Why Watchung Needs a New Library - The 3 Part Series
You can read the essays on this page or click on the links below for pdf documents
Links to the series as pdf documents:
Part 1 - Civic LIfe and the Public Library
Part 2 - A Good Place to Raise a Family
Part 3 - What do you get for your Money
Want to see what your neighbors have to say? Click here to see their letters to the mayor and council.
Links to the series as pdf documents:
Part 1 - Civic LIfe and the Public Library
Part 2 - A Good Place to Raise a Family
Part 3 - What do you get for your Money
Want to see what your neighbors have to say? Click here to see their letters to the mayor and council.
Part 1 Civic Life and the Public Library
“We are like puzzle pieces who are perfectly suited to make a giant picture together, but we are assembling ourselves in the dark.”
― Vironika Tugaleva, The Love Mindset: An Unconventional Guide to Healing and Happiness
There’s been a good deal of talk and bit of animosity surrounding the Watchung public library. There are those who think libraries are obsolete, those who think a library is a financial burden, those who think other towns libraries can meet our needs, and then there are those who believe that a library is, and must be acknowledged as a vital public space.
There are few spaces today where we can come together as a community. We rush from home to work, school to scheduled after school activities, and spend a much of our limited “free” time tethered to electronic devices, disconnected from each other and the institutions of civic life. We see this disconnection in the number of people who have stopped voting and attending community meetings. We, have a great need to connect with each other, to restore civic life.
Ray Oldenberg, in the Planning Commissioners Journal writes “Joy in living” depends upon people's’ capacity to enjoy the company of those who live and work around them. Places to do this must be provided and the time to do it will be available if those places are close to where people live.
The Watchung library is a place of community building, a necessary “third space” separate from the first and second spaces of home and work. As a critical “third space” the library serves as a space where everyone is welcome, a space that fosters a sense of place and civic engagement. Community space is the heart of democracy and civil society. The library can and should be an anchor of community life.
You might say we don’t currently use the library as an anchor of community life so we don’t need it. The problem with this argument is that it doesn’t address the very real need for this type of space. The reason the library isn’t being used to its fullest potential is the lack of adequate space. Denying the existence of adequate space in the future does nothing to address the heart of the matter, the need for community building, the need for “Joy in living”.
We have an opportunity to decide what kind of community we want to be. Are we people who encourage civic engagement inclusive of all? Do we have a vision of our future as a shared community or are we content to live isolated lives? Do we believe that this community is ours to create? Do we have leadership willing to create the conditions necessary for civic engagement?
I envision our new library as a hub of civic activity. A place open to all, with flexible space able to host clubs, discussion groups, talent shows, and so much more. I see our new library as a space where our community comes together, as an anchor to revitalize the retail area around the lakes, increasing foot traffic therefore enhancing the desirability of this area to private businesses. Mostly I see people in conversation, connecting, enjoying life in our small town. I hope you can too.
“We are like puzzle pieces who are perfectly suited to make a giant picture together, but we are assembling ourselves in the dark.”
― Vironika Tugaleva, The Love Mindset: An Unconventional Guide to Healing and Happiness
There’s been a good deal of talk and bit of animosity surrounding the Watchung public library. There are those who think libraries are obsolete, those who think a library is a financial burden, those who think other towns libraries can meet our needs, and then there are those who believe that a library is, and must be acknowledged as a vital public space.
There are few spaces today where we can come together as a community. We rush from home to work, school to scheduled after school activities, and spend a much of our limited “free” time tethered to electronic devices, disconnected from each other and the institutions of civic life. We see this disconnection in the number of people who have stopped voting and attending community meetings. We, have a great need to connect with each other, to restore civic life.
Ray Oldenberg, in the Planning Commissioners Journal writes “Joy in living” depends upon people's’ capacity to enjoy the company of those who live and work around them. Places to do this must be provided and the time to do it will be available if those places are close to where people live.
The Watchung library is a place of community building, a necessary “third space” separate from the first and second spaces of home and work. As a critical “third space” the library serves as a space where everyone is welcome, a space that fosters a sense of place and civic engagement. Community space is the heart of democracy and civil society. The library can and should be an anchor of community life.
You might say we don’t currently use the library as an anchor of community life so we don’t need it. The problem with this argument is that it doesn’t address the very real need for this type of space. The reason the library isn’t being used to its fullest potential is the lack of adequate space. Denying the existence of adequate space in the future does nothing to address the heart of the matter, the need for community building, the need for “Joy in living”.
We have an opportunity to decide what kind of community we want to be. Are we people who encourage civic engagement inclusive of all? Do we have a vision of our future as a shared community or are we content to live isolated lives? Do we believe that this community is ours to create? Do we have leadership willing to create the conditions necessary for civic engagement?
