the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Library Foundation President had some choice words for residents on a local Ridgewood Facebook group , “It Takes a Ridgewood Village” .
The Ridgewood Public Library Foundation Board of Directors consists of up to 21 directors. The Board has four officers, President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.New Board Members and officers are elected by the current Board members. The Nominating Committee presents a recommended list of directors and officers to be voted on at the Annual Board Meeting each November. Directors serve one and two year terms. Each director is requested to serve on one or two committees which include governance, finance, investment, media, events and fundraising.
The complaint has been that the Library is trying to move forward with little to no public input , and seems to using the “Valley Hospital ” tactic ,their way or no way .
Betsy Pollom Giordano President of Ridgewood Public Library Foundation said yesterday on Facebook when several residents complained about the lack of information :
Betsy Pollom Giordano , “Thank you Karen for sharing a bit of truth. Here are the facts: The library has held SEVERAL open forums, the next being on May 11th. They also speak and respond to questions at Village Council meetings regularly. You know this because you attend many of them. Finally, trustee meetings have an opportunity for public comment, as well, on a monthly basis.”
When Saurabh Dani asked ,” The village council asked the library director to provide a scaled down plan several months ago. They have only provided ONE plan, with central staircase and complete gut renovation. They have NOT provided an alternative plan, which doesn’t require structural changes.They are trying to sell the current design, which was created without resident inputs and are not willing to come up with plan B which improves the facilities without major structural changes to the building (which are mainly aesthetics, and don’t add to the function).”
Betsy Pollom Giordano repeated ,”That being said – There has been amble opportunity for village feedback. As for the revised plan, you are correct and it was explained at that time, that the presented plan is 100% conceptual and will be modified based on fundraising success, village support and any possible grant awards. Additional plans cost a significant amount of money and can not even be used for construction. I am sure you will agree that additional funds should be spent towards the actual project and not additional conceptual plans that will surely change based on continual community feedback and available funds.”
When asked about the stairwell , Betsy Pollom Giordano , “Aditya Singh get over the staircase. It is a small % of an overall good thing. If you think a 100% of any group will ever support every part of a project, you are incorrect. I suggest you use the library, volunteer at the library, attend ANY public forum, then we will talk. Until then, stop putting negative out there and do something to benefit our town.”
Then she attacked another resident ,(Betsy Pollom Giordano ), Steve Kim I call you mr money because you put yourself out there publicly with your cartoons and financial analysis. You spend your days put so much negativity out into our village without ever offering a solution. I will not stoop to your current level, but put out information to support a community organization that’s doors are open to all. I’m sorry that you stooped to that, but I am a lady and will not.
Betsy Pollom Giordano flipped when she was surrounded by people that didn’t agree with her nonsense and called her out on the truth.
This sounds a lot like Valley. One plan, no compromise, no public input and anyone who disagrees with us doesn’t know what they’re talking about. It’s almost like the same people that were pushing for the Valley expansion are on the Library Board.
If the public forums went anything like her attitude shown above – no wonder residents say they aren’t heard.
The president of the library board does not represent me or my wishes. She also does not get to dig into my pocket book. She is acting like the president of the BOE.
Board President takes to FB on behalf of Board business. So all the people below agreed with her statements and nastiness? If not, they need to tell the public this piggy went rogue.
Board of Directors
Betsy Giordano, President
Shoshana Feiner, VP/Secretary
Gerald Chaney, Treasurer
John Atlas
Christina Bergantino
Cathy Choi
Thomas DeVita
Kathleen Entwistle
Janet Fricke
William Guyla
Joan Harrington
Carolyn Holt
Glenn Jorgensen
Stacey Loscalzo
Anne McDonnell
Cara Murray
Stephen Petrick
Rahul Sharma
Renu Vitale
Melissa Von Summer
“Steve Kim I call you mr money because you put yourself out there publicly with your cartoons and financial analysis.“
Betsy, Betsy, Betsy, it’s called illustration and considered an art. If you knew the first thing about anything you’d at least know that.
Mr. Kim please do a Betsy “cartoon”
I use the library a lot and go up the stairs to the second floor. I experience the stairs as too narrow, and I am not overweight. If I am walking up and someone is walking down, or the opposite, it is crowded and somewhat dangerous, if you are not very careful, like stopping to let someone walk the other way on the stairs. Making the staircase wider is a good idea. Why all the negative fuss over wider stairs. If state funds come through why not.
I really can’t think of a better use of money.
All uses of money so far is for destruction of environment , Schedler development, train island destruction, parking garage, Led lights seven nights a week at Maple being proposed and will pass.
You all are obviously satisfied to pay 75c at parking meter. I am not and don’t. And you don’t want a better library.
Nancy Greene has a track record of understanding the needs of the community and how a library serves the community. She has had focus groups asking residents what they want from a library. I attended one of them, so I know.
I will start by recognizing and thanking the many volunteers who have made the Library a great facility. It is so easy to sit back and criticize and volunteers in so many areas vital to the Village seem to contend with an endless stream of abuse for their efforts.
Having said that, this smacks of a vanity project. I am a heavy user of the library. It is an excellent facility just over 20 years old. It already serves many needs well. If you need auditorium space, there are plenty of larger spaces that can be made available–at least one in each school. Leave the Library alone. It’s primary purpose should be for reading, studying, quiet thought. There are other Village spaces for larger public gatherings.
I agree with Anonymous “I will start by recognizing and thanking the many volunteers who have made the Library a great facility. ”
I also use the Library fairly frequently. One less expensive idea rather than the proposed vanity project would be a simple addition to the current auditorium that would not be that big of an expense and give the Library the additional space they are asking for.
Those who find the staircase too narrow for comfort are free to use the elevator. Why not?
Staircase ain’t broke…
The staircase is too narrow? I’ve been up and down that staircase hundreds of times with, and without, a couple of kids with no trouble at all. On days when I my knees are bothering me, I am free to use the elevator. I actually like that the staircasse is tucked away.
Always in the library and know betsy. The Giordano and Cara Murray Facebook blunder is a pr disaster for library. Shouldn’t Giordano appreciate illustrations as art? Cara Murray spent last summer bashing a resident about the Library Crab event at the Ridgewood Country Club. Murray and Giordano must be the stars of that crab gathering.
That should spend the money on making a parking deck. Because there’s no parking. That’s the future parking.