Cranbury school may limit hours of public library

[Cranbury Press]

Cranbury school may limit hours of public library

Thursday, September 11, 2008 2:54 PM EDT
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — The Cranbury Public Library may be off limits to its patrons during peak hours of the day after school officials, concerned over security and students optimizing their time in the facility, proposed closing it to the public during school morning hours.

During a meeting with the library board of trustees on Aug. 14, Cranbury’s Board of Education proposed that the library, which is housed at The Cranbury School, close its doors to the public Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

School officials initially proposed that the closure be in effect for one year, during which time both boards would jointly hire a library consultant to inspect the situation and advise both parties of a reasonable solution, said John Haney, chief school administrator. A consultant would be expected to study issues that are currently affecting the facility including time, space, security and student access and interaction.

Shortly after hearing the proposal, the board of trustees issued an impact statement which it shared with the public at the Township Committee’s Monday night’s meeting.

”While the Cranbury Public Library understands the school’s desire of more exclusive library time, the library will not be able to serve the community adequately with this limitation of daytime core hours as well as the interruption of service in the middle of the day,” the statement said.
Library Director Marilyn Mullen said she has a number of concerns over the possible closure, including the burden it would place on her staff members, who would be unable to work with other libraries, vendors and services providers; the reciprocal borrowing agreements the town has with other libraries throughout the county that would be put in jeopardy; as well as the closure’s alienating any number of patrons from both Cranbury and neighboring communities, who come to check out books, use the computers, or even participate in programs during the daytime hours.

According to a survey conducted by library staff between Aug. 18 through Aug. 29, 57 patrons used the facility during the hours recommended for closure each weekday.

”We’re continuing to keep those figures to see if they change in September,” Ms. Mullen said. “Maybe the school board did not think of all the ramifications. Those daytime hours are important.”

Ms. Mullen said the closure might prompt local officials to begin to seriously look at the future of the public library.

”This maybe should be a wake-up call,” Ms. Mullen said. “We have to start thinking seriously about what we can do in the future. Maybe there’s some fundraising that can begin.”

In the spring semester two incidents occurred at the library that forced school officials to intervene on behalf of their students, including a possible vagrant being in the library as well as a patron handing out fliers to school children.

”There have been a few incidents,” Mr. Haney said. “Nothing serious, but there’s always the potential. The school has a really tightly scripted, highly defined security system. The library doesn’t have that.”

But exposing the children to security risks is not the only concern the school has as officials say they want to expand teaching in the facility which will help their standings from state evaluators. Mr. Haney said evaluators look at how the library is used to help core content standards.

”We want them to discuss books and talk about it,” Mr. Haney said about students’ current limitation in the facility. “We want to bring a couple of classes down and have students talk to teachers.”

Although the initial proposal suggested the library cut its hours in October, school officials said that this might not be the case, considering both boards are still discussing options.

”The library would still have time during the day,” Mr. Haney said of the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. access public library patrons would have under the proposal. “The board is trying to be generous,”

Since the public library is located on the school property, school officials ultimately have final authority over how the library can operate, Mr. Haney said.

Ms. Mullen said she is still hoping an alternative can be found. The next library board of trustees meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9, while the school board is scheduled to meet Sept. 23.

”The relationship is not one we want to end,” Mr. Haney said. “But we need to meet our mission with the children. We would be irresponsible to our students if we did not investigate this.”

[James]

I understand school safety and these issues noted should be looked at and prevented if possible. However, I think Mr. Haney being new to the school should also give some pause and look at the big picture. Not that he's wrong, but I think he needs to understand this is a K-8 district in a small town so considerations are made here that are different than a Hamilton, Hightstown or Hopewell.

I don't see why they can't teach and still have the public there. They have the public there when school kids are reading. Just ask the patrons to be patient and understand that they have a school in session and teaching will occur.

[Guest]

This is the critical quote (the second half):

”We’re continuing to keep those figures to see if they change in September,” Ms. Mullen said. “Maybe the school board did not think of all the ramifications. Those daytime hours are important.”

Yes! Fundraising! Stop making your stand-alone library ambition something every taxpayer has to pay for, some more than others. I pay $18,000 in property taxes and am okay with the Library as-is. If others want it, let them raise the funds privately. Or at least contribute a substantial portion, just as with many public projects.

[Guest]

[Guest]

Did the Mayor suggest that the Library also expand ontop of the existing School library at some time in the future. He told the school that this past week about expanding in the last TC meeting "Mayor Stout suggested that the board look at constructing multiple level buildings if a major and large expansion is needed"

so it should be OK in the future for the Pub Lib to do the same. We dont need it in the near term, just an option in the long term.

[Guest]