« Funding cuts threaten Camden's libraries | Main | Margate library broadens role in community »

July 20, 2010

Task force recommends Somerville joining county library system

http://www.mycentraljersey.com
July 19, 2010
By MARTIN C. BRICKETTO • STAFF WRITER

SOMERVILLE — Joining the Somerset County library system would mean expanded hours and more services for borough residents at a cheaper cost, according to a presentation Monday by a panel charged with reviewing that possibility.

After months of research, members of the Library Review Task Force unanimously found that the community would be better served by having the library at 35 West End Avenue become part of the county system. Officials again expressed a commitment to keep the facility open as part of any such move. The library is attached to Borough Hall.

The Borough Council Monday voted to accept the recommendation of the task force and authorize the borough attorney to research the legal mechanics of making the transition.

Two council members, Dennis Sullivan and Rob Wilson, voted against the measure, both suggesting they needed more time to study the materials submitted by the task force.

Since the library was established by referendum in 1912, it could take another public referendum to formally dissolve it and join the county system. The task force set June 30, 2011 as the best date to begin a contractual agreement with the county system.

The total cost to operate the library in 2010 will be about $667,000, including a $499,000 borough contribution, according to the presentation. Those numbers exclude facility costs, since the borough would remain responsible for them whether it joins the county or not.

With a dwindling amount of state aid left on which to rely, the library could face a minimum deficit of $74,000 in 2011 and a minimum deficit of $218,000 in 2012 without a significant increase in the borough’s contribution, according to the presentation.

While the cost to the taxpayer here of a local library is slightly less than the county system for 2010, the local library could become more expensive in future years, according to the presentation.

By 2012, the owner of an average home in the borough assessed at $148,000 would be paying about $151 for the local library as opposed to $115 for a county branch. The county, which applies an equalized tax rate to all its member towns, would shoulder the cost of staffing, materials and programming at the borough facility.

The task force also stressed the service-related benefits of moving to the county. Members anticipated increases in the hours of the library, which is now closed Mondays, and staffing levels to meet system-wide standards. The library would see more support for building its collection and more programs in addition to residents being able to utilize the resources of other county library branches, according to the presentation.

Collection development would remain locally controlled through the branch director and an advisory board made up of borough residents. The advisory board would be able to control funds previously held by the current library board of trustees and also take advantage of donations specifically earmarked for the branch. The move could also mean retaining the current staff of the library

A review of the borough’s current library facility found that no substantial capital improvements would be necessary, according to the presentation.
Martin C. Bricketto: 908-243-6609; mbricketto@MyCentralJersey.com

Posted by tumulty at July 20, 2010 3:32 PM

Comments

Post a comment