SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Library Board of Trustees met via Zoom on July 16. South Orange Library Trustee Marietta Zacker spoke of neighborhood parties and other fundraisers slowing down a little due to summer. She reported that the board would like to add another member to the Building Advisory Committee. Zacker promised that it’s not a very demanding job, but the member will be able to participate in making important decisions about the building.
She also told the board about a study researching what a library gives back to the community. “For every dollar spent, there are $5 being given back to the community. It's just nice to have something super concrete like that,” she commented. Zacker explained that the library is always reaching out to different people for different reasons in order to increase the use of the library and let everyone know about all of its resources.
She noted that capital campaign will be moving forward after the summer. They continue to meet every other week and plan fundraisers to host once everyone returns from summer vacation. According to Zacker, “We have a master plan of what we want to do over the next few years, and we're preparing for the fall.” She shared that they have many spreadsheets with people who offered to host neighborhood parties, etc.
Library Board President Hildy Karp stated, “We might have to put the elections and the committee chair positions off until September. We do have a vacancy. Dr. Jane Bean-Folkes, who is our representative from the school district, had to step off the board for family health issues.” She asked trustees to think about who could replace Bean-Folkes. Karp added that she’d like “someone who has a more holistic view of the whole district, rather than someone who’s a librarian at just one of the schools [if possible].”
Currently, Jamie Devoogd Saed is Vice President, Brian O’Leary is Treasurer, and Tracy Carroll is Secretary. Karp requested that if anyone is interested in a leadership position or if someone wants to step down, they should let her know. She also plans to reach out to everybody before the September meeting.
Karp mentioned that committee heads can be changed if desired, and the heads should let her know if they want to maintain their position or be relieved of it.
She said she had a conversation with Town Council Member Bill Haskins who offered to give her some ideas about presenting, how the town council members reacted to the library’s presentation at the last budget hearing and how to follow up afterwards.
The Building Advisory Committee approved the bill for asbestos remediation in the 1968 building. According to Library Director Jill Faherty, “The village had to match that money from the state. That's $13.1 million in total, and then the village also bonded for an additional $3 million-ish.” The $3 million will be used to pay the architect, for the asbestos removal and for moving fire hydrants.
Karp reported, “Marietta, Brian, Jill and Laura Epstein, who is the president of the foundation, and I had a meeting with Sheena, Julie and Karen, basically saying we wanted to build an advisory committee and our concerns about not having them [the town council] involved.” Karp continued to say that Julie Duran was out on personal leave, and Sheena Collum was working on commuter issues, but they finally were able to meet.
She said that Collum wants the Library Board to balance what they're asking with what's required of the village and the time required of the village staff. Karp explained that the State Library is contributing to the renovations. Collum also recommended adding members to the Advisory Committee because it was very small. They are developing a memo of understanding that's going to clarify the role of the Building Advisory Committee.
Faherty mentioned that the Walton Avenue library and the library at the Baird Center are both very busy with 33 summer reading programs. Many are taking place at the Baird and some outside. Librarians are teaching residents to use BCCLS (Bringing Communities, Connecting Library Services) and the Libby app to download materials. They are also doing pop ups at places like Spiotta Park, apartment complexes, Gaslight Common and more locations. She’s collecting data on library usage and noted that BCCLS orders have doubled from 150 to 300 items. Data helps determine staffing.
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