South Plainfield Public Library
2484 Plainfield Avenue
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
www.southplainfield.lib.nj.us
(908) 754-7885 

SOUTH PLAINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY

CAPITAL PLAN & HISTORY

MAY 2011

Created: May 2011
Approved: Board of Trustees, May 26, 2011

Contents

2011 CAPITAL PLAN AND LIBRARY HISTORY

•	Background: Borough & Library

•	1990 Building Project Recommendations by Grimm & McPherson

•	Library Security

•	Other building recommendations

•	Library Interior – Renovation #1 (1992-1994)

•	Library Building – Renovation #2  (1995-1997)

•	Library Building Plan #1 (Summer 2003)

•	Library Roof (2008)

•	Library Building Plan #2 (Lease) (2008)

•	Library Building Plan #3  (Lease) (2009 2010)

•	Looking for a Solution (JUNE 2010)

•	Finding a Solution (2011)

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY OF THE SOUTH PLAINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY

CAPITAL FINANCES 1985 - 1989

CAPITAL FINANCES 1990 -2010

In 1990 the Board of Trustees of the South Plainfield Public Library hired Ben E. Grimm and Kenneth F. McPherson, Library Consultants, to develop a building program for a new library building to serve the needs of South Plainfield.  Grimm & McPherson presented their report to the Board in December 1990.  Twenty-one years ago the Board of Trustees started the process to get a new, larger library for South Plainfield. Numerous attempts have been made to get an improved facility, but none have succeeded due to a lack of support from the municipal government. In 2011 the current Board of Trustees is still trying to do the find a new location for the library, whether a new building or a leased building.

BACKGROUND: BOROUGH & LIBRARY

In 1990 South Plainfield was a residential-industrial community in northern Middlesex County. The borough comprises an area of approximately 8.2 square miles.  It is bordered on the north by the city of Plainfield, on the east by Edison Township, and on the south and west by the Township of Piscataway. South Plainfield is bisected by the Lehigh Valley Railroad and by Interstate 287. South Plainfield’s residential population was concentrated in the northern portion of the borough.  The borough was approximately 85% developed in 1990.  The Library and the Borough Hall are adjacent to each other on Plainfield Avenue.

The 1990 Grimm & McPherson report characterized South Plainfield as “a relatively stable, mature community with a good sense of its own identity – suburban in character, solidly middle-class, and relatively homogeneous in terms of socio-economic status.”  The population was predominately middle-aged with a relatively low, but increasing number of senior citizens.  Racially, the borough was predominately white. (U.S. Census 1980)  Grimm & McPherson believed “that the nature of the residents and essential character of the borough will not substantially change as the borough continues to develop toward ultimate ‘build out.”

The current South Plainfield Public Library was constructed in 1964 and opened to the public in 1965. The building is a one story masonry and steel structure. It was built to accommodate 43,000 volumes with a seating capacity of 95. The building consists of a main level and partial mezzanine with a total floor area of 6,330 square feet. At the time of the library dedication in 1965, the building was substandard in size by slightly more than half (Grimm & McPherson). In 1990 Grimm & McPherson reported that “all aspects of the library’s operation have far outgrown its physical quarters.  Particularly have the office and technical services workspaces overflowed their inadequately planned original areas. The cramping size and clutter of the building inhibit the library’s ability to function efficiently and to provide full, contemporary library services to its constituents.”  Total circulation of library materials in 1989 was 60,000 continuing a lengthy downward trend. Over the same period, the average for NJ libraries in South Plainfield’s service population group (20,000-34,000) was a circulation gain of 10%.  “It seems evident that conditions in the library over recent years have adversely affected its use. (Grimm & McPherson) 

The conclusions drawn in the Grimm & McPherson report were that the South Plainfield Public Library was an established municipal library with below-average but adequate funding and lacked the physical facilities to fulfill the needs of its community. “The use of the library seems significantly below average. Overall it would appear to be a library gone out of focus: its problems are reflected in the cramping and clutter of the building, the rather dismaying ambience of the interior, and the lack of unified mission, or purpose, displayed among the Board, Administration and Staff. These factors all have an adverse effect on operations and on the utilization of the library by its community.”

