library is a place where ex-offenders come and look for opportunities.

"Ex-offenders come to the library a lot with no jobs and no money," Bruck said.

With the economy being down, the library has seen a boom in popularity.

"We have about 2,500 users each month use the computers," Bruck said.

She noted that the career center was not a reaction to the down economy.

"We were ready in August before everything crashed," Bruck said. "No one expected it to be as bad as it's been.

"We hope to get people back to work."

The library has worked with the Long Branch Concordance, as well as Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth University in forming a committee to help people during the economic downturn.

More information about the library and the career center can be found at http://www.lmxac.org/longbranch/.

Contact Kenny Walter at

Kwalter@gmnews.com.

Posted by tumulty at 10:58 AM | Comments (1)
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June 26, 2009

Secaucus library planning to add international flavor

Thursday, June 25, 2009
By JENNIFER KIM
SW STAFF WRITER

Secaucus Public Library officials don't just talk about embracing the growing diversity of the community. They've allocated more than $50,000 in the temporary 2009 budget to prove it.

Slightly more than $52,000 is in the proposed budget for its World Language collection, which includes books, newspapers, magazines, films and reference materials in languages other than English. Library Director Jenifer May said she's not sure how much the new materials will cost; or how much will be allocated in the final budget.

May said a growing number of Secaucus library patrons want to learn English or improve their English language skills, or prefer to read or listen to books in other languages.

"Our library has a very diverse user population. Many of them can and do read and speak English, but they are more comfortable doing leisure reading or personal research in another language," May said.

The temporary budget was presented at the library's Board of Trustees final meeting June 16.

"This is an ongoing process, but in tentatively planning the budget, we wanted to ensure that we were allotting enough resources to the collection to get it firmly established," said May.

In other news:

The library announced the hiring of Danielle Bonito, Danielle Kickey, Madelyn Perez, Drue Zapolach and Alexis Corcoran to part-time summer positions. May said the new hires are high school and college students who will be assisting with shelving, special projects and light clerical work.

"We usually hire a few students each summer to do these tasks," said May. "This summer we did slightly increase the number of summer hires over last year. We don't have a staff shortage, per say, but we do like to bring in summer help to round out the schedule during the popular summer vacation weeks."

Panic buttons were installed recently in the director and assistant director's offices as an extra security resource to alert the police in case of an emergency.

"The installation wasn't a response to any current issue, or a precaution against any anticipated threat," May said. "I just feel that all staff - myself included - should have an alternate way of contacting the police and 911 in case of an emergency situation, in which using the telephones is not the best option."

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June 25, 2009

Corzine and Duncan's Fanwood Visit: A Look Back

ScotchPlains-Fanwood Patch

By Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington |
Big events don't happen often in Fanwood, so Tuesday’s visit from Governor Jon Corzine and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was particularly exciting for the small town.

The two leaders were at Fanwood Memorial Library to support a new national service initiative and to promote summer reading, but for local residents in attendance, the real treat was watching them read to children.

“Everyone here like reading?” Corzine asked the few dozen young children crowded around him as he sat down to read.

“Yeah!” they shouted in response.

The governor and secretary took turns reading pages out of two books: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner and How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague.

"I've heard about wide-mouthed politicians, but holy cow," Corzine said as he opened the first book.

The children listened intently during the 20-minute story time, while parents, educators and media stood by. Afterward, Corzine and Duncan posed for photos and signed autographs for children.

Karen Zikas, and her daughter, Lina, were one of several local families that came on Tuesday. Zikas said she received a call from the library last week inviting them to the event.

"I thought it was really interesting to see famous people," Lina said with a wide smile on her face.

Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr was by Corzine and Duncan’s side for most of the event. On several occasions, she expressed how exciting it was that they had chosen to come to Fanwood.

“We love our library, and are thrilled that the White House and Secretary of Education and the governor understand and look to Fanwood to be one of the leaders,” she said. "This is a real acknowledgement of all the good work that Fanwood has done.”

Prior to the reading event, Corzine and Duncan met with librarians and education leaders from across the state to talk about the importance of libraries in New Jersey and across the nation.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender, Congressman Leonard Lance, New Jersey Education Commissioner Lucille Davy, and the president of the American Libraries Association were also in attendance.

Corzine and Duncan mostly stayed silent as they listened librarians and educators talk about the need for more funding, better technology and a commitment to keeping libraries in the schools.

Duncan said he thinks libraries are the key to keeping students learning beyond the regular school year, and that he worries we aren’t doing enough to expand learning opportunities outside the classroom.

“I have two little guys at home, and they love going to libraries,” he said. “It’s so fun to see them love to do this. Our kids need more learning time. Our school year is too short. I worry a lot about summer reading loss. I worry a lot about kids who are in disadvantaged homes. How do we extend learning time during the weeks, days, summers?”

Another issue discussed was the important role libraries play during this tough economy with helping residents save money, search for jobs and get resume-writing skills, among other things.

In these tough times, though, libraries are increasingly taking a hit themselves.

Lianne Bennett, a librarian at Kirby Mill's Elementary in Medford, said that she had her budget for books cut by 50 percent this year.

“I think it was nice to hear what they had to say, but I’m not sure we got as much feedback as we would’ve liked,” Bennett said. “School libraries need to be staffed with certified librarians. You need to have people who know what they’re doing to help kids professionally.”

Fanwood Librarian Dan Weiss said after the event that he thinks the message got across to Corzine and Duncan about what the most important issues facing libraries are, and that he’ll be interested to see what happens now.

“I think it's very unusual to have that much access for such a long period of time,” Weiss said. “It's great."

Posted by tumulty at 11:19 AM | Comments (0)
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Where would we be without Bridgeton Library?

by The News of Cumberland County
Monday June 15, 2009, 4:19 PM
Letters to the Editor:

Bridgeton City Council will soon have to make a decision on funding the library for the next fiscal year and on a bond to finance repairs to the building.

Coming at a time when state aid has been drastically reduced and property taxes raised, and when the people of our town are struggling in a severe economic downturn, this will not be an easy decision to make. I hope that in their deliberations the council will consider the value of the library to our community.

The Bridgeton Public Library is extremely well-utilized. During 2008 it averaged over 6,000 patron visits a month. In spite of steady reductions in staff and budget over the last several years, our librarians have managed to hold things together on a shoestring and to maintain services that are especially vital in a town as poor as Bridgeton.

Any of you who visit on weekday afternoons will have seen how many school children come to the library to use the computers for their homework. Earlier in the day, the library is an informal gathering spot for seniors and retirees.

