Growing population may force library to find own home

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Cranbury library budget sees effect of growth

The Cranbury Public Library is outgrowing its space and is having trouble keeping up with the needs of the community, according to library Director Howard Zogott.

So this year, the library board of trustees plans to spend part of its 2006 budget to develop plans for a new free-standing library in town.

Mr. Zogott said the roughly 4,000-square-foot library — which is located inside the Cranbury School building but is operated independently — is running out of room for the 2,500 books that are purchased every year.

"We can afford to buy the books," Mr. Zogott said. "We just don't have the room on the shelf to put them."

The library's budget, which is largely funded by the township, continues to increase every year and has gone up 15 percent this year. Since 1999, overall circulation statistics increased by 35 percent, with the highest increases coming from a 70 percent increase in adult book circulation and periodical circulation more than tripling.

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