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June 9, 2010

Library expansion to be discussed

By JULIA HAYS • Courier-Post Staff • June 5, 2010

HADDONFIELD — Haddonfield will host an open discussion with residents about library expansion plans on Wednesday.

An architect from the Little Ferry, Bergen County-based firm Acari and Iovino, which was commissioned to study how the library could expand at its current location or at a different location, will share his findings with those in attendance.

"The architect was told by the borough commissioners to look at making the building Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, and that could include a 7,500-square-foot or 15,000-square-foot expansion," said Library Director Susan Briant.

Also considered were an existing building on Kings Highway and a piece of open land, a municipal parking lot on Allen Avenue near the PATCO station, owned by the township.
The Library Board Committee will have a member present at the meeting and will recommend pursuing a 7,500-square-foot expansion to the library's current building on North Haddon Avenue, said Mayor Letitia "Tish" Colombi.

The library's hired fundraiser will also be present to answer questions from the public.
Colombi said she believed the 7,500-square-foot expansion plan would come with a $5 million price tag.

"We want to look at the plans and prices with the public to discuss this issue," said Colombi. "We'll also look to see how realistic the fundraising efforts will be."
Colombi added the expansion plans would not see a public vote until 2011.
"We want to present the best option. The commissioners have said early on that the hope is that half of the funds could be raised before putting this up to vote in a public referendum," said Colombi.

Expansion plans at the current site would include the addition of an elevator and handicapped-accessible bathrooms to bring the historic building up to ADA standards.
"The extension would be in the front of the building. This would just be using the existing building and enhancing it as much as we can. We would have to add an elevator behind and try to enhance the historical building and contour the front to showcase the building," said Briant. "There would be no moving the building forward. It's a question of how far up to a point that we can go."

Borough resident Darlene Dziomba, 44, said she would vote to support expansion plans, though she thinks a new building would be the best option.

"I think they're better off building something new that will last longer and will be bigger and more energy-efficient," said Dziomba. "The library is too small now. It doesn't meet people's needs."
The public forum about the plans will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at borough hall, 242 Kings Highway E.

Building plans are available on the borough's website at www.haddonfieldnj.org.
Reach Julia Hays at (856) 486-2479 or jhays@gannett.com

Posted by tumulty at June 9, 2010 6:39 AM

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