A little later, you will notice a group of young mothers and their children who have come for story hour -- offered now in English and in Spanish. Most afternoons you'll spot some young adults with laptops, taking advantage of the library's wireless connection. People come to the library to write their resumes and to search the Internet for jobs.

We have an extremely active and creative teen council -- you'll probably remember the wonderful floats they produce every year for the town Christmas Parade. Of course lots of people come to the library for the traditional reasons -- to look for a good book or to pose a question to the reference librarian.

But they also come to rent DVDs or audio books, to make copies, send faxes, pick up tax forms, purchase a yellow trash sticker, check the book value on a used car or to look up an article in The News -- all the way back to 1900 on microfilm.

And some people come in the library to get warm on a cold day or cool off on a hot one. It's a welcome refuge for folks who may not have many other resources. I sometimes think of the library as a kind of secular church -- a public institution consecrated to the dissemination of knowledge and the preservation civilized values -- a place where everyone is welcome. Libraries are not as quiet as they were when I was growing up, but they retain some of the peaceful and respectful atmosphere that has disappeared from much else in modern life.

I do not believe that, no matter how hard the times, anyone would propose closing the public schools to save money. And I think the library is the public school for the rest of us. Our roof leaks, our furniture is shabby and we don't have all the best-sellers. But I'm very proud of the Bridgeton Public Library and of the folks who work there. It's almost a miracle how much they manage to offer on such a small budget.

Council is faced with a very difficult choice. And no matter which way they decide the question, they will not please everyone. I hope that in their deliberations they will consider not just the current crisis, but the past and future of our city as well.

The Bridgeton Public Library has been operating on Commerce Street for more than 100 years -- through good times and bad. But it is in hardest times that we need this resource the most. I hope all of you will make it a point to spend a few hours in the library over the next week or two.

Pay special attention to the young people you see there. And ask yourself, where would these children be and what would they be doing if the Bridgeton Library should close?

Al Tugman
Bridgeton

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Librarian cooks up tasty treat ideas

By: MELISSA HAYES
Burlington County Times
MOORESTOWN - With such names as Gooey Decimal System and Li-Berry Pie in the running, it's hard to imagine how Ben & Jerry's could pass up a library-themed ice cream flavor.

At least that's the hope of Andy Woodworth, a librarian at the Bordentown City branch of the Burlington County Library System who has launched a campaign to lobby the ice cream giant for a library flavor.

"I've had a lot of positive feedback from all over the country," Woodworth said.

The 32-year-old Moorestown resident launched his campaign with a Web page on the popular social networking site Facebook on June 7. Within 10 days the group "People for a Library-Themed Ben & Jerry's Flavor" had 2,000 supporters and an array of flavor suggestions.

The idea started while Woodworth and his wife, Kathy, a librarian at the Evesham branch of the county system, were shopping at Wegmans.

He began talking to family and friends about the idea, and the Web site was launched.

Woodworth said the campaign has spread by word of mouth and he hasn't placed a single phone call. He has sent e-mails to professional library associations, blogged about it at agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com, and put out messages on Twitter.

Sean Greenwood, a spokesman for Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's, called the Facebook page an "interesting project" and said fans are welcome to submit flavors online.

"We've had a lot of folks that have suggested good flavors from outside the company. Our No. 1 seller, Cherry Garcia, was suggested by a Ben & Jerry's fan, Chunky Monkey, Chubby Hubby - a lot of big hitters in our top 10 or 12 flavors," he said. "We always love when people come up with flavors."

Advertisement Greenwood even offered his own library flavor, Bookwork, with chocolate alphabet letters, gummy worms and two decadent rivulets - one caramel and one fudge - as an ode to writer Walt Whitman.

For Woodworth, a library flavor fits with Ben & Jerry's mission statement, which among other things includes "initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally."

Many of the company's flavors are tied to charities. Phish Food, one of Woodworth's favorites, benefits the Waterwheel Foundation, which was founded by the band Phish in 1997 to support the environmental well-being of Lake Champlain.

While Woodworth acknowledged that libraries constantly see their budgets cut and could use funds, he'd settle for a library-related name just to raise awareness. He said many people do not know what services their local libraries offer.

"It's a fun concept, and hopefully it will raise people's awareness about the library and what it does for the community. It's a community investment," he said.

"Our services are not free; it's an investment of what the community has put in. The services are the dividends."

Woodworth's suggested flavor is Gooey Decimal System - vanilla ice cream with marshmallow, book-shaped fudge bits and gummy bookworms - but he'd settle for just the name.

"I think the name is the one thing 2,000 people would agree on," he said. "The flavor - I think we'll leave that to the experts."

Email: mhayes@phillyBurbs.com

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A Literary Legend Fights for a Local Library

JENNIFER STEINHAUER
New York Times
Published: June 19, 2009
VENTURA, Calif. — When you are pushing 90, have written scores of famous novels, short stories and screenplays, and have fulfilled the goal of taking a simulated ride to Mars, what’s eft?

“Bo Derek is a really good friend of mine and I’d like to spend more time with her,” said Ray Bradbury, peering up from behind an old television tray in his den.

An unlikely answer, but Mr. Bradbury, the science fiction writer, is very specific in his eccentric list of interests, and his pursuit of them in his advancing age and state of relative immobility.

This is a lucky thing for the Ventura County Public Libraries — because among Mr. Bradbury’s passions, none burn quite as hot as his lifelong enthusiasm for halls of books. His most famous novel, “Fahrenheit 451,” which concerns book burning, was written on a pay typewriter in the basement of the University of California, Los Angeles, library; his novel “Something Wicked This Way Comes” contains a seminal library scene.

Mr. Bradbury frequently speaks at libraries across the state, and on Saturday he will make his way here for a benefit for the H. P. Wright Library, which like many others in the state’s public system is in danger of shutting its doors because of budget cuts.

“Libraries raised me,” Mr. Bradbury said. “I don’t believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don’t have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.”

Property tax dollars, which provide most of the financing for libraries in Ventura County, have fallen precipitously, putting the library system roughly $650,000 in the hole. Almost half of that amount is attributed to the H. P. Wright Library, which serves roughly two-thirds of this coastal city about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

In January the branch was told that unless it came up with $280,000 it would close. The branch’s private fund-raising group, San Buenaventura Friends of the Library, has until March to reach its goal; so far it has raised $80,000.

Enter Mr. Bradbury. While at a meeting concerning the library, Berta Steele, vice president of the friends group, ran into Michael Kelly, a local artist who runs the Ray Bradbury Theater and Film Foundation, a group dedicated to arts and literacy advocacy. Mr. Kelly told Ms. Steele that he could get Mr. Bradbury up to Ventura to help the library’s cause.