I envision our new library as a hub of civic activity. A place open to all, with flexible space able to host clubs, discussion groups, talent shows, and so much more. I see our new library as a space where our community comes together, as an anchor to revitalize the retail area around the lakes, increasing foot traffic therefore enhancing the desirability of this area to private businesses. Mostly I see people in conversation, connecting, enjoying life in our small town. I hope you can too.
Part 2 - A Good Place to Raise a Family
“Home is where children find safety and security, where we find our identities, where citizenship starts. It usually starts with believing you're part of a community, and that is essential to having a stable home.” - Matthew Desmond
Watchung needs inclusive public spaces.
There are those in town who have expressed the opinion that sports fields and publicly owned buildings, that are generally closed except for planned programs, are all the “public” space our town needs. I beg to differ.
It’s safe to say that we would like our town to be thought of as a good place to raise a family, that’s the reason many of us live here. In order to fulfill this goal, this unspoken civic promise, we need a healthy balanced community. In many suburbs, ours included, participation in sports teams seems to be the only social activity offered. This single focus, age segregated socialization is unbalanced and unhealthy. A healthy balanced community requires public gathering spaces inclusive of all, young and old, sports minded and bookworms, creators of art and music and creators of practical structures and materials. We need a space that can be used by everyone, in all seasons. Inclusive public spaces help us balance our work, family and personal lives by providing multiple outlets for our interests and creativity. The local public library fulfills most of these needs.
In addition to structured school and sports activities children need time for free play. Scientific studies have found that free play is critical in helping children become socially adept, cope with stress and build cognitive skills like problem-solving. Children thrive when left alone in a safe environment to occupy their own time, develop their own interests, follow their own inspiration and experience the ability to think of an idea, initiate it and bring it to fruition. The library, with its myriad resources, helpful staff, and safe space is an ideal place for these activities.
A healthy community is also one that encourages intergenerational bonding. It’s important to have a space where young and old can mingle and work together. This type of cooperation between the generations is healthy for all involved. Some of the positives include:
Intergenerational sharing also helps keep family and town stories and history alive. Developing connections between generations promotes a greater sense of fulfillment in all. Again a properly sized local library is an ideal setting to make these types of connections. The library is open regularly, has trained staff available during all operating hours and is a repository of a large and varied amount of information in diverse formats which are curated for our particular needs.
We all want the best for ourselves, our children, and our elders. A functional public library with adequate space is key to achieving these goals.
“Home is where children find safety and security, where we find our identities, where citizenship starts. It usually starts with believing you're part of a community, and that is essential to having a stable home.” - Matthew Desmond
Watchung needs inclusive public spaces.
There are those in town who have expressed the opinion that sports fields and publicly owned buildings, that are generally closed except for planned programs, are all the “public” space our town needs. I beg to differ.
It’s safe to say that we would like our town to be thought of as a good place to raise a family, that’s the reason many of us live here. In order to fulfill this goal, this unspoken civic promise, we need a healthy balanced community. In many suburbs, ours included, participation in sports teams seems to be the only social activity offered. This single focus, age segregated socialization is unbalanced and unhealthy. A healthy balanced community requires public gathering spaces inclusive of all, young and old, sports minded and bookworms, creators of art and music and creators of practical structures and materials. We need a space that can be used by everyone, in all seasons. Inclusive public spaces help us balance our work, family and personal lives by providing multiple outlets for our interests and creativity. The local public library fulfills most of these needs.
In addition to structured school and sports activities children need time for free play. Scientific studies have found that free play is critical in helping children become socially adept, cope with stress and build cognitive skills like problem-solving. Children thrive when left alone in a safe environment to occupy their own time, develop their own interests, follow their own inspiration and experience the ability to think of an idea, initiate it and bring it to fruition. The library, with its myriad resources, helpful staff, and safe space is an ideal place for these activities.
A healthy community is also one that encourages intergenerational bonding. It’s important to have a space where young and old can mingle and work together. This type of cooperation between the generations is healthy for all involved. Some of the positives include:
- Enhancing social intelligence
- Providing an opportunity for young and old to learn new skills
- Helping children understand and accept aging, and
- Preventing isolation and loneliness in older adults
Intergenerational sharing also helps keep family and town stories and history alive. Developing connections between generations promotes a greater sense of fulfillment in all. Again a properly sized local library is an ideal setting to make these types of connections. The library is open regularly, has trained staff available during all operating hours and is a repository of a large and varied amount of information in diverse formats which are curated for our particular needs.
We all want the best for ourselves, our children, and our elders. A functional public library with adequate space is key to achieving these goals.
