file photo by ArtChick
January 27,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, as previously reported on this blog Nancy Green gave a presentation about plans for remodeling the library. Basically, she presented a wish-and-hope plan, which included some architectural drawings. She stated that they will work within the existing footprint……although there was a quick mention of “squaring off” the empty space on the northwest corner of the building along the walkway from Maple Avenue (behind the auditorium). Tiered seating in the auditorium was discussed as a possibility. Nothing will happen without approval from the Council. She says this is all very preliminary, but clearly, a lot of work has gone into this very preliminary presentation.
Sounds like we have heard all this before,“Ms. Greene described the five-year planning process conducted by the Library, which included the development of a Strategic Plan with consultant Alan Gray of Darien Library, and a Building Program with consultant Leslie Burger of Princeton Library.” Do you think that hiring two consultants who gave their presentation at the
Readers seem to fall into “NO LIBRARY EXPANSION. Board has too much money to play with and can’t stop delusions of grandeur. Buy a new outfit for a big opening somewhere else. Stop charging a fortune for DVDs. At least the old ones should be free.” category.
Readers suggest, “If the plea is “We already spent a ton of money, so we have to spend more,” I recommend the following reply by the Council: “Your bad. Cut your losses.” Spending $5 million to create a performing arts center with no parking while reducing the number of books in the library would be as appalling in the current financial situation as Christie’s plan to spend $300 million upgrading the State House while state pension plans, infrastructure, and much more are in desperate need and our credit rating sinks and sinks. NO to library upgrade. Replace the board and stop charging a fortune for DVDs and so on.”
I saw Green’s presentation. Boy do I ever feel relieved. I am a senior citizen and Nancy said it was too confusing and difficult for people to find the stairs to go to second floor from the first floor and that it is too “dim” to read upstairs , so they need to redesign the first floor to put the staircase to the second floor right in your face when you walk into the library. And they need natural sunlight from a newly designed roof.
I thought I was getting Alzheimer’s disease and going blind. because I always get lost when I am trying to find the stairway and it is too dark for me to read.
The auditorium with tiered seats will seat about 250 she said. Now it seats about 150. Justin Timberlake still won’t come and perform.
Relax Nancy. Buy some new furniture if you have too, update the lighting fixtures if you have to, but they’re fine for me and really, Nanc, that auditorium has featured some top-notch talent, especially in classical music. It has a great stage and grand piano and the viewing from the floor is fine. And great acoustics. So be happy, I am.
From a long-time Ridgewood resident and library user.
Oh! please don’t cut the book shelf space. Most important part of the library!!
Pouring so much money into this is the equivalent of a video rental store doing major renovations ten years ago.
Any plan to build a performing arts theater should be killed. Every school has a theatre. Benjamin Franklin one can accommodate 650 people. We don’t need another theatre in the village.
If they continue on this path, I will be the first one to float a perition to kill the bond.
5 million dollars can fix our disgustingly worn out streets. No one cares to do anything about that.
I’d sign the petition right now. One of many mistakes: permanent raked seating. The auditorium is now versatile and is used for many different events that do not require a stage. We don’t have enough meeting space now. It should not be changed. With a small theater setup, the place would go unused most of the time.
Let the flowering trees aside the 911 memorial path in the rear alone..go there in spring blossom week..it’s amazing to stand with these wonderful trees..the birds need a place to sing ..don’t square off the back of the library nested into the hill…creating another Amazon box building..stealing the light from the side Garden.
If they don’t renovate what are they going to do for the next 5 years? Outside of story hour there is nothing happening.
If the library board has fulfilled its mission it can be disbanded.
Continue to Paint and brighten the place up
I think the main reading circulation room should be placed up on second floor in some light and the lowert level should have a combination of
Training ,computer terminals and study stalls and Tudor cove area for a fee to Tudor redesigned area .Childrens section works as it is.We need a book drop or a book Shute on the Kings side of the building.The staff is great let’s support a reasonable plan and spend the money on a more simple renewal.some more comfortable seating and repositioning the copy
Center to a corner for some user privacy and noise abatement .