PASSAIC PUBLIC LIBRARY
PASSAIC PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE NEWS
The purpose of this page is to provide the public with a fair appraisal of the facts based on the information available. In cases where the newspaper article runs juxtaposed to the opinion of the Library Director and Board of Trustees you will see a highlighted box.
Passaic library starts new chapter
Sunday, July 1, 2007 By HEATHER HADDON HERALD NEWS |
PASSAIC -- As of today, residents will have a smaller catalog of books and videos available from the comfort of the city's two public libraries.
But the scaled-down interlibrary loan system reaped at least $20,000 in savings, which translated into extended summer hours and other literary and educational offerings that library officials contend will benefit more patrons.
"These are new programs that we feel are very important," said Alan Bobowski, Passaic library director.
After participating for the past 13 years in the Bergen County Cooperative Library System -- a 73-member network -- Passaic is changing to a county-based loan system of 17 libraries.
The city's new network includes libraries with generous acquisition budgets, such as West Milford and Wayne. But patrons will lose easy access to libraries serving wealthier municipalities in Bergen County, said Robert White, director of the Bergen system.
"The gold coast is retail heaven. It's library heaven, too," he said.
Passaic library officials contend that few residents will notice the change. More noticeable, they say, will be Sunday hours in the summer; new offerings for families; a teen tutoring program and ESL classes in the fall.
"We've handled our money very well," said Craig Miller, Passaic library board chairman.
In 2006, more than 3,000 city residents registered to use the Bergen interlibrary loan system, the largest number among the 73 members, according to online data.
City residents also borrowed more than 37,000 items, ranging from mystery novels to DVDs. But only 4,600 of the goods were actually delivered to the Passaic library for borrowers. Residents picked up about 88 percent of the material themselves, most commonly from the Rutherford library, according White.
Under the new setup, Passaic patrons will still have free access to Bergen assets such as Rutherford's extensive collection of children's books. To do so, they must ask the Passaic library for a green, circular sticker to affix to their library card.
For online loans, patrons will now use PALS Plus of Passaic County. Every county municipality is a member except for Hawthorne, which belongs to the Bergen system.
As a result of the savings, the Passaic Public Library will open on Sundays during the summer -- the first time in about a decade. The library also will offer free family activities such as movies and board games on Sundays. Passaic High School will also provide free parking.
Additionally, the city will hire a part-time library assistant, who will earn $16.50 an hour and cost the city $6,600 annually, Bobowski said.For 10 hours a week, the assistant will coordinate volunteers for a teen program to debut in the fall. He or she will also manage a free ESL classes. Workers from St. Mary's Hospital offered the popular program for years, but it ended after the merger of St. Mary's and PBI hospitals earlier this year, Bobowski said.
David Robertson, Passaic's former library director, thought the new programs sounded beneficial. But as the person responsible for bringing the Bergen system to Passaic in 1994, he felt a bit remiss to see it go.
"It gave us access to many libraries," said Robertson. "And the more library you have access to, the more materials you can get."
What's new?
Here's a look at new happenings at the Passaic Public Library, 195 Gregory Ave.; and Reid Memorial Branch Library, 80 Third St.:
- Extended hours: The libraries are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays thru Thursdays; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays; and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. They are closed on Saturdays.
- Sunday offerings: From 1 to 2:30 p.m., the library offers free family board games, along with popcorn and beverages. At 3 p.m., family movies will be shown and refreshments served. Passaic High School will provide free parking.
- Fall teen program: Beginning in September, volunteers will provide a free two-hour program at the main library for students 13 to 17 years old. The first hour will be devoted to homework help, and the second to recreation. Refreshments will be served.
- ESL Class: The library will continue to offer free ESL classes in the fall.
For more information, call 973-779-0474 .
Sources: The Passaic Public Library