On Saturday, the two organizations will host a $25-a-head discussion with Mr. Bradbury and present a screening of “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit,” a film based on his short story of the same name.

The fund-raiser’s financial goal is not a long-term fix. That would come only if property taxes crawl back up or voters approve a proposed half-cent increase in the local sales tax in November, some of which would go to libraries.

Fiscal threats to libraries deeply unnerve Mr. Bradbury, who spends as much time as he can talking to children in libraries and encouraging them to read.

The Internet? Don’t get him started. “The Internet is a big distraction,” Mr. Bradbury barked from his perch in his house in Los Angeles, which is jammed with enormous stuffed animals, videos, DVDs, wooden toys, photographs and books, with things like the National Medal of Arts sort of tossed on a table.

“Yahoo called me eight weeks ago,” he said, voice rising. “They wanted to put a book of mine on Yahoo! You know what I told them? ‘To hell with you. To hell with you and to hell with the Internet.’

“It’s distracting,” he continued. “It’s meaningless; it’s not real. It’s in the air somewhere.”

A Yahoo spokeswoman said it was impossible to verify Mr. Bradbury’s account without more details.

Mr. Bradbury has long been known for his clear memory of some of life’s events, and that remains the case, he said. “I have total recall,” he said. “I remember being born. I remember being in the womb, I remember being inside. Coming out was great.”

He also recalled watching the film “Pumping Iron,” which features Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in his body-building days, and how his personal recommendation of the film for an Academy Award helped spark Mr. Schwarzenegger’s Hollywood career. He remembers lining his four daughters’ cribs with Golden Books when they were tiny. And he remembers meeting Ms. Derek on a train in France years ago.

“She said, ‘Mr. Bradbury.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ She said: ‘I love you! My name is Bo Derek.’ ”

Ms. Derek’s spokeswoman, Rona Menashe, said the story was true. She said her client would like to see some more of Mr. Bradbury, too.

Mr. Bradbury’s wife, Maggie, to whom he was married for over five decades, died in 2003. He turns 89 in August.

When he is not raising money for libraries, Mr. Bradbury still writes for a few hours every morning (“I can’t tell you,” is the answer to any questions on his latest book); reads George Bernard Shaw; receives visitors including reporters, filmmakers, friends and children of friends; and watches movies on his giant flat-screen television.

He can still be found regularly at the Los Angeles Public Library branch in Koreatown, which he visited often as a teenager.

“The children ask me, ‘How can I live forever, too?’ ” he said. “I tell them do what you love and love what you do. That’s the story on my life.”

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June 23, 2009

Governor Corzine and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Kick-Off Summer of Service Initiative

Press Release from the Office of Jon Corzine, June 22, 2009

Libraries play vital role

FANWOOD – Governor Jon S. Corzine joined U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan today to launch President Obama’s Summer of Service initiative in New Jersey . The program, United We Serve, is a nationwide service program designed to encourage citizens to participate in the nation’s recovery and renewal. From June 22 to September 11, United We Serve will engage Americans in addressing community needs in education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal.

Governor Corzine said while libraries across New Jersey will provide information about volunteer activities for those who want to participate in the program, they also play a critical role in education for their contributions to literacy and other social and educational opportunities for children.

“Individuals who volunteer to read to students over the summer can help to moderate reading loss, which occurs when students are not in school during June, July and August,” said Governor Corzine. “This is the best ground work we can lay to strengthen literacy and help close the achievement gap for young students.”

Governor Corzine’s commitment to education is strong. He has increased funding for education by over $1.8 billion including funds from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. In addition, school districts across the State will benefit from increases in Title I and IDEA under the federal recovery act. The Governor’s School Funding Reform Act of 2008 is providing a unified, equitable and logical system of allocating state aid so that children in all communities have the opportunity to succeed. Furthermore, he has been committed to strengthening high school curriculum and graduation requirements recently approved by the State Board of Education and he has been supportive of the innovative educational opportunities provided by charter schools in the state.

“We applaud President Obama’s commitment to promoting volunteerism to help keep students on track during the summer months so they return to school in the fall ready to pick up where they left off,” the Governor said. “I encourage all New Jersey residents to volunteer this summer at your local library or visit your library to learn about other volunteer activities.”

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U.S. Education secretary and governor visit Fanwood library

Monday June 22, 2009, 6:11 PM
FANWOOD -- Summer reading programs like the one offered at the Fanwood Memorial Library play a critical role in a child's educational development, according to Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education.

On Monday, Duncan joined Gov. Jon Corzine at Fanwood's public library to launch a national campaign called "summer of service," promoting volunteerism and community involvement.

David Gard/New Jersey Local News Service
Arne Duncan, the U. S. Secretary of Education, right, and Governor Jon Corzine read aloud to kids on the Fanwood library lawn.

"This is a library that has done it right," Duncan said. "They have real strong leadership here, and this is a great example of what we'd like to see around the country."

Duncan and Corzine met with librarians and teachers from around New Jersey to discuss issues such as early childhood education, the importance of broadband internet connection for communities and how to keep children reading on their summer breaks.

"I worry a lot about summer reading loss," Duncan said. "I worry our school day is too short. I worry about kids who don't have two parents who read to them every night and kids who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I worry about our ability to compete with kids in India and China, who spend more time in school."

The group discussed collaborative ways to encourage disadvantaged families to use public libraries as a resource.

Community outreach in churches and a bilingual staff are techniques some librarians already use to reach disadvantaged citizens.

"Fanwood has a great community library here with innovative programs," Duncan said. "We want to point out what a tremendous resource these community libraries are, not just here but around the country."

Duncan specifically mentioned the Fanwood library's summer reading program and a special training initiative called "Libraries and Autism" to help the staff better serve the needs of children with autism.

Colleen Mahr, Fanwood's mayor, said the White House contacted her about launching the summer of service campaign.

"They wanted a small community where they could have an intimate discussion with librarians and teachers," Mahr said. "Fanwood exemplifies the type of community spirit they were looking for."

Following the discussion, Duncan and Corzine read two books, "How I spent my summer vacation" and "The Wide Frog Mouth" to about 50 children outside the library.

"Reading is the foundation for everything," Duncan said. "When kids read for fun, that's when they're going to do well, it becomes a passion and a love."

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June 21, 2009

Renovation next chapter for Cape May library

County will fund about 80 percent of project's cost

By RICHARD DEGENER, Staff Writer, 609-463-6711 | Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009

The Cape May Library will undergo renovations with include replacing the roof, exterior doors and shutters, new carpeting, lighting and ceiling tiles, plus landscaping and new railings. Friday June 19, 2009. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)

.. CAPE MAY - Ralph Bakley admitted he wasn't exactly a bookworm back in high school when the library was in the basement of present-day City Hall.

