Main Library Branch Slated for New Zoo View?

COURT HOUSE — Imagine getting a mocha java at a coffee bar, reading a book on a comfy sofa by a warm fireplace, and gazing out the window on occasion at animals native to Africa as they meander by on a crisp fall day.
All while you’re at the main branch of your local library.
This concept is one of several ideas being considered by county officials to relocate the main branch of the county library, by building a new state-of-the-art facility on grounds at the county Park and Zoo.
The idea to relocate the library’s main branch comes while plans move forward for two new branches in Stone Harbor and Sea Isle City for state-of-the-art facilities. The main branch, said Stephen O’Connor, county administrator, will now be the focus of county efforts to reorganize county space and revamp and upgrade the facility on Mechanic Street.
“We wanted to start looking at the whole library system and how we could improve it,” said O’Connor.
The planning is still at the preliminary stage, but one concept for a new main branch includes a fireplace, lots of comfortable seating and a coffee bar, with outside decks overlooking zoo and park grounds. The first step, however, is settling upon a site.
That will be decided in the upcoming year by county freeholders, O’Connor said. No special public hearings on the issue are likely, he indicated.
While one site under consideration is the park and zoo, county officials will also consider other locations, according to O’Connor, including keeping the main library branch in the downtown area of Court House, the county seat.
“There are some people who like the urban feel of downtown Court House,” O’Connor said.
Deborah Poillon, county library director, said the county came to her in January and put forth the idea of moving the main branch of the library to allow the prosecutor’s office to expand into the current library building. The Library Commission, said Poillon, was unanimously in favor of the idea but has not taken official action yet.
The library’s first location was reportedly in an apartment on Mechanic Street, but its history goes back to 1923, when Sarah Askew, Secretary of the State Public Library Commission, made frequent visits to the county to enlist support.
“Her efforts proved successful, and the Cape May County Free Library was established by referendum in November 1924,” according to the library Web site.
At one time, Poillon recalled, the main branch housed county offices, until the Crest Haven complex was built.
By 1992 the county administrative offices had moved out of the library-office complex, and the freeholders awarded a $3.2 million contract for the renovation of the main library building.
In May 1993 the main branch moved to temporary quarters in the former Middle Township Elementary School No. 3 in Court House while the work was being done.
According to the Web site, the renovated library reopened on Dec. 18, 1994 and was rededicated Feb. 25, 1995. The first level was and still is shared by county and emergency management facilities; the second level contains adult fiction, audio-visual and children’s sections, as well as a periodical reading room and a young adult room. The third level included and still does include the adult non-fiction and reference departments, offices, computer room and storage.
The old paper card catalog was gone, replaced by a computer catalog; hand-stamped checkout cards were gone, replaced by barcodes; music records and cassettes were gone, replaced by compact discs. Many electronic databases were added, and in 1995 the library added Internet connections to many of its public computers.
Now, said Poillon, she and her staff are looking forward to the prospect of a new state-of-the-art branch to anchor the county library system as they see the need for expanded facilities.
“The staff is so excited,” said Poillon. “There will be lots of seating, lots of living room areas for patrons to come in and read the paper. The children’s area — lots of seating there. A lot of libraries have been moving toward a more Borders bookstore-ish feel.”
Poillon cites the need for better parking, and more space in the main branch, especially for meeting rooms for the numerous popular programs run by the library. One main meeting room is shared for children’s and adult programs currently.
The main branch houses approximately 180,000 volumes and 10,000 other media, Poillon said, and is “growing constantly.”
Contact Avedissian at (609) 886-8600 Ext 27 or at: savedissian@cmcherald.com.