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May 6, 2010

Angry Edison patrons question plans to close library branch

http://www.c-n.com

By LALITA ALOOR AMUTHAN • STAFF WRITER • May 5, 2010

EDISON — About 80 residents — mostly patrons of the library's Clara Barton branch who are angry about its closing — attended a meeting of the library's board of trustees Tuesday at the municipal building. The meeting was loud and contentious at times, as residents interrupted board members who tried to explain why the library branch is slated to close June 30.

Board members cited about $60,000 in needed building repairs and rising annual operating costs of about $100,000 in the face of a 50 percent cut in state aid.
But children holding posters that said "Please don't close the Clara Barton Library. I love my library," appealed to the board and mayor to change their decision.

The biggest gripe among audience members was that they were not notified that the library was going to close before the decision was made by the board.

"We couldn't have seen this coming," library director Judith Mansbach said, noting that the governor released his budget on March 17, cutting funding by 74 percent to libraries across the state.
Residents also questioned what would happen to the township-owned building which housed the library branch and recently underwent major renovations.
"I've been living here a long time. Nothing is done in this town without political overtones," said resident Tony Eggert.

Library board president Sherri Orenberg-Ruggieri said that once the library closes, the building reverts back to the township. She said she didn't know what the township would do with it.
She added that the board is an autonomous body and decided unanimously to close the branch library.

"You can't point at the mayor or council about this, point at the board," she said.
The board receives funding from the state and local governments.
Board members explained that the Edison Public Library system expects to lose 50 percent in state aid this year. Other expected cuts by the state include free databases, Internet connections and interlibrary loan delivery.

Mansbach said the township has not cut the library's budget, but added, "This year we found out that what we pay in pensions and benefits has gone up but town appropriations have not kept up."

Board secretary Lisa Krauze said the library building is badly in need of repairs to fix problems stemming from water damage, including drainage problems, mold and mildew, repairs to the roof and replacement of windows.

She said the board received an estimate of $60,000 for the repairs.
Board treasurer Veena Iyer said the annual operating costs for Clara Barton, not including salaries, amount to about $100,000.

In comparing use of the township's three library branches, Iyer noted that the number of items checked out last year at Clara Barton was 36,330, while the number for the the North Edison branch was 255,628 and the number for the main library was a little over 300,000.

"Basically this (closing the library) is a done deal and they just held this meeting to pacify us but that doesn't work for me," said resident Ida Judis, 73, as she left the meeting at about 8 p.m.

The board did not arrive at a resolution by the end of the meeting. Board members will be meeting with the mayor shortly to discuss the closing, Mansbach said.
Lalita Aloor Amuthan: 732-565-7271; laloor@mycentraljersey.com

Posted by tumulty at May 6, 2010 5:50 AM

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