Building Program Recommendations for South Plainfield Public Library by Grimm & McPherson (1990)

The population figure chosen for South Plainfield for library planning purposed was 25,000. Minimum space recommended for a new building is 15,745 square feet. The new library needs additional space for all collections as well as the automation of certain library activities: circulation, card catalogue, acquisitions, cataloging, interlibrary loan, etc. It was recommended that there should be a young adult area in the library.  Special provisions should be made for quiet reading and study area.  Programming activities, including classes, story hours, handicrafts, and film and video showings will be important elements of the library’s service to adults and children.  Most of these larger group activities  will utilize a separate meeting room, but planning should include provision for group activity within the children’s area itself, either in the form of multi-use space or a separate story hour/activities room or both.

The new South Plainfield Public Library building should be readily identifiable from the street and should offer a compelling invitation to enter, read, look, listen and learn.  Esthetically, any new building should blend pleasingly with the landscape, and it should be easily integrated with proposed future structures. At the same time, it should make its own statement architecturally.  The most effective use must be made of library space provided in the new building.  Flexibility is essential to the layout.  Consideration and care must be given to the interior plan to allow ease of use and access by the handicapped and elderly. As many public services as possible should be located on a single level to minimize the need for vertical transport.  There should be access to any meeting rooms directly from the outside as well as from inside the building. Meeting rooms should be so planned that they may be used both when the library is open or closed for regular service.
Library Security: A heat or smoke alarm system should be provided.  Consideration should be given to the installation of an “intrusion” system to detect unauthorized entry of the building when it is closed to the public.  An emergency police alarm should also be considered.  A book security or detection system should be incorporated into the planning of the entrance as well as the circulation desk. (Grimm & McPherson)

Other building recommendations: There should be public parking for 35-40 cars and staff parking for 6-8 cars should be provided.  An in-wall book return slot should be located near the main doors.  An exterior sign giving the name of the library should be provided for and approved by the Library. A staff unisex toilet and washroom facility should be provided.  Also for staff, a room with lounge furniture and dining table are required for staff use.  A complete but compact kitchen should be provided.  The kitchen may also be used to service the Meeting Room. (Grimm & McPherson)

South Plainfield Public Library Interior Renovation #1 (1992-1994)

In 1992 the Library Board of Trustees began plans to renovate the children’s room and the technical services/staff room in the library.  The first goal of this renovation was to make the children’s room more inviting with painting, carpeting, and shades, rearranging the shelving and creating a theme for the room. The second goal was to make a clean, well organized work area for the technical services staff and an area for library employees to take their breaks and eat lunch/dinner in the same room.  The room needed painting, carpet, blinds and furniture. Globus Design Associates was hired to do the renovation at a cost of approximately $60,000, paid from the library’s savings. The project was started in July 1992 and ended in March 1994.

South Plainfield Public Library Building - Renovation #2 (1995-1997)

With increased usage of the library and the advent of computer technology in libraries, the South Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees began planning for another building renovation. In 1990 the library circulated 60,000 items.  In 1994 the circulation had jumped to 110,000 items.  Proposals were solicited from architects.  The firm of Buell, Kratzer and Powell was selected; Joe Powell was the architect for the project. This time the focus of the building renovation was on the main reading area of the library, sitting area, staff offices, and the HVAC system. Nothing was done to the library’s main book collection area since it is located on a two-story, prefabricated mezzanine. There is a lack of ventilation under the mezzanine making it warmer than other areas. The goals were to improve the visual impact of the library in the hopes that more people would use the library. To keep up with technology, the library needed a computer automation system.  It also needed a more efficient layout since space was limited. 