"You could go grab a book, go to a corner somewhere and grab a little snooze," said Bakley, drawing laughs at a City Council meeting this week.

But Bakley made good with a long and distinguished law-enforcement career before becoming a member of the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Bakley returned to Cape May on Tuesday night with some good news for book lovers. There will be a major renovation to the library at the corner of Hughes and Ocean streets, which replaced the facility in City Hall, which used to be Cape May High School, and the county will pay for much of it.

He said it will be started in October.

"There's been a lot of criticism about delays, but when completed it will be a beautiful structure," Bakley said.

The project is estimated to cost $507,800, but construction bids have not yet been received. Bid proposals are due July 15.

It was announced Tuesday by Bakley, library director Debbie Poillon and city officials. The city owns the building but leases it to the Cape May County Library Commission to operate as one of its branches.

Bakley said the county will pay an estimated $395,300 of the project, or 78 percent, with the city picking up the remainder.

Poillon said the project includes a new roof, new exterior doors and shutters. The entire interior and exterior will be painted. Plans also call for new drop ceilings, lighting and electrical work, carpeting and furniture. There also will be outside landscaping including a new drip-irrigation system, sidewalks, railings and shrubbery.

Bathrooms will be upgraded for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The renovations may also cost a bit of book space because the library currently does not meet ADA rules regarding the spacing between book shelves, Poillon noted.

"We lose some shelving," she said.

Poillon said the library will be closed for four to six weeks during the project.

"We'll get the bookmobile down here once a week. Lower Township and Wildwood Crest (branches) are not too far," Poillon said.

Library renovations

The project, which is estimated to cost more than $500,000,

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New Sea Bright Library wing opens

By GRAELYN BRASHEAR • June 19, 2009
Franz von Ziegesar loved the library in his adopted hometown of Sea Bright, and hardly a day went by when he didn't stop into the building on Ocean Avenue.

Now, his name is part of the place forever.

Recently, the Sea Bright Library opened the von Ziegesar wing, which was funded by a donation from his family after his death in September 2007 at the age of 83. It's a fitting tribute for a man who loved learning and was deeply attached to his community, said his widow, Elizabeth von Ziegesar.

Elizabeth von Ziegesar, known as Liz, said she and Franz, who lived in Connecticut and led the New York-based financial communications firm Bowne and Company before retiring in 1992, fell in love with Sea Bright while looking for a summer home on the shore.

They moved here permanently in 1991, and Franz dove into small-town life right away, introducing himself to everyone, von Ziegesar said. The library became a daily stop.

"He took classes there, he took out books. He just loved the people there and he loved the town," said von Ziegesar, who serves as chairwoman of the library's advisory board.

When he died, von Ziegesar said, she and Franz's children from previous marriages wanted to do something for the town to honor him. He had established a foundation in his father's name nearly 20 years before, she said, and they decided to use $100,000 from the fund to pay tribute to Franz.

"The first and only thing we thought of was expanding the library," von Ziegesar said, "because we knew that's something that Franz would have wanted."

He was a modest man, she said, and "there's probably nothing else in the world he would have been happy seeing his name on. I think this is something he would have been proud of."

Hazlet-based McCauley Construction began building the new wing toward the end of 2008, and finished it in "record time," said library director Joan Walsh.

Many people helped out along the way, Walsh said: Sea Bright Mayor Maria Fernandes and the Borough Council; the Monmouth County Library, which donated shelving; Sea Bright-based Industrial Marine Fabricators, which painted and retrofitted shelves; and many others.

"Everyone has been so supportive," Walsh said.

Finally, last month, about 150 friends and family members gathered at the library for the official dedication of the von Ziegesar wing, Walsh said. Four of Franz's six children attended, including his youngest daughter, author Cecily von Ziegesar, whose popular "Gossip Girl" books are among those that line the shelves of the new wing.

The spacious room is a much-needed addition to the library, Walsh said. It doubles the available shelving space, and comfortable leather chairs and ottomans give readers a place to sit back and enjoy the children's and nonfiction books that line the walls.

Liz von Ziegesar said she loves being able to see her husband's portrait hanging in the wing that bears their name on her daily visits to the library.

"I miss him tremendously," she said. "It's a comfort to me, just to be able to walk in and see him."

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Summer reading clubs' exciting season starts

By Nancy Shields • COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU • June 21, 2009

Hey kids, we know that Wii game is mesmerizing, the swimming pool is beckoning, and if your family has any extra money at all, you're going to get out of town for a little vacation.

But there's someone who wants to see you — the librarian down at your town's public library, hoping you'll sign up for the summer reading club. It's a real summer deal, free for you, thanks to taxpayers. And it's something kids have been doing since the days of your great-grandparents.

Most of the programs start soon after school gets out, or at least by July.

You'll be reading books, keeping a list, getting a certificate, a prize. And most libraries have a lot more activities and programs, from crafts to movies.

"The schools here encourage the summer reading club," said Marlboro head librarian Robyn Miller. "Reading is just a healthy skill and about the best thing to do in the summer so that when you hit school in September, your mind is still working."

Marlboro, part of the Monmouth County Library system, has separate clubs for kids still being read to and children reading independently. If you read on your own and complete at least eight hours of reading, you'll get to take part in a science event on Aug. 19.

If you listen to someone read 20 books to you, you'll be meeting Ronald McDonald the clown at the library on Aug. 18.

At the same time, there are movies for teens, a Monopoly tournament, and classes to learn origami and how to draw a superhero.

At the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library system, principal librarian Suzanne Maley said children at all 21 branches this year will be logging on to list their books and can write reviews if they want.

"We attract from babies to teens," Maley said. "We have all kinds of programs, activities and contests for different age groups, all different times of the day."

"We also put together recommended reading lists because lots of time, parents want that kind of information," Maley said. "We kind of match the book to the child and the child to the book."

Maley said the hot books continue to be the "Diary of A Whimpy Kid" series by Jeff Kinney.

Asbury Park Public Library's summer reading club starts in July. Although it is on a smaller scale than the county library branches', children can check out books, keep their lists up to date, do arts and crafts twice a week and have a special party, said Linda Keane, Asbury Park's children's librarian.

"We usually get the elementary school students and maybe some middle schoolers," Keane said. "Just come in beforehand. Parents have to sign for children under 18."

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Public libraries can change children's lives

express-Times Editorial

Thursday, June 11, 2009
open Door to World of Books

Some childhood rituals should never die, no matter how much life changes or how much technology evolves.

Riding on the public transportation system. Skipping stones across a lake or river. Walking to the corner store to buy penny candy or ice cream. Collecting fireflies in a jar. Playing hide-and-seek or freeze tag. Roasting marshmallows over a campfire.

