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[quote="anon-41nr"]Our library is used every day by many people - it is s community center! It is not just books anymore. .. If I were to decide that I didn't want to pay for the school portion of the tax bill because I don't use that, where would we be? Our town is about community. We value education...[/quote]
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anon79-023r
Posted: Fri, May 29 2015, 5:14 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
These people purposely let this library deteriorate so they would have an excuse to build a new one. Sad part is they waited too long because with modern technology, libraries can only operate by the confiscating tax dollars out of our pockets. The Cranbury library would never operate on its own merit. Its become an outdated day care center. Its closed most weekends, they keep cutting hours (due to no demand for its services on non school days (185 per year) unless you include rec camp. Cranbury is a great town in demand by so many with the library we already have. Why spend millions of dollars for a new building for the benefit of workers who already have permanent jobs? They can still work at the one we have and babysit. If this idea had to survive on its own merit it would close within a week.We already have a mass exodus out of NJ because of government waste like this. Lets come to our senses and dump this horrific idea.
anon-np42
Posted: Fri, May 29 2015, 4:25 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
LOL. I'm sure the head of Amtrak believes rail travel is the future too.
ROFL
Posted: Thu, May 28 2015, 11:34 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay-festival/11627276/Libraries-could-outlast-the-internet-head-of-British-Library-says.html
Of course, this is only the head of the British Library. Experts in Cranbury surely know so much better.
anon-6102
Posted: Tue, May 26 2015, 7:16 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
TAPinto Cranbury-6369 wrote:
Sign of the Times-84r1 wrote:
Of all the moves made by the current Library Board, perhaps none is more indicative of their willingness to choke the current library of resources in favor of their proposed new book museum than the disbanding of the "Friends of Cranbury Public Library". Sadly, the "friends", who were responsible for supplemental fund raising to support library services, were eliminated by the Library Board in order to funnel all library donations to the Library Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the new book museum. In other words, the library board is content to cut hours and services of the current library so that all donations can be channeled toward the new book museum. How sad!
I reviewed the agenda for the May 15 board meeting and there was no vote or discussion about this.
Library Director Marilyn Mullen said today, May 22, that this is just a rumor and not at all true.
Does anyone have any other verifiable information on this?
Please let me know.
Charles W. Kim
TAPinto Cranbury
848-480-5723
ckim@tapinto.net
Charles,
Thank you for looking into this and good luck with your new service to the community.
I think the question is what is Director Mullen denying? It is common for public libraries to have a group of "Friends of the Library" to raise money to help close budget gaps and provide library services. Until recenty (last few years), the "Friends of Cranbury Library" provided this service for our library. The Friends of the Cranbury Library has been apparently been dissolved. The links to donate on the Cranbury Library web site now go to the Library Foundation, whose primary purpose is "support the Cranbury Public Library by raising capital funds for a physical facility..."
So what happened to the Friends of Cranbury Library? Why has this group been dissolved in the face of shrinking budgets and cuts to hours and services?
Unfortunately, this is simply further evidence that the effort to provide great library services in the present is being sacrificed for the dream of a shiny new book museum in the future.
TAPinto Cranbury-6369
Posted: Fri, May 22 2015, 2:02 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Sign of the Times-84r1 wrote:
Of all the moves made by the current Library Board, perhaps none is more indicative of their willingness to choke the current library of resources in favor of their proposed new book museum than the disbanding of the "Friends of Cranbury Public Library". Sadly, the "friends", who were responsible for supplemental fund raising to support library services, were eliminated by the Library Board in order to funnel all library donations to the Library Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the new book museum. In other words, the library board is content to cut hours and services of the current library so that all donations can be channeled toward the new book museum. How sad!
I reviewed the agenda for the May 15 board meeting and there was no vote or discussion about this.
Library Director Marilyn Mullen said today, May 22, that this is just a rumor and not at all true.
Does anyone have any other verifiable information on this?
Please let me know.
Charles W. Kim
TAPinto Cranbury
848-480-5723
ckim@tapinto.net
Community Center?-6qon
Posted: Tue, May 19 2015, 9:03 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Cranbury has a wonderful treasure in the heart of town where residents can gather and there is a palpable sense of community. Sadly, the space no longer meets the requirements of the community and it is in desperate need of updating and expansion. Accordingly, I beseech each of you to dig deep into your wallets and donate what you can support a beautiful new space where residents can come together, read a newspaper, magazine or book and even gran a cup of coffee while conversing with others. For a mere $3.5 million (closer to $5 million by the time we're done), we can elevate the experience provided by this vaunted institution for the benefit of all in the Cranbury community.
I am course talking about Teddy's Restaurant.
publius-43n3
Posted: Tue, May 19 2015, 5:18 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Libraries will NEVER be obsolete. We will still have books, periodicals, reference materials etc. The question is: What kind of library do we really need? Does the current one suffice? Do we need to spend millions on a new one, with a Starbucks right inside of it? Sure, more space is better than less, but how much space do we really need? Would a new library just be more of a hangout for residents? If a new library could be built with private funds.............go for it. Otherwise, it may not make much sense financially.