No plans for expansion of the building could be agreed upon.  The library is located in a floodway and flood hazard area so no building out of the footprint of the library was feasible.  Putting a full second floor on the building could not be done since the current floor was not constructed to hold the load of a second floor.  The basic impression of the main part of the library was cluttered and without consistency in the style, type, and color of the existing furniture. The space was inefficiently used.  There was poor lighting and signage.  The end goal was to have a main area that was clean, bright, cohesive, and attractive. 

The library did not meet with ADA guidelines. Bathrooms needed to be replaced to meet ADA standards. There were not enough toilets as determined by building use and square footage formulas as required by current building and plumbing codes. The HVAC system was barely operable and needed to be replaced and moved to the roof to free up space previously used as a utility room.  Removing an inoperable fireplace would add additional space for the library’s collections. The automatic doors in the entry vestibule open and close very slowly to allow a wheelchair to enter the space without the doors closing on it.  This creates very cold conditions in the winter at the circulation desk, and in the summer considerable air conditioned air is lost, a waste of energy.  Buell, Kratzer and Powell’s opinion of the library was that “it was overcrowded, noisy, unfriendly and environmentally unsatisfactory.” Their job was to find a method in which to maximize the available space within the walls of the existing building.

The project was not without controversy.  The library Board wanted to close the library for 3 months and get the construction done quickly.  The Mayor of South Plainfield said the Library could not be closed during construction.  It was finally decided that the contractor would work on the building between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The library would be open from 3-9 Monday through Friday and 1-5 on Sunday.  Construction began in March of 1997 and was finished in November 1997.  The project cost – architect, contractor, and furniture was approximately $400,000, paid from the library’s savings.  The borough of South Plainfield gave the library $80,000 toward the ADA bathrooms and HVAC system for their library building. This was the only capital expense money the library has ever been given by the borough of South Plainfield.

This renovation provided an area for five new public access computers.  The reference and circulation desks were combined into one centralized information and circulation location. A new AV section was created to contain new fiction and nonfiction books, large print books, videos, books on cassette and music CDs. The main reading area of the library remained essentially the same except for new furniture and carpet. A new periodical area was created with comfortable seating. A fire suppression system was NOT installed. Emergency lighting was installed. New offices were created for the library director and account clerk.  The account clerk’s office doubles as the server room for the library automation system.  New carpet and signage were installed.  The rooms were painted. Staff lockers were installed for safekeeping of employee personal items.

South Plainfield Public Library Building Plan #1 (Summer 2003)

The Mayor of South Plainfield in 2003, Daniel Gallagher, came to the library Board and said he was going to build a new library up the street from the current library. He talked about the Library Construction Bond Grant in New Jersey.  He failed to realize that the program was ending and it was too late for South Plainfield to take advantage of it unless there would be another grant.

The borough owned one lot and purchased the house on the adjoining lot and demolished it up the street from the current library and municipal building.  In September 2004, the Library Board of Trustees solicited proposals from architectural firms to prepare a design for the new library building.  The Board of Trustees awarded the contract to Nadasky Kopelson.  Robert Almodovar was the architect for the project. The Library had two specific goals: 

	1. Develop a library program plan for the Library’s internal organization 		and
	2.  Prepare preliminary design documents for the development of a new 	library. This part of the project ($45,000) was paid for by the library from 	savings.

A Building Committee was established with the Mayor, Library Board President, Mayor’s Alternate to the Library Board, three Trustees, Library Director and Project Engineer.  They worked together for two years to bring the project to the Bid Phase. 