Part 3 - What do you get for your Money
Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.–Ray Bradbury
In parts 1 and 2 of this series we established that communities need public spaces to gather. These spaces need to be close to where we live and attuned to our town’s distinct needs. We need a place where we can be Watchung distinct from neighboring towns. Public spaces fulfill the needs of children and adults and create an environment amenable to living a happy healthy life and raising happy healthy families.
It’s key that we recognize that in accordance with N.J.S.A. CHAPTER 33. LIBRARIES, Watchung cannot withdraw from the Somerset County Library System (SCLS), whether by council or election vote, and also never establish another library. If we withdraw from SCLS we must establish and maintain a municipal library with a required minimum tax of 1/3 mil for the operation of the library. (This works out to $0.33 on each $1,000 of equalized value of the property). Additionally, even if we withdraw from SCLS the county library tax would be due for at least two years after that withdrawal. Withdrawal from SCLS would also mean we could not access any of the other libraries within the system.
In short, if we want access to SCLS we must pay the tax. The tax amounts to approximately 2% of our current tax bill and allows access to thousands of print, audio, video and electronic resources.
Being a member of SCLS is a shared service that works. In addition to the cost effectiveness of participation in the SCLS we have another opportunity to share funding. In the last election NJ passed a Library Bond Construction Act which can provide grants of 50% of the cost of construction, reconstruction, development, extension, improvement and furnishing of New Jersey’s public libraries.
Some may ask, if we can use any SCLS branch why do we need our own building. As noted previously, an adequately sized public library in Watchung fulfills many needs such as providing space for local programs desired by our unique citizenry, and serving as the civic anchor of our community. What does Watchung offer its residents? Our schools are no better than those of surrounding towns, we don’t have a walkable downtown, we’re not on a rail line, we’re not known for exciting or diverse dining choices, and we don’t have hiking trails or other outdoor experiences available for residents.
What we are is a small town that can offer the cozy, homey feel of a town where it’s clear that we care about each other. A town where we nurture everyone, youth, adult and elders. In order to fulfill this small town promise we need a center of civic life, a gathering place, we need inclusive public spaces. A healthy small town encourages involvement by young and old, it fosters community. Our own public library is the place to do all of these things. Towns across New Jersey large and small welcome public libraries, so much so that 98% of Jerseyites are serviced by a public library. Each town has the opportunity to display its unique “flavor” by the public entities it cherishes and maintains, what will ours be?
Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.–Ray Bradbury
In parts 1 and 2 of this series we established that communities need public spaces to gather. These spaces need to be close to where we live and attuned to our town’s distinct needs. We need a place where we can be Watchung distinct from neighboring towns. Public spaces fulfill the needs of children and adults and create an environment amenable to living a happy healthy life and raising happy healthy families.
It’s key that we recognize that in accordance with N.J.S.A. CHAPTER 33. LIBRARIES, Watchung cannot withdraw from the Somerset County Library System (SCLS), whether by council or election vote, and also never establish another library. If we withdraw from SCLS we must establish and maintain a municipal library with a required minimum tax of 1/3 mil for the operation of the library. (This works out to $0.33 on each $1,000 of equalized value of the property). Additionally, even if we withdraw from SCLS the county library tax would be due for at least two years after that withdrawal. Withdrawal from SCLS would also mean we could not access any of the other libraries within the system.
In short, if we want access to SCLS we must pay the tax. The tax amounts to approximately 2% of our current tax bill and allows access to thousands of print, audio, video and electronic resources.
Being a member of SCLS is a shared service that works. In addition to the cost effectiveness of participation in the SCLS we have another opportunity to share funding. In the last election NJ passed a Library Bond Construction Act which can provide grants of 50% of the cost of construction, reconstruction, development, extension, improvement and furnishing of New Jersey’s public libraries.
Some may ask, if we can use any SCLS branch why do we need our own building. As noted previously, an adequately sized public library in Watchung fulfills many needs such as providing space for local programs desired by our unique citizenry, and serving as the civic anchor of our community. What does Watchung offer its residents? Our schools are no better than those of surrounding towns, we don’t have a walkable downtown, we’re not on a rail line, we’re not known for exciting or diverse dining choices, and we don’t have hiking trails or other outdoor experiences available for residents.
What we are is a small town that can offer the cozy, homey feel of a town where it’s clear that we care about each other. A town where we nurture everyone, youth, adult and elders. In order to fulfill this small town promise we need a center of civic life, a gathering place, we need inclusive public spaces. A healthy small town encourages involvement by young and old, it fosters community. Our own public library is the place to do all of these things. Towns across New Jersey large and small welcome public libraries, so much so that 98% of Jerseyites are serviced by a public library. Each town has the opportunity to display its unique “flavor” by the public entities it cherishes and maintains, what will ours be?
