Montclair Library to ask that funding be restored for hours, materials
Members of the Montclair Public Library Board of Trustees meet tonight, Nov. 22, and discuss forecasting the budget for next year. "All three of those items have suffered greatly under the 2011 budget," Library Director David Hinkley said tonight during a library board meeting, noting there is not yet a proposed dollar amount.

The library is operating with a $2.7 million budget, which is underfunded by about $300,000, according to Hinkley and Board Treasurer Wil Adkins. Of the total budget, about $2.5 million is the municipal allocation, Hinkley said.

In its first formal discussion with the town, library officials will talk about available funding for the library, "and what it would mean to the library in terms of operations," Board President Frank Lawatsch Jr. told The Times earlier today.

"We'd like to see some of our budget restored," Lawatsch said. "We could improve our hours of operation in both buildings."

But Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried said some relief might be in sight.

"I think there's a real possibility in an increase in funding this year," Fried told The Times.

Although the possibility of library funding cuts looms because of a decline in property values in Montclair this year, Fried said, the mayor will nonetheless push to restore dollars.

"There have been a lot of tax appeals," Fried said.

"I, for one, am going to advocate for restoration of some funding to the library because they've had to shoulder a much higher burden of cuts than almost all other township functions. That was a product of difficult decisions that had to be made by the council in response to the economic downturn."

Despite the financial hardships and working with a skeletal staff, the library has so far this year seen approximately 286,000 patrons, 21,000 more than last year. "That's enormous," said board member Cliff Kulwin, who pointed out that visits and circulation is high despite the library being forced to cut hours. The main library is open 52 hours a week as opposed to 62 last year, and the branch is open 10 hours a week, compared to 35 in 2009, officials said.

If things go the way the library trustees hope, the Bellevue Branch Library could remain open without the worry of possible closure. It was temporarily shut in January but reopened in June with the help of volunteers and fundraising assistance from the Montclair Public Library Foundation.

"I would hope [we will] not face that kind of situation," Lawatsch said. "We're optimistic that the library will be able to get some of its budget restored. That would help us offer services we've had to curtail this year."

Added Lawatsch, "We basically were unable to purchase much in the way of materials. Our budget for new purchases of books, for example, was cut back dramatically. We relied on the foundation to assist us in buying materials, which historically has been paid for as part of the town's allocations. But they don't have the resources to replace what town provided us."

If the library budget was to be slashed further, it would result in more cutbacks in services, said Lawatsch, adding that in the worst case scenario, "It's a question of whether the branch could stay open at all if we have further cutbacks. But we don't anticipate that to happen."

The library is near to completing a months-long strategic plan, and all that's left is to administer a focus group for teachers, and another for influences in the town, Adkins said.

Lori McConnell, who is a member of the Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library, told the trustees tonight that they have the support of the community behind them. "I am hoping that this year in the budget process you can make use of the goodwill you have in town," McConnell said.

HONORING CAROLINE

During tonight's meeting, the trustees unanimously passed a resolution honoring Library Division Chief Caroline Brown, who tendered her resignation effective Nov. 25.

As Lawatsch read the resolution aloud, he noted her "years of productive dedicated service" in the library since 1977 when Brown was first employed as a page. She had since worked in many departments, and also was acting library director in 2004. She received numerous commendations, including a 1982 letter from Marlis Powell, then president of the board, who had expressed "her appreciation to Caroline for her essential role during that year's library move."

"Caroline Brown's professionalism and personal touch will be deeply missed by the Montclair Public Library employees," the resolution stated. "The Montclair Public Library Board of Trustees extends its best wishes to Caroline Brown as she embarks on the next chapter of her life."

Hinkley told The Times after the meeting, "I'm sad that she's leaving. It's a loss to the library."

Contact T.D. Shoudy at shoudy@montclairtimes.com.