Ridgewood Library hoping for renovation
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014, 10:50 AM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The tedious and comprehensive process of planning a major renovation of a government building, in this case the Ridgewood Public Library, is making slow and steady progress.
The Library Board of Trustees recently discussed its progress on the plans to completely transform the inside of the 34,000-square-foot facility, which hasn’t been updated since 1995.
The process to update the library, which began more than two years ago, started with interviewing members of the public on areas like the library’s strengths and values, and the use needs of different patrons.
From that, a strategic plan was developed with a focus on creating better community gathering and study spaces, an expanded young adult area, and a more welcoming circulation desk at the entrance of the library.
In addition to the resident surveys, the library also studied the demographics of Ridgewood, which showed that 24 percent of residents don’t speak English at home and highlighted a huge income disparity: 33 percent of households have an income of more than $200,000 while 12 percent of households live on an income of less than $35,000.
“We’re the cultural center, the education center, the career center, the equal opportunity center, the early literacy center,” said Library Director Nancy Greene. “There are all the different roles that we try to serve.”
With those details, the library created a Request for Proposals (RFP) in August and received plans back from three architectural firms earlier this month.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/at-the-library/strategic-plan-stresses-keeping-up-with-the-times-1.1098282#sthash.n6xv7WKB.dpuf
Will that include a “Bear Protection Fence” in light of Bear Death News lately ?
News affects local political decisions don’t you think?
The high school library is being renovated too.
What does the income gap show? That those with income over a certain amount should pay more?
What is the purpose of a library? Who is using it? They want to renovate again but the real need is not clear. “Equal opportunity center”? What does that mean? I guess if you change your mission you can justify another renovation. Go fundraise.
My high schoolers never used the Ridgewood Library for school work. They have online access to academic journals. They can meet in my home to work on group projects.
Tutors use the library for their businesses.
A library should not need renovation after only 19 years in service. It is still the nicenst facility in Bergen County. It sounds like much of the renovation is decorative anyway. And reducing the number of books does not sound like progress to me. Of all the issues faced by the Village, library renovation should be a very low priority. I am a frequent user and I say–leave it alone!
I was wondering when she was going to do this. Library Director Nancy Greene and the Three amigos are very close. Two of the Amigos were on the board. So while the infrastructure in the Village is going to hell this Council is going to spend money to renovate the library And the only thing Dom can post is “Bear Protection Fence” making a joke of the whole thing.
Just curious but how does anyone making less than $35,000 a year manage to live in this area of Bergen county?
In this age of austerity, it’s really hard to justify even having a library at all, let alone renovating one that still looks remarkably elaborate. I suppose when this huge library was originally planned, traditional lending libaries were still very much a part of our culture. Now that we have it, there’s obvious pressure to maintain it.
Personally, I think physical lending libraries are about as relevant today as big book stores and the US Mail. They have become senior centers for bored retirees. I say it’s time to use the space more productively by selling it to the private sector. Perhaps have the Dept of Education move there and sell their current building to become apartments?
They should really wait until the resolution of the apartment discussions in town. It seems to me that the proposed 1000+ new residents will have less square footage and may be more likely seek “third space” areas to work or study, The library should wait to determine if they need to service these folks as well.
Ha Ha… good one!
I guess it’s time to buy another Brick !
I take it you’re not on the board #5 ?
Are you serious ? We spend $2.3mn on the library, vs $5.9mn for waste & recycling, $4.8mn for debt repayments, and $1.5mn just for utilities for the Village. Public works gets $3.5mn, and police & fire cost us $17.8mn not including workers’ comp. It’s public safety wage growth that’s crowding out infrastructure spending in the Village, not the library. Get your facts straight.
What age of austerity ? While median household incomes declined -2.7% in 2013 in Bergen County versus inflation of +1.4%, and median home sales prices were flat, public safety wages in Ridgewood have grown +4% a YEAR since 2009 plus we currently owe $7.1 million in accumulated leave retirement payouts. Austerity for many Ridgewood families, but wage growth more than 2X inflation and the 2% property tax cap for the elite few.
Seems unnecessary. The library is still a beautiful facility by any standard, and the reality is libraries are less critical today with internet access at home.
