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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."

Posted by tumulty at June 26, 2009 10:50 AM

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