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August 11, 2010

Camden libraries may be saved

http://www.courierpostonline.org
George Mast
Aug. 10, 2010
CAMDEN — City library services will be spared through a possible merger with the Camden County library system, officials announced Monday.

After Mayor Dana Redd announced funding cuts last month, city library board members said they had no choice but to eventually shutter all three of the libraries here: Centerville, Fairview and the main branch on Federal Street.

But, that plan was stayed Monday, when officials announced a possible takeover of the libraries by the county system.
Camden County Freeholder-Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said it hasn't been decided whether all three branches would remain open or what would happen to the city's 21 library employees.
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Camden Library Press Conference
"At this point we're still looking at what will happen," Cappelli said. "The plan is still being put together.
"We can't guarantee that all three (branches) will remain open, but we can guarantee there will be a county library system in Camden."
City Council members will need to introduce and pass a resolution allowing the change.
By entering the county system -- which has six branches throughout the county -- Camden will be relieved of any funding obligations. Last year, the city provided about $900,000 in funding to its libraries, not including the cost of employee benefits.

But Camden residents will face a county tax of about 4 cents per $100 of the assessed value of a home. All 26 municipalities in the county library system face the same library tax rate.
On Monday, Redd played up the merger, noting city residents will now have access to a "wide range" of resources at all the county branches.

Redd said she is also in discussions to get residents full access to the library at Rutgers-Camden. Residents now have limited access to the university's library.
Decrying the merger plan was Library Board Trustee and community activist Frank Fulbrook, who called it a "cynical ploy."
"We should maintain our independence," he said.
At Camden's main branch on Federal Street Monday afternoon, a few patrons leafed through newspapers inside the welcome relief of the air-conditioned building. All 15 of the library's working computers were being used.

In the front of the library, two men sat with their elbows on a table, leaning over a chess board.

Library Director Jerome Szpila said he supports joining the county system because it will preserve some access for city residents.
"The most important thing is the residents of Camden and whether they have library services."
Damaris Allen, who was at the library Monday with her 6-year-old grandson, said she was glad to learn all of three of the city's branches wouldn't be closing.

Camden Library Press Conference
"(The children) need the experience of having a library." She hopes the Federal Street branch will stay open because of its access to public transportation.
Plans to close the city's libraries began last month after Redd responded to the library board's annual budget request with a letter and a check for $281,667, about a third of what the city allocated last fiscal year.

At the time, Redd said the city could only afford to pay the minimum required by law, which should have been about $389,958.
In the following weeks, the library board announced plans to first close the Fairview branch in September and use the proceeds to keep the branches in Centerville and on Federal Street open as long as possible -- probably until the year's end.

Redd said Monday additional information about the city's libraries would be released as the plan with the county is finalized. Officials at the American Library Association believe Camden's library branches would have been the first in the U.S. to close entirely.
Camden Free Public Library is a major hub for many residents and draws 150,000 visits a year.
Reach George Mast at (856) 486-2465 at gmast@camden.gannett.com

Posted by tumulty at August 11, 2010 10:24 AM

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