Or visiting the public library.

Ahhh, the library.

It can be daunting at first with its seemingly kid-unfriendly rules: Walk, don't run; treat books and other materials with care; if you want to check out items, make sure you or your parents have a valid library card; use your quiet voice.

But it doesn't take long before all but the youngest visitors understand why such rules are in place.

And it doesn't take long to fall in love with the towering shelves with row after row of logically arranged books; the out-of-the-way and not-so-out-of-the-way cozy places to curl up and get lost in the pages of a carefully chosen book; the smell of a new library book; and, yes, even the quiet.

Our public libraries are national treasures. They provide access to worlds, ideas and information that we might never know existed if not for the library. They are a haven. A temple. A cave. A treehouse. A hut.

Because of the Internet and other technology, our libraries aren't as busy as they used to be. But a recent check of several local branches showed library users have been coming back -- and others have begun visiting for the first time -- as a result of the recession. The American Library Association says usage is up even when compared with the 2001 recession.

Recessions are never good news, but increased traffic at our public libraries is.

Even in flush economic times, parents, teachers and other trusted adults should make sure that the children they love walk through the doors of a local library, where they have a unique opportunity to begin a lifelong love of books, reading and learning.

Children who do usually walk out changed for the better.

And that's the best thing of all about our public libraries.

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June 18, 2009

Library panel, freeholders spar over spending

Wednesday, June 17, 2009
BY CARMEN CUSIDO
STAFF WRITER
Mercer County freeholders approved amendments to the $301 million budget at a special meeting Monday.

Though the seven-member freeholder board cut $2 million since the budget was approved in March, the overall increase from last year's $292 million figure is about $9 million, said county spokesman Pete Daly. The main increases are pension costs, which are up about $5 million, Daly said. Increases in the cost of operations adds another $4 million. The debt service also increased by about $700,000, Daly said.

There was some discussion on the 2009 library budget before freeholders approved their $13 million budget with a tax levy of $11.9 million. The library budget is separate from the county budget.

"We've had a problem with this budget the last two years," Freeholder Lucy Walter said about the administration and the board not reaching consensus on library spending. Walter said at the 12th hour, the library commission was still questioning the administration's numbers.

Robert B. Immordino, the Lawrence Township representative on the Mercer County Library Advisory Commission, sent in a statement to freeholders. Among his concerns were how a 4 percent Workers Compensation increase was determined, or why the dental and prescription increased 32 and 50 percent respectively. He also wrote the commission had been provided "nothing more than a continuous run-around regarding these changes and the formulas used for them."

County administrator Andrew Mair said the administration had attempted to meet with the library administration and the county Library Advisory Commission but there was a lack of availability by members of the library board.

Chief Financial Officer David Miller said there is a disagreement between the administration and the commission concerning the budget process because the commission feels that the administration should meet with it to go over the library budget.

But Miller has met with the director of the Department of Human Services, which oversees the library system, according to what is required by the county administrative code.

There is also a disagreement how certain charges are made to the library system, according to Miller. The nine-branch library system is a participant in a cost-sharing plan under which the administration allocates cost to them, but the commission wants specific costs for every transaction.

Under the cost plan, the library system is billed for general liability, Workers Compensation, auto and public officials insurance, the cost of processing payroll, pension and accounts payable and other finance functions, human resources costs and related functions, the cost of supervision of the director of human services and the cost of any service that the county provides to all county departments, according to officials.

"The administration provides an aggregate total of all costs and divides them by the participant class. The commission wants to see and pay only the specific bills that relate to the library; however, the administration's position is that the library system is a participant in a cost-sharing plan and that is an administrative decision," Miller said in an e-mail.

Both budgets were approved 6-0, with Freeholder Keith Hamilton absent.

Another cost-cutting initiatives proposed in March was the potential layoff of 75 and 125 employees -- 6 percent of the county's 1,900 work force --to help close an anticipated $43 million budget gap over two years.

The county last week submitted its layoff plan to the state Civil Service Commission, but Daly said officials cannot comment on the plan until it is approved and returned by the state. The Times has reported a tentative plan that calls for the elimination of 75 positions.

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Perth Amboy has no choice but to reclaim its public library

Mycentraljersey.com
Editorial

June 16, 2009

Perth Amboy's public library is both a source of pride and a source of shame for inhabitants of this city by Raritan Bay. Reknowned for its historic roots — philanthropist Andrew Carnegie put up the classic structure in 1903 — the library regretably was neglected to the point that today it is a building on life support. Blame it all on past city officials, most notably former mayor Joseph Vas - he who now faces federal criminal indictment — for repeatedly promising to address the library but instead offering nothing better than empty words. He had no plan, no vision — only excuses.

Thankfully, Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz is different. In fact, she made it a stated priority upon entering office to preserve and revive this magnificent edifice, pledging to reclaim it in September of last year: "The library is so important. Nothing would make me happier in my term than to get the library done. It is a development of the mind."

And of Perth Amboy itself.

So Diaz and the City Council set out to see if the one-of-a-kind building could be salvaged. To do it, they spent $30,000 to hire a consultant to study the structure and guide its fate. It was money well spent and last week the council got some answers. It was good news. Real good news. Despite all of the library's numerous ailments — leaks and drafts, cracked walls and ceilings, even creeping mold — architect Dennis Kowal told city officials that their beloved library is structurally sound, meaning it is well worth the effort to fix and improve it. There is a down side, as one might expect, and that is the cost of the required work, what Kowal the consultant said could approach $9 million, cash that Perth Amboy doesn't have — at least not now, nor is it likely to in the near future. Still, there are ways.

Perth Amboy is in no position to furnish that kind of loot on its own. Less than wealthy to begin with, its municipal coffers have been drained of resources by the continuing recession and the rising cost of all manner of required government services. Topping it all off, the city is struggling to pay for the final stage of construction on its massive public safety complex, the now nearly $90 million edifice — some $45 million over its original budget — conceived and later mismanaged by Vas.

Saddled by those expenses, Perth Amboy officials nonetheless aren't entirely at a loss. Like many towns that have replaced or refurbished their libraries, Perth Amboy is able to call on the always generous public — when it recognizes there is a true need — through a simple fund-raising campaign. Sure, more is needed. One option is corporate donations. Again, that source wouldn't begin to cover the entire tab, but could be a piece. Then there is Perth Amboy's biggest advantage: the historic nature of its library should qualify it for historic preservation grants, perhaps through the state. Kowal also mentioned energy grants for conservation improvements to the library.

Cobbling together all those funding sources, plus minimal borrowing by the city itself, could make the project feasible, if not now than in a couple of years.