The Library’s priorities for a new building were:

•	Larger parking area
•	Meeting room
•	Children’s craft room
•	Quiet study rooms
•	Computer training/meeting room
•	Young Adult room
•	Larger children’s room
•	Drive up window for pick-up of library materials
•	Staff room with bathroom
•	MORE SPACE for everything

The building size was to be 15,000 square feet, the minimum size for a community of 22,000 people. The borough anticipated the cost of the new building to be $4.5 million.  A survey asking what people would like to see in the new library was done. The Library Board held public forums so the residents could express their opinions and ask questions about the plans for the library building.   A survey asking what people would like to see in the new library was done. Residents attended Board of Trustee meetings to find out what was happening as the project moved ahead. There were issues with the location, traffic, parking, size, two floors, interior layout and exterior design. 

The project was finally ready to go out to bid in December 2007. The South Plainfield Council was about to move ahead in January 2008 and advertise for bids on the new library with prepared drawings, following about four years of planning.  At that time, newly elected 4-2 Republican majority on the council called for the revival of “Democracy Day”.  The longer “Democracy Week” was a new version of “Democracy Day”, a nonbinding referendum vote on public expenditures of more than $1 million. In May of 2008, the Mayor and Council decided to hold “Democracy Week” to allow residents to vote on whether they wanted a new library or not. The library purchased signs saying VOTE YES for the Library and put them around town.  An unknown group purchased signs that said VOTE NO and did the same. The majority of the 1,148 residents who voted in “Democracy Week” said in a 669 to 479 vote that they were against plans to spend $4.5 million for a new library as it was proposed. The 1,148 voters represented less than 10% of the registered voters in the borough. The proposed impact on taxpayers would have been $30 per year. Some of the people who voted NO and wrote in the “Comments” section of the ballot that they were not against a new library but had issues with the location or parking, etc.

Even though the “Democracy Week” votes were nonbinding, the Mayor and Council would not bond for the new library project. They had already spent at least $783,000 on library plans which including $353,000 spent to buy the three-quarter acre property next to the lot they already owned and about $430,000 for engineering and architects’ fees.  $290,000 of that money was loaned by the library to the borough and had to be paid back after the borough talked to their attorney.  The library had a signed an inter-local services agreement with the borough when the library loaned the money. That was the end of New Library Building #1.

LIBRARY ROOF (2008)

The leaking roof on the Library became the next capital project.  The roof was over 20 years old and had been patched a number of times. The issue became money.  The library had given the borough $290,000 toward the new library.  Part of that money - $140,000 - was spent by the borough on architectural fees and other pre-building expenses.  The other $150,000, which was to be used for the 5% down payment on the bonds for the new library, was not spent and the borough was now required to return it to the library. The borough owns the library building but the library has historically financed its own repairs.  The Board of Trustees voted to repair the roof with the library funds the borough still owed the Library if the borough would help in the planning, engineering and bidding phases. The roof cost $112,000.25. After the roof was replaced, the borough returned $27,999.75 from the original $140,000 to the library in May 2010.

South Plainfield Public Library - NEW BUILDING #2 (LEASED SPACE)

The South Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees was determined to try and find a way to get a larger library building.  The discussion of leasing began because of the down-turn in the economy in 2008 and all the empty buildings in the area. The Library Board of Trustees decided to look around South Plainfield for buildings that were for rent and had between 15,000 to 20,000 square feet.  A large enough building for rent was found in a shopping center on Oak Tree Road. It had been a small Sears store.  The leasing agent was contacted and agreed to show the building to a committee of the Board.  The building had a wide open floor plan with two offices. Trustees and library staff visited the building and thought it was a very good location with a grocery store, McDonalds, bank and other businesses in the same shopping area.  However, the leasing agent said the rent would be approximately $500,000 a year ($25.00 per square foot).  That was out of the question as it would have been half of the library’s operating budget. The leasing agent would not negotiate on the rent. (The building is still empty in 2011.) 

