Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "joint library" feasibility study?
The Fanwood Borough Council and Scotch Plains Township Council agreed to investigate this option and secured a $149,000 share grant from DCA to support this study.
The study will explore several areas:
There are six joint libraries in the State of New Jersey serving the following communities: Bedminster and Far Hills, Chatham Borough and Chatham Township, Chester Borough and Chester Township, Matawan and Aberdeen, Morristown and Morris Township, Princeton Borough and Princeton Township.
Each of these communities determined that there was a benefit in combining funding to support a single library because of the economies of scale that could be achieved as well as the improvement in services that could be provided through pooled funding.
Who will make the decision about whether or not the joint library project proceeds?
What would happen to the current library buildings if we build a new joint library?
What happens if we don't build a new library?
We anticipate that there will be state and federal funding in place to support library expansion projects sometime in the not too distant future. We want to make sure that we are positioned either as a joint library or individually to take advantage of these funds.
How can I get involved?
How would this project benefit the entire community?
With the libraries in both communities in need of significant investments to improve their facilities to support current and increased usage, the needs of the disabled, and the delivery of 21st century library service, the Library Boards of Fanwood and Scotch Plains are now exploring the feasibility of forming an independently chartered joint library system to serve both communities.
benefits of establishing a joint library legalities and costs associated with the formation of a joint library locations for building a new library to serve both communities and the reuse of the existing facilities potential for securing private and public support for building a new library
I like the Fanwood and Scotch Plains Libraries. What is the advantage of a joint library versus maintaining two independent libraries?
We envision that a joint library for Fanwood and Scotch Plains will provide better and more efficient services with less duplication of cost and effort to benefit the citizens of both communities. A joint library will allow us to extend hours, enlarge our collections, offer more programs for all ages, and achieve cost savings to the taxpayer by creating efficiencies of scale in terms of physical plant operations and maintenance, purchasing and back-room functions that are impossible to achieve on our own. We believe this project will also be a model for other communities to emulate in seeking to respond to the call for effective fiscal management by all levels of government.
It is our intention to gather information from both communities about what they want and need in a new library. Our project team consists of a library consultant, architects, and fundraisers who will be meeting frequently with community members over the next few months to learn more. Ultimately, the decision to form a joint library will be the choice of the residents in both communities. If we determine there is support for establishing a joint library, the question will be put on the ballot at a general election as early as November 2008
The project architects will be making recommendations for reuse of the buildings. Each community will ultimately decide how best to reutilize the current library locations, but we can foresee that the buildings would be repurposed for other municipal uses or sold to a private developer for reuse as commercial properties, thereby generating more ratable for each community.
Both libraries were built more than 30 years ago and are in need of physical improvements. We have put all plans for improvement on hold pending the outcome of the joint feasibility study. If the communities decide against a joint library, then Fanwood and Scotch Plains will have to make provisions for making these improvements in their own capital budgets.
We will be holding a series of focus groups this fall and town meetings early in 2008. There will be sign-up sheets in each library as well as the ads in the Scotch Plains Fanwood Times and the Record Press. We hope you will take the time to volunteer for a focus group or attend a town meeting. View this website www.thejointlibrary.org or call either library for more details.
We believe and know from other communities that new libraries increase local property values. People make decisions on where to buy their homes based on the quality of schools, libraries, and other municipal services. A great library improves the quality of life for the entire community and will be a cultural and lifelong learning center for all citizens of both towns.