No one disputes it isn't essential.

Library chiefs say there is demand for a larger children's section, additional shelf space, quiet study areas, and community meeting rooms — the sorts of amenities routinely found in other towns. The library also must be made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Right now, it doesn't. And libraries have never been more essential than today, given their power to educate and re-educate tomorrow's and today's citizens and work force.

Thousands of Perth Amboy residents depend upon the library for its all-important services — services that are unique and available nowhere else within the city. This must be done, no matter how long or what collection of methods the process might take.

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June 15, 2009

Local libraries offer all kinds of free activities

By Erik Larsen • Staff Writer • June 14, 2009

TOMS RIVER — Looking for something to do for free on a rainy day?

For younger generations accustomed to accessing information at their fingertips, the local library may seem like a quaint destination, but it's no longer just collections of dusty old books.

Take the Ocean County Library, for instance. "There are so many things going on, as far as programming goes, we've got concerts, we have lectures," said Meagan Toohey, a senior librarian at the library system in Toms River. "People come in with all kinds of requests — help with their resume, trying to find directions."

The staff will be glad to help the public with any of that and more.

If a problem is too great for the staff to handle — say someone is having a hard time obtaining unemployment or Social Security benefits, they will find the appropriate agency or public official to contact for further help.

For the kids, there are reading programs, old-fashioned board games and even the latest high-tech computer games like Wii, said Elise Weber, youth services coordinator.

"We have programs for all ages of kids," Weber said. "We even have tournaments."

And yes, it is all free, in a manner of speaking, said Scott Rodas, special events coordinator. "The public has already paid for it with their library taxes," he said.

"We're the largest library system in the state and this (Toms River, its headquarters) is probably the most beautiful library in the state," Toohey said.

The Ocean County Library was established in 1925. Its 2009 budget of $36 million is larger than the annual budgets of some municipalities.

About 60 percent of Ocean County's 550,000 residents have active library cards. This past March, as many as 3,000 people came through the Toms River location during a single day.

Toms River typically averages about 1,400 visits per day. Systemwide, at all 20 branches across the county, about 4 million people visited the library in 2008.

And, oh, there's books — about 1.2 million of them, to be precise, scattered across its branches. And not dusty old ones either. The library orders multiple copies of the latest bestsellers, for all ages, purchasing one book for every 3 or 4 requests made. There is also a vast collection of DVDs containing movies and other programs.

And if there's enough interest, the public might be able to see their favorite writer stop by for a book signing or lecture.

"Ocean County Library has become known to a lot of publishers as a venue for authors — to be matched up with (book stores) Barnes & Nobles or a Borders," Rodas said.

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At library festival, a call to action

Last updated: Monday June 15, 2009, 8:40 AM
BY JOAN VERDON
NorthJersey.com
STAFF WRITER
0 Comments A gathering of book lovers and New Jersey authors in Paramus on Sunday included a call for taxpayers to support municipal, state and federal funding for the state's libraries, which are doing a booming business in a time of threatened budget cuts.

"There's a famous quote: 'Books get you through times with no money better than money gets you through times with no books,' " said Arlene Sahraie, library services director for the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), which hosted a BooksNJ2009 festival Sunday on the grounds of the Paramus Public Library. The event drew more than 1,000 authors and readers, and also several politicians who urged the audience to become citizen lobbyists for libraries.

BCCLS has begun recruiting "library champions" through its Web site, www.bccls.org. The "champions" are then alerted via e-mail when library advocates are needed to lobby legislators to prevent budget cuts. As of Sunday, 1,029 have registered.
BCCLS is a consortium that allows 75 public libraries in Northern New Jersey to share materials and services. The system expects to circulate over 12 million items this year, said Robert White, executive director of BCCLS. Local libraries, White said, will suffer if a proposed 20 percent cut in state funding is enacted.

Assemblywoman Connie Wagner of Paramus urged attendees Sunday to contact legislators to voice support for a bill she has introduced asking for federal stimulus money to be devoted to the building of libraries. "We have it for school construction," she said. "Why not for libraries?"
The festival, originally planned as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of BCCLS, grew into an extravaganza after 93 authors, most of them current or former New Jersey residents, signed up to participate. Several dozen tents were set up on the library grounds, with authors signing books and conducting workshops under each tent. The authors joined panel discussions ranging from "The Art of Getting Published" to "That Fictional Location called New Jersey."

The latter was led by three authors, two from Montclair and one who grew up in Haworth and now teaches at Rutgers-Camden. Former Haworth resident Lauren Grodstein is the author of one novel set in Fort Lee and another, "A Friend of the Family," to be published by Algonquin in November, which is set in what she called "a thinly disguised Englewood" with a character who was a student at the "thinly disguised Dwight-Englewood" private school. In the novel, she's renamed Englewood "Round Hill."

Grodstein's father, Gerald Grodstein of Haworth, was among those attending the discussion. He admitted before the discussion that "I never wanted her to be a writer. I wanted her to earn a living."

A number of authors at the event said the economic downturn has made it tougher for them to make a living, with publishers purchasing fewer manuscripts and putting projects on hold.
Several writers at the festival are their own publishers, having chosen to self-publish their books. They said sales have been tough this year, but in most cases they have jobs that pay the bills, allowing them to do their writing as a labor of love.

Charles Caldes of Ridgefield self-publishes books and pamphlets about New Jersey railroads and rail history and is the author of a book about Jersey City's Journal Square. He said sales of his railroad-related materials are down 50 percent this year as Americans have cut spending on hobbies. "It's brutal," he said, "but I'm putting out more product so I'll be ready when times get better."

"There's no such thing as a really good economy for an author," said Lauren Grodstein, who is also an English professor at Rutgers-Camden. But events like the books festival "make it better," she said.

The festival provided inspiration for some young book lovers, including Max Garfinkle, 8, a second-grader at Warren Point School in Fair Lawn who attended a panel discussion led by children's book authors. "Where do you get your ideas?" he asked Lisa Mullarkey, author of numerous children's books including the "Katherine the Almost Great" series. "Write what makes your heart happy," Mullarkey said.

E-mail: verdon@northjersey.com

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June 13, 2009

Perth Amboy hopes to add new chapter to landmark library's history

STAFF REPORT • June 12, 2009

PERTH AMBOY — Architect Dennis Kowal had good news and bad news for City Council members about plans to repair and renovate the city's 107-year-old library.

The bad news, which is clearly visible, is that the library built in 1901 with funds from Andrew Carnegie and opened two years later, has not been well maintained. It has a new roof, but the flashing leaks creating crumbling plaster walls throughout the building. During heavy rains, buckets are placed throughout the library to catch the water.

