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August 12, 2010

Trenton libraries could open for limited hours

nj.com
Thursday, August 12, 2010,
Meir Rinde

TRENTON - Mayor Tony Mack wants to reopen the city's four branch libraries for four hours every afternoon beginning Sept. 13, he said in a press release yesterday.

The four branches are scheduled for a long-term closure beginning this weekend because the cash-strapped city cut $1 million from its annual appropriation for the independent Free Public Library system. The Main Library downtown will remain open.

Under Mack's proposal, the branches would be open for children during the critical afternoon hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., when young people tend to get in trouble. The branches are Cadwalader, Skelton, Griggs and East Trenton.

If enough money is available, the open hours could be extended, though Mack said private donations to make the plan possible have not yet been committed.

"We cannot afford to close our libraries and shut the door on our children's educational resources," he said. "In a unique town like Trenton, children need constructive after-school options which include visiting their libraries," he said.

"I will not allow our children to fall prey to other means of self-entertainment such as crime and delinquency," he said.

The plan would have to be approved by the library board, which includes a city representative but is an independent body. The board members include water department official Eric Jackson, who serves as president, and Rodney Lofton, superintendent of schools.

The library's executive director, Kimberly Matthews, could not be reached for comment last night.

Mack said he wanted to see the libraries remain at least partially open not only for children, but also for adults who use them for job research.

"Keeping the libraries open will allow Trentonians to continue their job search efforts and access resources such as reference materials, newspapers, books, computers, printers, public meeting space, and use of the internet to complete and update job applications," he said.

Posted by tumulty at August 12, 2010 9:34 AM

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