Free Books-0482
Posted: Tue, May 19 2015, 2:10 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Free Books Magazines
https://books.google.com/books
anon-pp62
Posted: Tue, May 19 2015, 10:10 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Perhaps because you have not used a public library recently. Public Libraries serve communities. Each town can determine what they want in a library - everyone is welcome. Public Libraries today are different than they were years ago.... Yes, they are an information platform - books, movies, ebooks, magazines, music, but also programs, story hours for the community.
Library Definition-5s31
Posted: Mon, May 18 2015, 10:42 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Library Definition a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed.
I do not see community center in the definition.
anon-41nr
Posted: Mon, May 18 2015, 7:26 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Our library is used every day by many people - it is s community center! It is not just books anymore. .. If I were to decide that I didn't want to pay for the school portion of the tax bill because I don't use that, where would we be? Our town is about community. We value education...
tapped out-0482
Posted: Mon, May 18 2015, 4:54 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
Are libraries really needed anymore?
If so, why aren’t people who use them willing to pay for that service?
Libraries aren’t a vital service and therefore library cardholders and the “Friends of the Library” should be more than willing to donate money and pay user fees for the luxury of having a library.
I guess I don’t quite understand why the public needs so many libraries.
We have libraries in most public schools, colleges and universities.
How many libraries do the public and the students really need?
Most every American has a desktop or laptop computer that can access websites to find the information needed in today’s complex world.
You can also read most books online at college and university websites.
Providing computers at public libraries is a huge cost to taxpayers.
I even know poor people who have computers. In this day and age, anyone who needs to use the library to access a computer is simply too cheap to buy their own.
As for myself, I wold not ever vote to increase property taxes for public libraries.
I pay enough now for a service I never use.
In fact, I’m tapped out and will not support any tax increases for government or public services of any type.
anon-5651
Posted: Sun, May 17 2015, 12:41 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
anon;oqs4-n68r wrote:
There is a tremendous amount of frustration over the inability of the public to stop this fiasco. The "Old Timers" and the "Nothing is too good for my children" crowd have sold this Book Museum like a bunch of Vulcher Car Salesmen/Women! They are spending the dollars of others to enrich their own interests. When the bills start coming in to maintain the Book Museum and the taxpayers see how much this albatross will really cost; the promoters will be six feet under and we will be stuck with another "Dream for the select few". There must be a way to put a stop to this and unless the township gets some backbone and takes a stand this will get done on their watch and will be one other nail in the coffin of the town we grew up in and moved to because of what it was, not what it is becoming. The Committee has power to derail this because they and they alone control the property and access. Without their help this cannot get done. Its a sad commentary on what Cranbury has become--very, very sad.
And yet when the library presented their annual report and discussed fundraising, costs, etc... to the governing body no one showed up to question the library or raise these concerns.
If people are truly opposed, not just mixed feelings, then they better say something on the record.
anon;oqs4-n68r
Posted: Sun, May 17 2015, 7:33 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
There is a tremendous amount of frustration over the inability of the public to stop this fiasco. The "Old Timers" and the "Nothing is too good for my children" crowd have sold this Book Museum like a bunch of Vulcher Car Salesmen/Women! They are spending the dollars of others to enrich their own interests. When the bills start coming in to maintain the Book Museum and the taxpayers see how much this albatross will really cost; the promoters will be six feet under and we will be stuck with another "Dream for the select few". There must be a way to put a stop to this and unless the township gets some backbone and takes a stand this will get done on their watch and will be one other nail in the coffin of the town we grew up in and moved to because of what it was, not what it is becoming. The Committee has power to derail this because they and they alone control the property and access. Without their help this cannot get done. Its a sad commentary on what Cranbury has become--very, very sad.
anon-4558
Posted: Sun, May 17 2015, 12:32 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
anon-5651 wrote:
I've said previously I contributed to the library funding and I believe in it, but have mixed feelings. Today at the Drug Free fair my daughter was asked if she wanted a sticker. On it said Cranbury Needs a New Library. I really think this went to far. The event is non-political and about the children giving them a venue for fun and games. I would have been fine with a Cranbury Public Library sticker. However, one stating we need a new library felt wrong and inappropriate.
I can't imagine what those opposed must think.
Perhaps the sticker should have said...
"15 crotchety old people want a new book museum!"
anon-5651
Posted: Sat, May 16 2015, 3:34 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Library Un-Friends Cranbury
I've said previously I contributed to the library funding and I believe in it, but have mixed feelings. Today at the Drug Free fair my daughter was asked if she wanted a sticker. On it said Cranbury Needs a New Library. I really think this went to far. The event is non-political and about the children giving them a venue for fun and games. I would have been fine with a Cranbury Public Library sticker. However, one stating we need a new library felt wrong and inappropriate.
I can't imagine what those opposed must think.