The building is not barrier-free. There are no meeting rooms. There is a narrow 24-inch staircase to get to the bathrooms on the lower level. The children's entrance is through an ally. And the iron work is rusting and expanding.

On the up side, Kowal said the library is a glorious building.

"The building appears to be in good structural. It is a structurally sound building one worth protecting," Kowal told City Council members Wednesday, June 10 during a presentation of a $30,000 library feasibility study he conducted.

The price tag to protect and expand the Jefferson Street building is $7.85 million, which increases to $9 million once it is fully furnished, a hefty sum for a city already strapped for cash.

"Can $9 million be obtained from other than the city of Perth Amboy?" asked Councilman Fernando Gonzalez. "If anyone wants to donate, we'll take it."

Because the building hasn't been changed in over 100 years, Kowal, who specializes in historic preservation and libraries, said the library may qualify for historic preservation grants. He said the New Jersey Historic Trust is a source of matching grants. He said the addition could qualify for energy grants.

"It's the kind of building they (historic agencies) are looking for," he said.

Kowal said the library also is very well-used.

"It's a high-use building. It's the only city building that serves every age," Kowal said.

"One thing we heard is please don't close this library. People love the Carnegie history," said Kowal, who also praised the library staff. "They love what they are doing - that's why this building works."

Compared to other libraries serving a population of just under 50,000 the city library is significantly undersized.

"Your population has grown but you have not grown your library. You need to add 15,000 square feet," said Kowal, adding Perth Amboy needs a library that is about 34,000-square-feet. "We believe that size will serve you.'

To get to that size, Kowal proposed a two-story, 22,000-square-foot, $5.5 million addition which can be built on the parking lot adjacent to the library. Ten spaces would remain for parking. Once furnishings, renovations to the existing building, shelving, fees and moving expenses are included the cost increases to $9 million.

He said the addition would house a new children's section as well as reference and non fiction sections, quiet and group study areas. Once completed the new library would feature a local history room, program room, teen room, exterior reading areas, accessible restrooms, additional computers, wi-fi and more seats.

"This building is worth expanding. It can be expanded and function," Kowal said.

The work could be done in phases with the addition built first and then closing the old building to do the renovation work.

Some council members questioned the lack of parking that would result. Kowal, however, said in general city libraries don't have parking lots. He noted there is a city parking deck in the area.

Council President Peter Jimenez asked Board of Education President Ken Gonzalez to see if the school board would be interested in a joint venture for the library, since it serves so many children. Gonzalez said he would discuss the issue with the schools superintendent.

Anna Daily, a library board member, asked the council to support the library project.

Lillian Augustine, a retired school district administrator, said her father, former City Clerk Harold Augustine served on the library board for many years.

She said for a long time there was an air of indifference toward the library.

"The only way the city can rise up is through the library. Please do that for this town," she said.

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June 12, 2009

County OKs $25M. loan for libraries, bridge work

By BRIAN IANIERI, Staff Writer, 609-463-6713 | Posted: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 3:15 am | 0 comments

Font Size: Default font size Larger font size CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE - Freeholders on Tuesday night approved a $30.4 million spending plan that will borrow $25.2 million to repair bridges, fix roads and build and renovate county library buildings.

The spending plan identifies $17.3 million in library improvements and new library construction at six sites, including:

The bridge-improvement projects total $6.7 million, of which the county is eligible for about $4 million in reimbursements through federal stimulus money, county officials said.

Freeholders passed the bond ordinance 5-0 at a meeting Tuesday night.

At a public comment session, Sea Isle City resident Teresa Downey objected to the plan, saying that surplus funds the library system accumulates through the county library tax should be returned to municipalities.

On a separate bond ordinance Tuesday, freeholders also approved $400,000 to study the repairs needed to reopen the Beesleys Point Bridge, the formerly privately owned toll bridge freeholders bought for $1 in December.

Freeholders approved the bond ordinance 4-1. Freeholder Gerald Thornton, a critic of the county taking ownership of the bridge, dissented.

A prior state Department of Transportation study estimated repairing the bridge would cost $20 million.

The Route 9 span that connects Cape May County to Atlantic County has been closed to automobile traffic since June 2004, when an old concrete pier threatened to tumble into an existing steel support.

Posted in Cape_may on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 3:15 am Updated: 4:00 am.

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A library close to his heart

Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Last updated: Tuesday June 9, 2009, 9:07 PM
BY DEENA YELLIN
NorthJersey.com

Joshua Tiprigan, a junior at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, has won a national essay contest and with it the right to select a library for a $10,000 award. He's chosen the Northvale Public Library, in memory of his late mother.

Joshua's essay about Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" was awarded the highest recognition by the Library of Congress and the New Jersey Center for the Book: first place in the Letters About Literature contest.

He was named one of two national first-place winners for grades 9 through 12. Joshua opted to contribute it to Northvale Public Library because his mother, Alma, a great lover of books, had worked there as a volunteer. She died of cancer a little more than a year ago.

Joshua also won a $500 Target gift card. He modestly says that he was shocked when he won. But his teacher, Brian Hanson-Harding, says he wasn't surprised at all.

"He's a very sincere reader and very curious. He has ability. He wrote a heartfelt story, about how reading for him is keeping a piece of his mother," Hanson-Harding said.

The teacher must be doing something right: His class had a first-place national winner, a second-place state winner and eight other students who received honorable mentions.

More than 150,000 essays are submitted to the contest from throughout the country.

Joshua, along with other state essay winners, will be honored by the New Jersey Center for the Book at a special ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Winants Hall on the College Avenue campus of Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

E-mail: yellin@northjersey.com

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Edison native brings cyberspace to outer space on NASA mission

By LALITA ALOOR AMUTHAN • GANNETT NEW JERSEY • June 12, 2009

EDISON — Residents can reach out to one of their own, shuttle commander Mark L. Polansky, as he leads a seven-member crew into space Saturday.

Polansky, an Edison native and astronaut, will stay in touch with well-wishers from space through the Web site Twitter.com, as he embarks on his latest mission aboard shuttle Endeavour to the international space station.

There is no active Internet connection in space, but Polansky will type messages on his laptop and send it down to Mission Control, from where it will be posted online, said Dan Huot, a public affairs official at NASA.

Polansky, a veteran space flier, is the commander of Endeavour, which is scheduled to launch at 7:17 a.m. Saturday and arrive at the space station two days later.

"He is in control of all the execution and safety of the mission," Huot said.

The primary goal of this 16-day mission is to deliver a new experiment module to the space station, Huot said.

The crew will conduct five spacewalks to install the new space station components and equipment, and will perform other maintenance work on the station, which already houses six astronauts, Huot said.

