Every action is accompanied by an opposite and equal reaction. The Bellevue Ave. Branch Library seems to be the first of many public buildings in line to be closed or leased by Montclair Township in 2011, and the reaction is underway to keep its doors open.
About 15 people calling themselves “Save Our Bellevue Avenue Branch Library” met at the Bellevue Library on Monday night, Dec. 20, to begin a coordinated effort to ensure the library continues to remain open for at least one day a week next year. However, there were no secrets made about what it will take to accomplish this.
“The library’s needs are so immense at this point,” said Liz Campbell, the executive director of the Montclair Library Foundation. “A huge amount of money needs to be raised.”
At least $50,000 would be needed to keep the library operational at least one day a week in 2011, said Campbell.
“I came here tonight to let the group know that the Library Foundation is interested in supporting the fundraising efforts of this group…to keep [the Branch] open,” said Campbell.
Inevitably, the recently released report by the Task Force, who was appointed by the Montclair Public Library’s Board of Directors, was discussed at the meeting.
“It would be dreadful, a disgrace and a shame to sell that building,” said John Downing.
Although the group is still in its incipient stages, there were two goals discussed that evening: How and if they could fundraise, and generating awareness.
Any and all possibilities were suggested and debated for how the money best could be raised. These included small neighborhood fundraising events, contacting local businesses or organizations for donations, having a town-wide mailing and setting up a collection box outside supermarkets.
The incredible need for volunteers was also expressed; it was clear that they would need to bear even more responsibility next year, if the library remained open.
“We haven’t really settled yet on how we’re going to proceed,” said Francesca Elms. “I think there is a lot of concern, and…I think people would like to come together.”
“I thought the meeting was outstanding,” said Ilmar Vanderer, who has worked for the Montclair Public Library in the past. “Great group; great energy; great vibe.”
Former mayor Robert Russo also attended the meeting. He reminded everyone that this was not the first time the township has contemplated closing down the library, and reiterated his support of their efforts by offering them a donation.
“I think that it’s an essential part of the fabric of the community,” said Jack Drucker. “If it closed down, a lot of people would be unhappy. And there are a lot of reasons why people might be thinking about moving out of Montclair and this would just be an additional one.”
“We need more library not less library,” said Vanderer, as he looked across the street at Mt. Hebron Middle School where he once attended. “And keeping this part of the library open is not a luxury, but a necessity.”
“I think it’s good to see the enthusiasm,” said Campbell. “I think it can make a difference in preserving library service in this part of town.”
Unfortunately, there were many lingering questions by the end of the meeting. Such as, if the money could be raised, would the Library Board of Directors keep the Bellevue Branch open? And, how much of the entire library budget will be cut in 2011?
If this branch cannot be saved as a library (and hopefully it can be since the children in the surrounding schools use it frequently, as do many community members who are older) the best use from the list of potential options that was posted is probably a cafe or restaurant. This location would also make an excellent Barnes & Noble with cafe.
I doubt that B&N is interested in any brick and mortar expansion at the present time. They were recently looking at possible buyers. E-books and online purchases are having a drastic effect on big box booksellers’ retail stores.
Howard is right. Having just bought boxes of books to give as gifts from Amazon at basically half of the price charged by local bookstores, it is sadly clear that their business model is untenable. I would like nothing more than to support independent bookstores, and I understand that they have overhead issues, but they’re going to have to become more competitive to survive. I mean I would gladly pay a few dollars more to buy locally, but if the price difference is ~$15 for a new hardcover something has to give.
“Save Our Bellevue Avenue Branch Library” should merge with “Save Our Schools.”
SOBABLSOS!!!!
Perhaps add in the group that formed last month, “Save our Life Is Good Store.” Though the newly formed, “Save Our Montclair as the Number One Burger Joint Town In All The Free World- We Have Three Ya Know, Yes Counting Smash, It’s Close Enough,” may fear that it’s thunder being stolen.
To quote Christie: “We are Broke!!” And when broke, you gotta cut back…..
That’s true. Big bookstore chains aren’t really on the uprise. They’re on the way out, which is sad. Still, if it can’t be saved as a library, then a cafe or restaurant would work well. Another idea might be that if The Montclair Times building is still for sale, this might be a good new location, because from what I’ve heard on the street, the Montclair Times is still looking for a local space for walk-ins wishing to drop off content or to place ads, etc, even though they’re moving production to the headquarters. I can see them moving into that space.
How about a Hahne’s Department Store?
Deadeye you are so right. I got a box o’ books this past weekend at Montclair Book Center, and while their new titles are slightly discounted, it irked me to know I could have gotten some of them for probably 40% less on Amazon. However, when one has no idea what to buy, one needs to browse for a few hours in a real store to find the right things. And I don’t mind buying their well kept used books for half price!
I admit though, sometimes I might find something on Amazon that looks interesting, but since I hate wasting money, I will either look for it at B&N or the library first so I can give it a test drive.
Howard, I was also going to suggest Olympic Shop?
Bottom line is that buying books makes no sense when you can get them for free at a library.
A few things:
if everyone chose not to buy books, there’d be no publishing industry, and no books to fill the libraries.
Using physical bookstores to ‘test drive’ a product that you then buy from Amazon guarantees that the physical bookstores won’t survive. It also increases the chances that they won’t be able to sell the copy of the book that you pawed and wrinkled during your test drive.
Libraries went off the fiscal rails when they started offering videos / DVDs, computing stations, software of dubious educational value, cafe spaces, and other expensive diversions from their primary purpose: curating and lending books, and providing spaces to quietly enjoy those books and / or conduct research. The cycle of planned obsolescence in computing technology has to have hit public libraries hard over the last 20 years. Sure, they might have been dismissed as ‘old fashioned’ if they had stuck to their primary and original mission, but I’m betting that most libraries wouldn’t be in quite the financial situation that they’re in now if they had.
Close the Bellevue branch. The main branch on S. Fullerton has light enough foot traffic that it can easily absorb the “overflow”.
Regarding physical book stores: I think e-readers and online sellers in general are going to eventually ring the death-knell for brick and mortar versions of B&N or Borders while the smaller shops like Montclair Book Center will convert more to carrying local vanity press authors and collectibles (first runs, etc).