AVI STEINHARDT/Courier-Post Madeline Yankell, 4, of Moorestown enjoys some quiet time with a book in the children's section of the township library. Library officials say they need to expand to meet increased demands for children's services.

by TERESA ANICOLA
Courier-Post Staff

Plans to expand children's services at the library to accommodate the town's growth in this age group have been put on hold.

Currently, the children's activities often have long registration lines and the activities themselves often interfere with regular children's book selections.

“What's happening at the library reflects what's happening in the community,(tm) said Deborah Dennis, library director. “Young people, young families, are moving in.(tm)

The library occupies two floors on Second Street and the library had proposed expanding to the second floor, which is not in use currently.

The State Libraries Construction Grant Fund would have paid 25 percent of the approximate $3.5 million upgrade, the Friends of the Moorestown Library agreed to contribute $300,000, and the township council would have had to pay the rest, said Dennis. But the council didn't support the plan this year because it has taken on other, special capitol improvement projects that are under way, such as open space acquisition and the new downtown streetscape.

However, the township council did not authorize the library board to apply for the state funds before the July 31 deadline.

“It was disappointing for all of us,(tm) Dennis said.

The township council felt the timing was not right for the library project and that the price tag may have been a bit steep, said township Manager Jack Terry.

“Council feels that, with so much else on the table, it couldn't take this on yet,(tm) Terry said, noting that in addition to the normal capital expenditures the council is ugrading the Main Street business district and purchasing open space.

Complicating matters, both he and Dennis agreed, was a state decision to advance the deadline from the end of the year to July 31.

Some parents like resident Patty Wixted, who has five children ranging in age from 13 years to 1 year, think an expansion is in order. She arrives an hour earlier than the posted registration times for kids' programs due to the long sign-up lines.

“More space is needed in the teen section and adults would like more space for sitting and reading,(tm) said Wixted.

In the expansion plan, the adult book sections would be moved to the library's center, and create quiet reading areas along the windows. It would also allow space to retain its entire collection of large print books popular with older patrons, said Dennis.

“Seniors are very heavy users of the library. They are retired and get to read as much as they want and often inquire about having quiet reading areas,(tm) she said.

Since the deadline for the state library grant was missed, any future renovations would have to come from the township's capital budget, said Dennis.

“It's too early to tell, but we're going to request the money from the (township's) 2002 capital budget,(tm) said Dennis. “We're always hopeful, and our need is very great as more people move into the community and discover the library."

Mayor Howard Miller said the township is trying to expand valuable municipal services as needs arise.

“We're trying to maintain our high Moorestown standards in all areas," Miller said.

In the meantime, the library's Web site is growing. It's home page, www.moorestown.lib.nj.us has been expanded to include upcoming programs, a site for children and teens, and links to useful information on careers, health and travel.

Patrons with a valid library card can also gain access to EBSCOhost, a link on it's home page allowing browsers to search a variety of databases including magazines, newspapers, medical reports and an encyclopedia, said Dennis.