Paramus Library officials seek funds to expand facility

Paramus Public Library officials recently asked the Mayor and Council for funds to build a 15,000-square-foot addition to the main library.
photo/scott gilroy
Paramus Public Library officials recently asked the Mayor and Council for funds to build a 15,000-square-foot addition to the main library.

Members of the Paramus Public Library Board of Trustees appeared before the Mayor and Council on May 7 to discuss the need for an expansion of the main building.

Prior to the meeting, the governing body had received a list of the library's needs, according to Betty Ralph, board president.

"Most of you are library users, and you know that space is a real issue for us," Ralph said. "You can come to the library sometimes and there is nowhere to go or to sit."

The Paramus Public Library, which consists of the original structure and an expansion, has about 15,000 square feet of space, according to Ralph. A second facility, the Reid Branch, is located on Midland Avenue.

Compared to similar-sized communities such as Englewood, Bergenfield and Ridgewood, the main Paramus library is limited in size, she said.

"Our space availability is far below that of those communities," Ralph said.

In addition, Ralph noted that Paramus has the highest circulation of any library system in the county. Part of the high numbers come from the library's proximity to Paramus High School, which is across the street, and East Brook Middle School, which is just down Spring Valley Road, and the "tremendous" use of library services by students.

The proposed expansion would double the amount of space, adding an additional 15,000 square feet over two stories, according to Ralph. The addition would expand out into the existing parking lot, as a second floor cannot be added to the existing building due to lack of weight in the existing structure.

Once the expansion is completed, the existing library can be renovated without disrupting service by temporarily moving the existing library over to the new space, according to Ralph.

"We don't feel this is a Taj Mahal of a library," Ralph said. "We'll be able to do it by building the addition without disrupting current library service, and then renovate the existing building by moving into that space."

The parking lot will be reconfigured under the plan, bringing the total number of spaces from 86 to 145, according to library director Len LoPinto.

The expansion and renovation will also cover maintenance issues with the library, according to LoPinto, and focus on creating additional meeting spaces and classrooms. The building currently

hosts 14 story times and 12 English-as-a-Second-Language classes a week, among other programs, and has very limited space to offer other community organizations that could use the facilities.

"This will make a great difference to the community, programs that we can do for all ages, and community meetings," LoPinto said.

Even the library's shelving is in need of improvement, according to LoPinto. Installed in the 1980s, the shelving was not designed for storing DVDs, audio books, CDs or other modern media. The shelving in the children's room was never the proper type for children's books and materials.

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera agreed that the Paramus Public Library is in need of work.

"The library has a lot of issues, the building," LaBarbiera said. "We've been putting Band-Aid after Band-Aid on for several years."

The library board presented plans several years ago, which would have involved knocking down and completely rebuilding the library, according to LaBarbiera. He noted the current plan fits the building's needs with a much lower cost, and commended the team for putting forth a plan that "would address needs, not wants."

"I took a look at the numbers, and it looks like they are very aggressive," LaBarbiera said. "They are something the governing body has to chew on."

He recommended that Councilman Joseph Lagana, the budget committee chairman who was not present at the May 7 council meeting, look over the proposed numbers before any additional action is taken.

E-mail: wassel@northjersey.com

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