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July 12, 2010

Federal stimulus money coming to Morris County NJ libraries

BY MINHAJ HASSAN • STAFF WRITER • July 11, 2010

http://www.dailyrecord.com

Some 22 of the 30 local libraries in Morris County will benefit from a federal grant that will go toward adding more computer workstations, improving computer service and adding new programs to help patrons search and apply online for jobs.

The $5.1 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed in 2009, calls for adding workstations and improved Internet connections at 125 libraries statewide. In addition, some 365 libraries in the state will receive funds to provide job search help and workforce development programs.

In Morris County, 22 local libraries are slated to receive some stimulus funds for either new programs or additional workstations, or both: Boonton, Chatham, Chester, Dover, Denville, East Hanover, Hibernia, Jefferson, Long Hill Township, Madison, Mendham Township, Montville, Morris County Library in Whippany, Morristown, Mount Olive, Mountain Lakes, three libraries in Parsippany, Pequannock, Rockaway and Roxbury.

The announcement about the funding was made last week but the amount each library will receive from the grant and what it will be for will be determined in the next couple of months, said Gary Cooper of the New Jersey State Library, which is administering the grant.

New Jersey's two U.S. senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, said the help is needed.

"At a time when New Jersey's libraries are facing severe budget cuts, this timely investment will help libraries throughout the state continue providing important public services," Lautenberg said in a statement. "With so many employers requiring job applications to be submitted electronically, this funding will help ensure the public can visit the library to access computers, the Internet and other job search assistance."

"Oftentimes our community libraries provide individuals with access to technological resources they would otherwise not be able to access through other means," Menendez said in a statement. "This funding will help ensure our youth and workers have access to modern state-of-the art computer facilities to take advantage of all the educational and professional resources available electronically today."

Libraries have come to play a more prominent role as career search hubs, especially for those who don't have Internet access at home. Some libraries even stressed that beneficial service in their signs and literature. For example, a "Jobs Resource Center" banner was posted on the front lawn of the Joint Morristown/Morris Township Library last year.

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 23 percent of all library users had no Internet access at home.

Local library directors said they are seeing an increasing numbers of visitors using the computers to check job listings or work on resumes.

"I'd say quite a lot," said Boonton Holmes Public Library director Sam Pharo about the increase in job seekers. "Our computers are pretty well dominated by adults looking through Craigslist and other job search sites. They also use them to build resumes."

The Holmes library has 11 workstations, he said. With the grant, Pharo anticipates adding a workstation and having the Internet connectivity improved.

"Our wiring is a little outdated," he said.

Nancy Adamczyk, the director at the Madison Public Library, has also seen a major uptick in job searchers.

"Some of them had to give up Internet service at home," she said. "We have all seen a lot of people coming in."

The library currently has about 15 workstations, she said.

Mountain Lakes Library Director Peggy Bulfer said her "small library" could use another workstation. "I have one spot we could turn into an additional workstation," she said. "Lately, there's been a wait (for people to use the public computers)."

While the libraries will see some major state funding cuts, they won't be as deep as originally anticipated. Nearly $4.3 million of the originally proposed $10.4 million in state funds for libraries was restored, according to Save My NJ Library.

That's good news for local library patrons since they will be able to take out books from any library in the county, as well as have access to various research databases. Those services were slated to be cut or minimized.

"Interlibrary loans will absolutely continue," said Morris County Library director Lynne Olver. "They will not cease."

The continuation of the interlibrary loan service was "the absolute top priority" for many libraries, Oliver said.

Minhaj Hassan: 973-428-6628; mhassan@gannett.com

Posted by tumulty at July 12, 2010 9:54 AM

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