South Plainfield Public Library – NEW BUILDING #3 (LEASED SPACE)

The Board continued looking for other buildings to rent. They found a building at 901 Montrose Avenue with an owner who was willing to negotiate a lease that the library could afford to pay from its operating budget. The building was 14,500 square feet with the possibility of expansion.  The building is 1.8 miles from the current library on Plainfield Avenue. Joseph P. DeAndrea Jr. drew up a floor plan that provided the much-needed meeting room, craft room for children, young adult room, and quiet study rooms.  It had more bathrooms, a staff room, and storage spaces – all on one floor. It also had a large parking lot. There was opposition to the move by the Mayor, Council, and some residents.
The building is in a neighborhood of homes, office parks and light industry. Residents felt the library should be centrally located in town but could suggest no building or space in the center of town that was big enough for a library.  Others felt it was too far to drive and children could not walk there after school. 

In March, 2010, the library Board voted 7-1 to move the library to Montrose Avenue and sign a 10 year lease with a 10 year option to renewal.  However, the plans for the Montrose Avenue site had to be approved by the South Plainfield Board of Adjustment (Zoning Board) and required a use variance.  The Mayor said at a Council meeting that he would make sure the Zoning Board did not approve the library’s move. 

The Zoning Board did not approve the move and denied the application for a use variance which would have permitted the library to lease the building. They felt it was too dangerous to have the library in a light industrial area. This move by the library would have cost the taxpayers of South Plainfield no additional taxes – one of the biggest complaints when the library was going to build and bond for a building.  The Board of Trustees voted not to appeal the decision by the Zoning Board. An appeal would have taken time and library money. They felt such an appeal would be a disservice to the taxpayers and the Library.

LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION (JUNE 2010)

The Board remains totally committed to improving and enlarging the Library. In 2010, Mayor Charles Butrico talked to the Library Board about forming a committee to explore all options for a new, larger library building.  The Mayor solicited participants from the community and appointed Council members to the committee.  The Library Board President and Treasurer represented the Library. The committee met a number of times and attended the Board of Trustees meeting in November 2010 to present the findings of the committee.  A feasibility study for the expansion of the South Plainfield Public Library was prepared by Cornerstone Architectural Group of South Plainfield at the request of the municipality.

The Mayor’s Committee came up with two recommendations:

1.	Project Description Scenario “A” New Building – a new 18,000 square foot one story Library with an option for a 5,000 square foot second floor.
2.	Project Description Scenario “B” Addition - an 11,000 square foot one story addition to the existing 6,330 square foot building with an option for a 5,000 square foot second floor. In this scenario, the Library will remain operational during construction.

The current library site is located in the “Flood Fringe” portion of a Flood Hazard Area with a Base Flood Elevation of 66.50 feet.  The finished floor elevation of the addition of the new building must be a minimum 67.50 feet, approximately 2.5 feet above the current library floor elevation of 65.03 feet. The estimated cost for Scenario “A” is $4.4 million, while the estimated cost for Scenario “B” is $4.26 million.

The Library Board of Trustees and the Mayor’s Committee prefer Project “A” – a new building on the current library site.  Issues still to be resolved are where to move the library during the building project, who will pay for what, will the Council bond for construction, and how much will they bond for.

After the 2010 November elections the political party in the majority in South Plainfield and the Mayor changed.

In February 2011, the Library Board and the current administration commenced negotiations concerning the construction of a new library.  It became clear that the administration was looking for the Library to bear the majority of the cost of the building, including architectural fees.

In March of 2011, the Borough Council presented the 2011 municipal budget which included a $750,000 “contribution” from the library as anticipated revenue.  However, neither the Library Board of Trustees nor Library Director was aware of the “contribution.” The Library Director was contacted by the New Jersey State Library and told that the Chief Financial Officer of South Plainfield had written to the NJ State Library telling them that they wanted the money from the library surplus.

In anticipation of the enactment of Chapter 83, P.L.2010, the Board of Trustees in July 2010 designated the funds in the New Jersey Cash Management Fund and the Plant Fund as the Capital Reserve Fund.  This action was taken, not only to comply with the statute, which became effective on October 27, 2010, but also to formalize what had been the Board’s intent for 20 years regarding the purpose for which those funds were accumulated.