#12 When you need public safety 24/7 and they are not there because you think they are getting payed to much money just go to the library for all your needs. Its called priorities. The library should be the last on the long list you bloged
What, did you conveniently forget the LARGEST cost in our property tax bill #13? Or maybe you are a teacher who got a nice 4+% raise on the back of taxpayers since 2009. The cost for public safety pales in comparison to the BOE
All residents use waste&recycling,public works,police&fire. The rest is for running the Village. The library is a club for the special people in Ridgewood some of which are on the Finance Committee . Go have you grand parties Not everyone in Ridgewood uses the place. Most are from out of town. Here a novel idea use the money you have saved up in that special account and leave ALL the taxpayers alone. For all of you who read this blog just google donation to the Ridgewood Library . You will see who the haves and have not are.
I am a weekly library user – taking out up to 10 books a week
BUT, I know a good percentage of the people using the library are using the physical space not actually borrowing books or other media. It has become a center for continuing education – not so bad but not what it was meant to be.
I believe that the Village should conduct a serious survey to find out who is actually using the library. I see NY plates all over the parking lot, it is the only library in Bergen County open on Sundays and in the summer — it’s often the only library open on any day in Bergen County.
If everyone in Bergen County and other neighbors too are utilizing it then the board should be seeking funding from outside of Ridgewood too – it’s only fair!
I agree about taking a serious look at who is using the library and for what service. Do we really need a separate room for teens? More community space? That spare community room seems underutilized.
I just do not see the big need for another renovation.
“The cost for public safety pales in comparison to the BOE” #16 you must be one of those renters because if you were property owner you could look at your tax bill and see that 2/3 of it is school taxes. Or maybe you live with mom and dad.
Sorry # 16 my post was for #13
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I am Poster #16,
I was a bit confused at your comment at first #20 but you cleared it up with your post #21, thanks.
I guess you don’t understand that the library is funded by the Village budget, not the BOE budget. This was a post about the cost to the Village to renovate the library. The high cost burden to taxpayers of the BOE is a separate issue to the Village budget, that’s for another thread, no?
The library is part of the Village budget, not the BOE. Are you implying that we should cut the library budget to zero and put the $2.3mn in to public safety wages ? Why ? We already have best paid police & fire in all of Bergen county, and therefore well above the NJ average.
Why are you proposing that the $2.3mn library budget be used for public safety wages and expenses ? We already have the highest public safety wages in Bergen County, which are well above the NJ average. And you want us to cut funding for our public library, open to all, to give even more to our public safety officials ? Do you also favor a police state with MRAPS patrolling the streets of Ridgewood enforcing a curfew and arresting teen readers and sidewalk cafe violators with a SWAT team?
I guess you can’r read #16, this was a blog chat about the cots of a library renovation (village budget) not the BOE budget. Maybe you spend some time in the library in the learn to read program ?
That last renovation was far from great. The place is like a quiz: What is not feng shui about this building? Seeing and smelling food when you walk in is dead wrong.
If the only way they can think of to improve the library is to reduce the number of books, not a cent should be spent. It’s fine. Get rid of Greene, who has been a disaster, and save her salary. I hear the staff has hated her since day one.
I also find it not remotely believable that 24% of Ridgewood residents do not speak English at home. Was that 24% of the three respondents to the survey? (which I do not remember seeing, by the way)
If you want to see a fantastic suburban library, visit the one in Greenwich, Connecticut. I nearly cried when I saw it.
If they are going to do a major renovation, they should also attempt to include in their survey the residents of the town who do not currently use the library. I’ll drop off and pick up neighbors there, but for myself I find the parking on Saturdays to be difficult.
We are a regional library. I know people from Hillsdale who joined Graydon – they love it. They also visit the library and eat in town.
Isn’t this what people want? More folks come to town and find that our services are open to all. Shop, eat, swim and use the parks.
Maybe some visitors will buy a condo or rent one of the new apartments.
Is the Library’s mission ESL? They offer a number of classes and there are tutors.
Maybe this is a function of the school system or an agency of the county.
“We are a regional library” Well then let the County pay for it.
My kids only use the library to meet tutors, who charge a big fee and pay some of it to the library in order to “rent the space”.
Seriously cannot understand why our beautiful library needs an upgrade. Perhaps it needs a “utilization review” by someone who is impartial.