Libraries Hope to Have Site Design Complete by Fall

As a study on shared services between Scotch Plains and Fanwood’s municipal departments commences, questions are being raised about the status of another shared services project that’s already underway: the libraries’ joint initiative.

At the public forum on shared services two weeks ago, several residents asked where the Scotch Plains Library and Fanwood Memorial Library stood in their effort to try and merge into one.

On Wednesday, Fanwood Librarian Dan Weiss and Scotch Plains Librarian Meg Kolaya sat down with Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch to give an update on where the project stands.

“Our goal is to be completely done (with the sketches and broad concept of the building) by September,” Kolaya said. “By then, we’ll have more definitive info for the public about what property we want to build and what kind of services that facility would offer.”

Kolaya said that after months of exploring a number of properties around the two towns, the architects, RMJM/Hillier, decided to fully study using the existing site of the Scotch Plains Library.

“The architect likes it because it’s a big blank slate,” Weiss said.

Unlike other locations in town, the two librarians said, the Bartle Avenue site could allow them to have sufficient parking and green space around the building. It also opens up the opportunity for them to build the new library off of the current Scotch Plains one, thus saving money and making it a more sustainable effort.

“There’s a strong feeling on our part that if we can include the existing building that would be a positive thing,” Weiss said.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t a number of issues to examine with that site, though.

Traffic issues and the impact on the nearby business community are just two concerns that are being looked at.

“Over the last two years, we’ve really tried to think it through and see what the ripple effect would be of anything we do,” Kolaya said.

The feasibility study is all made possible thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Department of Community Affairs. The grant was originally set to expire last December, but with the election approaching last fall, the two library boards decided to go into holding until 2009. The two groups got busy on the project again at the start of this year.

In June, a Joint Library Planning and Advisory Committee, made up of three representatives from each library board, formed to help bring the study towards completion.  

After finishing the site layout, public meetings will be held in the fall to present the plan to residents in Scotch Plains and Fanwood. Both Weiss and Kolaya said further public meetings would be held thereafter.

The group ultimately hopes to have the referendum to dissolve the two current libraries and create one on the November 2010 ballot.

If it’s not approved by a majority of residents in both towns, then the two libraries will take a step back and see what they can do to improve their individual buildings.

“The architects have looked at what these two buildings need, if it’s not approved, and how much it would cost to bring them up to code,” Weiss said.

But both librarians say the need for a larger community library with more services is more important now than ever.

With an increasing need for advanced technology, additional programs, and more meeting space, the librarians say they just don’t have the means right now to meet the demand.

“Linden is looking at a new library, Rahway, Plainfield has done a lot of renovations,” Kolaya said.  “I think Fanwood and Scotch Plains are ready to move to another place.”

“A strong library has the ability to be a real strong magnet in the community,” Weiss added. “There’s tons to do here, and a good opportunity to make this happen.”