If the South Plainfield Public Library is required to give the borough of South Plainfield $750,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund, there will never be a new, larger library in South Plainfield.  The Library’s capital reserve has been accumulated over twenty years.  The main goal for the savings has always been to get a larger library. Library purchases have always been made with the intention of being able to move the items to a new building. Purchases of furniture and technology have been postponed when plans were in the works to build or move to a larger building. Some building repairs, such as replacing the water fountain, have not been.  A new building will never happen without the Library’s capital reserve funds. The municipal government expects the Library to pay for almost everything.

FINDING A SOLUTION - 2011

A.	NEW BUILDING

As previously indicated, the preferred scenario for a new building is the demolition of the current facility, temporarily relocating the Library and building a new facility on the site of the current building. A key component of this is to find a place where the Library can continue operating during the, estimated, two years of construction.

While initial efforts were unsuccessful, the Library Board recently became aware of approximately 4, 400 sq. ft. of space in the downtown area which may meet its needs. It is anticipated the rental for this temporary space would be approximately $20.00/sq. ft. (including CAM charges).  The rental, i.e. $88,000.00 a year would be in addition to all the other costs the Borough expects the Library Board to bear in relation to the construction of a new building.

A site visit will be scheduled to determine if this site can meet the Library’s temporary needs.

B.	LONG TERM LEASE

 The residents of the Borough of South Plainfield have made it clear that they want any new library to be centrally located.  This was one of the major reasons why the prior long-term lease was rejected by the Zoning Board. 

At a recent meeting with members of the Council, the Library Board has become aware of the potential availability of up to 14,000 sq. ft. of space located in the downtown area, which could potentially, house a new library under a long-term lease, for which a zoning variance would not be required. Rental for a long-term lease would be in the approximate amount of $14 -$18.00 sq. ft. or $252,000 per year.  This does not include the substantial tenant “fit-out” costs, which the Library Board would have to bear.  A site visit with the Board President and Library Director is to be scheduled shortly. While the construction of a new building would be the Board’s first choice, a long-term lease appears to be the most promising possibility.  The Board will actively pursue this option and is hopeful that a long-term lease can be negotiated and finalized in the very near future.

The funds which this Library Board has designated as its “Capital Reserve Funds” would be utilized for these purposes. The transfer of $750,000 to the Borough would severely impact the ability of the Library to move forward.

HISTORY OF SOUTH PLAINFIELD PUBLC LIBRARY

This history of the South Plainfield Public Library was written by Library Director Mrs. Lillian Steeves.  Mrs. Steeves retired January 31, 1991. Many of the problems she describes are still present today.

The South Plainfield Free Public Library was established during the Depression.  Its first home was an empty store at Plainfield and Lakeview Avenues, rented, in 1932, by Mr. Irving Babes, a councilman.  The rent was paid by the Governing Body.  Mr. Babes and interested residents, assisted by the WPA, volunteered their time to provide staffing.  Books were donated by Camp Kilmer, a State Library allotment, and South Plainfield residents.

The Library continued as a “store library” until 1941, when with the assistance of the State Library, proceedings were initiated for incorporation.  The Board of Education renovated and made available a large room in the basement of Grant School for the Library’s next home.  Incorporation papers were signed December 15, 1941, and the Library was formally dedicated on April 17, 1942.

Support for the Library came from fines from overdue books and dues from memberships which entitled a resident to voting privileges.  After the WPA ceased to exist, the Board of Trustees petitioned and received from the Mayor and Council an appropriation to pay a Librarian’s salary.  In 1945, the Library’s first director, Mrs. Jane Boettger, was appointed.  Under her leadership, the Library grew steadily and the appropriation from the Council was gradually increased until the Library was maintained solely by Borough funds.

As the population increased, use of the Library continued to increase, and book circulation rose from 2,591 to 20,000 in 1947 when Miss Catherine Pendola was appointed Librarian.