Polansky is in quarantine for the space mission and could not be reached for comment.

His latest update on Twitter.com said, "Just landed from both my STA flight and a short T-38 flight ... Now back to crew quarters 'til bed at 1215 EDT." Twitter is a free social messaging Web site for staying connected in real-time.

Polansky can be reached on Twitter through his username Astro127.

A former Air Force test pilot, Polansky, 53, is a 1974 graduate of John P. Stevens High School in Edison.

In a 2007 visit to his alma mater, Polansky described his 2001 and 2006 space flights to the international space station, and reminded students that they, too, can achieve their dreams.

Saturday's mission will be the third space shuttle mission for Polansky.

Dolores Chupela, the children's librarian at Edison Public Library, is flying Friday night to Florida for the launch.

Chupela said she met Polansky and his mother, Edith — who still lives in Edison — in 2001, when she held a space-themed summer reading program and arranged to get the commander to meet with the children in the library. She added that she has been friends with the family since.

Chupela was also present at the 2006 launch with Polansky's family.

"You just can't describe it," she said of the experience. "The lift-off is pretty noisy, the earth shakes, it's just an awesome sight."

Polansky served as a pilot on his 2001 space mission in which he was in charge of all the electrical systems and hydraulics. On his December 2006 mission, he was the commander, in charge of the overall mission. He currently lives in Houston with his wife and two children.

"Pardon the pun, but he's just a very down-to-earth person," is how Chupela described him. "He's such an inspiration to children in this town," she added.

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June 8, 2009

Pitman's McCowan Library celebrates a major milestone

Thursday, June 04, 2009
By Christina Paciolla
cpaciolla@sjnewsco.com
PITMAN The McCowan Memorial Library celebrated its 90th birthday Wednesday with daylong festivities that included story hour, children's events and a proclamation from the mayor and council for its dedication to the town.

The library, in its location in Ballard Park since 1960, has relied on the generosity of the public to stay afloat. Nowadays, library director Sharon Fergason works with what she's got.

"Our budget has always been kind of tight, but I keep my staff focused," she said. "But this has been wonderful. It's like a fairy tale in my life."

Fergason came from Indiana in 2003, desiring to move down to Gloucester County to be with her children. She is now a self-proclaimed Pitmanite.

"The town is wonderful, the library is wonderful," Fergason said. "I'm totally blessed."

The history of the library is an interesting one, said Fergason. A group of Pitman citizens met in the Methodist-Episcopal Church in June 1919 to plan a library. The first location was the second floor of Fire House #1 on Simpson Avenue.

After two years, the library moved to the old borough hall, on North Broadway, and fundraising efforts by parent/teacher associations and the Women's Club helped keep the library alive.

After that location, the library took over the space occupied by the fire company and renovated the entire building. It remained there until 1960, when it moved to its current location.

Fifteen years later, an addition was built onto the southeast end of the library since the community was growing. Another addition was added in 2003, the year Fergason started. The library is now home to more than 33,000 books, thousands of periodicals and many programs for reading.

The library still flourishes with the community, and friends of the library, who utilize it. In this Internet age, Fergason said she has not experienced a decrease in readership. If anything, the library has saved money since reference books need not be purchased with the Internet helping with research. Having only five computers on hand, with no computer lab, Fergason hopes that's the direction the library is now going.

"Many of our seniors don't have computer skills," Fergason said. "Some of them want them. They would like to have us teach them."

Councilman, and library liaison Gene Shoemaker remembers the library as its grown over the years. Shoemaker has lived in Pitman for more than 60 years, and said the library wasn't always such a hot spot for the borough.

"It really never became a community place until this was built," said Shoemaker, whose father, former Mayor and Councilman Robert, helped build the library.

Shoemaker remembers a previous location of the library Ð on the corner of Broadway and Holly Avenue. In the basement, the National Rifle Association held classes to teach locals how to shoot .22 rifles Ð after library hours, of course.

The library has come a long way since then and now offers a slew of activities for residents of all ages. Katelyn Eystad, a sixth-grader at Pitman Middle School, helps organize events for young adults in town. Scrabble games, Wii bowling tournaments and teen game nights are held for interested tweens and teens, she said. She even suggests books to the staff of the library, giving reviews and enlightening Patti Forte, children's programs coordinator, on what kids her age are reading.

"I have always loved reading and writing," said Eystad, who was given a special award for her dedication to the library. "This is really up my alley. I like to help out any way I can."

Mayor Michael Batten calls the library something "unlike any other library in Gloucester County."

"It's all local people with a love for the library. We're very proud of what they do for us," Batten said.

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June 5, 2009

Library usage may be up, but budgets are down

Wednesday, June 03, 2009
By LYNN OLANOFF
The Express-Times
Phillipsburg librarian Deb Messling thinks DVDs would be flying off the shelves like they are at other libraries during this recession -- if the library had the latest releases.

But a cut in the library's materials budget has left Phillipsburg's DVD selection lacking, she said.

"If we were buying them, they'd be going crazy," Messling said.

While library usage increases during recessions, government funding often decreases, said Richard Moore, Warren County's library director.

"It's the time we shouldn't be cutting because the demand increases," he said.

Pennsylvania libraries also are facing budget cuts. The state already has axed an online digital database it used to provide to all libraries, and a state Senate bill proposes cutting state library funding by 53 percent, said Lynn Snodgrass-Pilla, director of the Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity.

Offering the online database would cost the library $40,000, and the Senate bill would cost the library $50,000 in state funding, Snodgrass-Pilla said.

"Our usage is up, and the thought our funding would be cut so severely is devastating," she said.

Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com.

Posted by tumulty at 7:19 AM | Comments (0)
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Local library use goes up as economy takes downturn; librarians lament funding cuts

by Express-Times staff
Wednesday June 03, 2009, 12:33 AM

"Libraries traditionally see an increase in use in a downturn in the economy," said Richard Moore, Warren County Library System director. "People come back to their libraries to borrow things they would otherwise purchase."
Locally, use of the Easton Area Public Library system is up about 10 percent over last year, Director Jennifer Stocker said. Warren County's circulation increased 5.5 percent from 2007 to 2008, and 2009 is already ahead of 2008 by 6.3 percent, Moore said.

Nationally, library use was already trending up before the recession set in. A 2008 survey found that Americans were 10 percent more likely to visit libraries and check out library items than in 2001.

The irony, said Phillipsburg librarian Deb Messling, is that libraries have less to offer users because the economic downturn means less government funding.

"It's the time we shouldn't be cutting because the demand increases," Moore said.
When's the last time you visited a library and what did you check out?

Posted by tumulty at 7:16 AM | Comments (0)
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