JULY 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015, 9:35 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Public Library will likely get a makeover in the near future.
Earlier this month, the library’s Board of Trustees discussed potential interior changes to the building and listened to renovation ideas pitched by architects.
Nancy Greene, the library’s director, said there are three major needs for the new library. The first, she said, is a more efficient use of the floor space.
“A lot of the space is used by book stacks, and we want to condense the stacks and turn the space where they are into open public space,” she said. “We don’t have enough tables for people to study.”
The added floor space will allow the library to expand its children’s and teen sections, Greene said, noting that the library “doesn’t have a great facility for them” in the existing space. Additional space will also open the opportunity to create more meeting rooms.
“People come in to meet, and the library doesn’t have enough to offer them,” she said.
The library’s second need is improved natural light.
“Nowadays, people don’t come take out a book and go home. They stay in the library,” Greene said, explaining the need for “welcoming” light.
Third, she said the board needs “to identify the cost once they identify the architect,” giving them an estimate of how much the whole project will cost.
Once they find out which plan is best for the community, the board can request municipal funding from the council.
“the board can request municipal funding from the council.” More of the taxpayers money to payback for their support in the last election. 2 of the Amigos have been on the library board. Maybe they should recluse themselves from any vote on funds for the library.
How about this little gem in the article.” A couple of library board trustees said they want to move ahead with the original plan, which called only for the renovation of the library, and add in the construction of a performing arts center next to the library and village hall.” Really take more parkland. Who is going to pay for this? Who is going to maintain it? Who is going to pay for the heating,cooling and lights. The best is that Ms Green has complained to the council on a number of occasions that there is no parking now for the library. Whats next a parking deck for the library.
SPEND SPEND SPEND just because they were promised these thing by the Mayor during his re-election campaign.
Do any of these names look familiar?
Library Board of Trustees
John Johansen
President
Christine Driscoll
Vice-President
Arlene Sarappo
Secretary
Gail Campbell
Treasurer
Jean Cleary
Janis Fuhrman
John Saraceno
Paul Aronsohn
Mayor
Albert Pucciarelli
Mayor’s Delegate
Dr. Daniel Fishbein
Superintendent of Schools
Linda Diorio
2 of the 3 Amigos on this list
Board of Directors
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 May. 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.
2011-2012 Meeting Dates:
September 12, 2011
November 7, 2011
January 9, 2012
March 12, 2012
May 14, 2012 (Annual Meeting)
2011 – 2012 Directors
Melanie Stern-Rarich , President
Jacques Harlow
Thomas Dougherty, Vice-President/Sec.
Gwenn Habernickel Hauck ************
Kathleen M. Entwistle, Treasurer
Teresa Hutchins
Marie Bicks
Jeffrey Karpf
Catherine Donnelly
Ellen Quinn
Shoshana Feiner
Stephen Petrick
Carla Fels Joan Popkin
Janet Fricke
Anne Ramsey
Paul Goldberg
Rahul Sharma
John Saraceno, Library Bd. of Trustees Representative
Pegge Bronner, Friends of the Library Representative
Nancy K. Greene, Library Director
Associate Directors
Harlen Coben
Michele Lenhard
Elia Desruisseaux
Deborah Primiano
Glenn F. Jorgensen, Founding President Albert Pucciarelli ***********
William J. Meakem Fred Strype
Barbara Moreira Phyllis Heilborn
Josh Grunat Dan Cummings
The library does not need another renovation and I do not wish to pay for it. As for constructing another building there, when we can’t park to return a book because all the spaces are occupied by sports people despite signs telling them not to–the “park at your own risk” signs on the fence are unconscionable–FORGET IT. Instead, knock down the patio and restore the driveway between the buildings. The current one is wasting endless amounts of gas and time.
I use the library regularly. It is simply spectacular, better than any other library I’ve ever visited. Why on earth does it need to be renovated?
I think there is too much meeting going on in the library. Between the professional tutors and the self-employed, the library has become low cost office space. A little meeting space is fine but the library should not be a social club or a provider of commercial office space.
The complimentary wifi, A/C, free parking, and clean bathrooms make it attractive to the office space crowd.
Lets have a $500k study and a non-binding public referendum….
.
…then move forward with a library parking garage and a performing arts center.
They do not need a renovation. They want a renovation. Please do not ask me for money, this is not a charity. The public space is used by a variety of organizations.
What does the library have to do with a performing arts center? Stick to electronic books.
It is not the place of anyone from the library to propose a performing arts center. This is a town that still can’t figure out parking.
I have same complaint I did about the HS library renovation–why does every library renovation include getting rid of books and shelf space??? The purpose of a library should still primarily be to have a collection of books. Lots of stuff is available online but books should still be the heart of a library for both research and for fiction.
4:01 – That pretty much says it all – hilarious!
Lets fix the horrrible potholes and sinking sewer plate covers that beat the hell out if our autos. A major hidden tax esp after a brutal road damaging winter. Start with an extra. 500 k seems like a popular local ecpenditure , but needs no study
4:54 – They will not ask you for money. They will simply take it from you. Your taxes will increase and you will pay for this just as you will pay for the parking garage.
Waiting for Mr. Halaby to comment. It should be good.
When was the library put in charge of entertainment?
The 3 amigos provide the entertainment the library just collect the cash.
I do not live in this town but work here. I used to be able to use my towns library card in the Ridgewood library. They are no longer participating in that practice. I used the library a lot more then and I think it is one of the nicer ones. I can’t understand for the life of me why it needs renovation. But I will say, the parking situation there is really not good. Many a time EVERY spot was taken. I was told it was for certain groups using the library that day.