It was now evident that only a modern, efficient building could provide the key to improved services.  For the next eight years, Trustees, the Librarian, Friends of the Library, and borough organizations, worked against seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve this goal.  On March 14, 1965, the building known as the South Plainfield Memorial Library was dedicated and opened to the public.  The Library features: a sunken reading area with a fireplace for Young Adults, a Children’s Room, an area for periodicals, exhibit areas, a copy machine, a microfilm reader, a limited collection of art reproductions, a moving picture screen, and a projector.

A new Director, Mrs. Lillian Steeves, was appointed in 1967.  Under her directorship, the staff successfully achieved its goal – a library which is a cultural community center where in addition to books and periodicals, lectures, concerts, story hours, film programs, craft workshops, drama workshops, and pre-school programs are offered to the community.  A piano, a stereo, records, filmstrips and projector, and microfilm were added.  All areas of the collection were updated and augmented.

By 1970, it became evident that the building was no longer adequate to house the ever increasing collection.  The Board of Trustees worked diligently to expand the stack area.  In 1974, the mezzanine deck was completed.  Eight years later, the Library again faced critical space limitations.  In 1979, the Board of Trustees recognized that in a few years the collection would outgrow the present facility.  An expansion committee was formed to plan for an addition to the existing building.

Library use has increased to the point that the many cultural and informational programs offered to the community had to be limited due to the lack of a Community Room.  In the past, these programs had been held in the main Reading Room or the Children’s Room (in fact, the Board of Trustees met in the Children’s Room for many years).  Currently, this is not feasible, as patrons are denied the use of these areas while programs are in progress.  In 1974, the Library initiated a Cultural Enrichment Program which was very successful.  This program which offered to the community programs such as opera, ballet, country music with Dottie West, and comedy with Dick Van Dyke, was dropped when it became too costly to present it in another facility and because the Library had no Community Room to hold them.

Local community groups often requested use of the building for their meetings or programs – there is no facility available for them at a reasonable cost.  The Library granted use of the building on nights it was closed.  However, the Library became so busy that staff members could not be spared to cover the evenings the clubs used the building.

Summer Reading Clubs and programs are of necessity held in the Main Reading Room as the Children’s Room can only accommodate 25-30 children. Attendance at the summer programs often is 100 or better.  Again, patrons wishing to use the collection are denied, especially on the days movies are being shown.

The exhibit area is very small, and exhibits, therefore must be limited to those that space will accommodate.

The Reference collection has grown to such an extent that it is split.  The Readers Guide and the Indices are in one part of the library, maps in another, telephone books in another – all across the room from the Reference Collection and the Reference Librarian.  Limited space prevents the growth of the collection desired by the staff and essential to the community.  While excellent reference service is provided, adequate space would greatly aid the staff to better it.

Periodicals are stored in one area, microfilm in another, the reader-printer in another – using staff time in going from one area to another for a reference question.  The microfilm cabinets are against the Reference stacks, cutting the seating area.  There is no room for another cabinet and many periodicals on microfilm are stored in a utility area.

The Children’s Collection cannot be augmented as desired for lack of space. Exhibit area is practically non-existent in the Children’s Room and many exhibits appropriate for the Children’s Room must be hung in the exhibit area for the Main Reading Room.

The Library has no technical processing area.  The Board’s former meeting room was converted to a technical processing area.  It doubles as a staff lounge and storage area.

The bookkeeper has no office.  Her work area is between the Director’s office and the Circulation Desk.  Her records are scattered.

