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In
today’s increasingly difficult fiscal climate,
municipalities continue to be challenged to do more
with less, to look for creative and innovative ways to
capture potential savings, reduce costs and provide
tax relief. Faced with these issues, including the new
cap levy legislation, Fanwood and our neighbor, Scotch
Plains, have embarked on a daring, forward-thinking
plan to maximize the effective use of funding and to
provide cutting-edge library services to all of our
residents by considering the dissolution of two
independent, long-standing municipal library
operations and merging them in one new joint operation
and facility.
Currently in New Jersey there are over 300 municipally funded public libraries (86
of them serving communities of fewer than 7,500 people
as in Fanwood) but only six joint library systems. If
successful, the merger of library operations in
Fanwood and Scotch Plains would not only be the first
new joint library system in the state in more than 40
years but also the first ever to dissolve two existing
independent operations and merge them by public
referendum.
The
two communities have a good track record of
cooperative shared services, not the least of which is
a long-time shared school district. The Fanwood and
Scotch Plains Libraries have used Interlocal Shared
Services Agreements and $84,638 in SHARE grants since
2005 to:
* Share a common library automation
system and support reciprocal borrowing
* Save money by effectively maximizing
the use of existing funds though cooperative efforts
* Forge a collaborative relationship with
the existing joint school system
* Improve and upgrade both library's
materials, shared policies, programming and staff
development
* Support electronic connectivity and
promote public awareness of joint services
* Expand a joint digitization project of
historical materials now available on the web.
Fanwood Library Director Dan Weiss and Scotch Plains
Library Director Meg Kolaya had the idea for a joint
library a year ago while discussing impending
renovations in their respective buildings. Both were
moving forward independently with some rather
expensive plans to expand, renovate and conform to ADA
requirements. In light of the cost and potential
disturbance to services in both communities, it seemed
prudent to consider a mutually beneficial and
cost-saving solution which took the existing
relationship to the next level. The two library boards
formed a committee to look into the idea. Because of
the cooperative spirit of the two library directors
and the project's bi-partisan support by both Mayors
and both library Boards of Trustees, the project team
was awarded a $149,000 DCA SHARE grant for a
feasibility study.
With
the SHARE funds in hand to support the feasibility
studies that a project of this magnitude and
complexity demanded on a wide variety of issues
associated with the establishment of a joint library,
the project engaged the services of three professional
consultants: a library consultant to assess service
and physical space needs, an architectural consultant
to examine the suitability of potential sites and
develop a broad footprint of space to match the
service needs, and a financial consultant to assess
the potential for fundraising and grants to support
the project. . The results of this study will confirm
whether this project can move successfully forward
towards the implementation phase. In an effort to keep
everyone abreast of the progress, all results are
posted on the web at
www.thejointlibrary.org.
A
key component of the feasibility study is the wide
involvement of the public in focus groups and public
meetings to clearly hear their needs and concerns. The
increased use and support of the two existing
libraries was evident; and while the focus group
sessions, completed in November of 2007, did highlight
a variety of concerns such as location and impact on
individual taxes, clear support was shown for a
proposed consolidated library project in the proper
site. Building one new library to serve the residents
of both towns will achieve economy of scale in
providing high-quality library services for all 30,000
residents without duplication of staffing, materials,
and all fixed costs associated with building and
maintaining two library facilities.
The goal of the Feasibility Study will be to allow the
two Library Boards and the two towns to smartly assess
the best course of action, taking into consideration
not only cost savings but also the potential for more
effective and expanded library services. At all stages
of the study, the public will be kept informed of the
findings and options with the ultimate decision being
determined by voters through a referendum at a general
election. The idea of a cutting edge, destination
library, with opportunities for all citizens of all
ages in both communities, has resonated strongly with
the public and has lifted both municipalities above
normal partisan politics. It is clear that this
project has the potential to be far more than just a
library, but a compelling community focal point for
both towns and a source of local pride as a ‘poster
child’ for shared services. The Joint Library will be
a perfect combination of sharing resources while still
retaining the individuality and history of both
towns. |