The building program would accomplish the following:

1. A large reference room which has an AV room, a periodical area and centralization of all Reference materials

2. The establishment of a Business Reference Library

3.	A Children’s Room double in size of the present Children’s Room 

4.	Bookkeeper’s office

5.	A technical processing area 

6.	Public restrooms – the staff and the public use the same rest rooms which have no provision for the handicapped

7.	A Community Room which would:

•	offer local groups a place to meet and hold functions

•	Enable the library to reinstate its cultural enrichment program and offer concerts, lectures, workshops, and craft programs to the community

•	Enable the adult and summer reading programs to proceed without denying patrons use of the collection and services

•	Make story hours more enjoyable and not at the expense of the patrons

8.	A gallery for expanded exhibits

9.	A custodian’s office where all supplies could be kept in one place

10.	 Adequate shelving for the existing collection, without considering future acquisitions

11.	A/C and heating unit, inadequate at the beginning and must be replaced.

South Plainfield Free Public Library

Comparative Schedule of Selected Accounts

December 31

                                   1989              1988              1987             1986             1985

Operating Cash:     $128,563.00    $100,883.00    $70,126.00    $50,849.29    $42,668.17

Building Fund 	        $ 83,343.00     $ 71,295.00    $ 59,357.00    $53,263.60    $46,728.67
Cash                   __________________________________________________________

Total Cash                $211,906.00    $172,178.00    $129,483.00    $104,112.89   $89,396.84

Operating Fund          $88,250.00      $60,198.00     $21,436.00       $18,857.00     $13,636.25    
Balance

Building Fund             $83,343.00      $71,565.00     $59,357.00        $53,264.00     $46,728.67
Balance

Revenues:

   State Aid	     $20,521.00       $17,739.00    $15,391.00        $15,391.00     $15,391.00
   Municipal
 Appropriation        $406,543.00     $353,516.00    $307,405.00      $267,309.00   $230,002.00
 Interest Income     $5,804.00        $2,716.00        $1,800.00         $1,794.00       $1,994.00
 Miscellaneous        $5,760.00         $5,437.00       $4,296.00         $4,331.00       $3,951.00

Expenditures:        
                         
   Salaries               $231,017.00     $193,398.00     $168,130.00     $165,912.00    $137,857.00
   Books                   $60,017.00        $48,958.00      $58,248.00       $46,579.00     $44,497.00
   Total Operating   _______________________________________________________________
   Expenditures        $410,577.00     $340,646.00     $326,312.00      $283,605.00    $251,041.90

   Total Building        $   0.00              $0.00              $   0.00              $ 0.00            $0.00
   Fund Expenditures:  

Excess Revenues       
Over Expenditures:

   Operating Fund      $28,051.00      $38,762.00      $2,580.00           $5,221.00       $296.00
   Building Fund         $11,778.00      $12,208.00      $6,094.00           $6,535.00       $7,016.00

The South Plainfield Public Library has had “capital funds” for projects as far back as can be documented.  Money was saved for projects and money was spent on a variety of projects and building renovations.  Since 1991, the major capital projects were:

•	Renovation in Children’s Room and Tech Services/Staff Room from 1992-1994
•	Renovation of the main room of the Library, bathrooms, HVAC system, offices, circulation, periodical area from 1995- 1997
•	Purchase and installation of Integrated Library System (Dynix) from 1995 – 1998
•	2003 -2008 The Library hired architect and planned for a new 15,000 square foot building up Plainfield Avenue from the current Library. There was a committee of Library Trustees, Library Director and Council members working together on the plans for the new library.  It was expected by the municipal government that the Library would pay for a majority of the expenses for the new building other than construction. During this time period, the Library saved money to pay for these expenses.  When the plans were ready to go out to bid, the municipal government would not bond for the new building.  The Library was left with a large surplus of funds.
•	2008 Discussion about looking for and leasing an empty building began
•	2009 Planning to lease and move the Library to 901 Montrose Avenue.  This plan would have cost the South Plainfield taxpayer nothing and the Library could afford to pay the rent from the Library’s operating budget. This plan was halted by the South Plainfield Board of Adjustment.
•	2009 – 2010 purchased an new ILS (Innovative Interfaces Incorporated)