Verona Library staff adjusts to new environment

Just over a half-mile separates the Verona Public Library’s temporary location from its existing facility on Gould Street, but the staff still found plenty of differences.

The library relocated to the Verona Community Center annex, 880 Bloomfield Ave., at the end of April while the main building undergoes renovations. After some time to adjust to their new surroundings, Library Director Cheryl Ashley said the staff has adapted well.

“We just want people to know we’re here,” Ashley said, “and my fear is the people don’t know.”

The move comes as part of a $3 million project to renovate the library. Some of the construction will include adding an elevator, making the bathrooms handicapped-accessible, adding a lot to keep strollers, and a general redesign of the building to bring the building “back to its original glory,” according to Ashley.

Much of the library’s collection has made the trip to Bloomfield Avenue, including the library’s complete adult fiction collection, paperbacks and newspapers. New titles in both fiction and nonfiction genres will be added along the way. Audiobooks and DVDs are there at the Verona Community Center and the children's collection will include juvenile biography, fiction, picture books and non-fiction picture books.

The children’s and adult’s nonfiction collection will be kept in storage, Ashley said. The temporary library includes Wi-Fi, and additional items can be ordered using the PALS Plus consortium from other libraries.

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Senior Librarian Bill Trafton said the staff has worked as a team to make the move work.

“It’s tight, but not as severe as I might have been led to believe,” Trafton said of their space. “… There’s still work to do, and we’re still trying to serve people to the best of our ability.”

The library held an open house on May 19 to show people around the location found on the second floor of the annex behind the main Community Center facility. The regular programming will continue with the start of the Summer Reading Club scheduled for June 17, and a celebration during the township’s fireworks display on June 29. The library will have balloons, snow cones and a magician on the night of the fireworks.

“We’re excited about summer reading this year,” Ashley said. “We’ve got great programs coming up.”

The limited space in the annex has created a challenge for some of the other programming. The library only hosts story time for children twice a week compared to four times at its normal location. 

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The Teen Advisory Committee was able to relocate to the middle school, according to Youth Services Librarian Precious Mack. While the library may not be as active during the summer as in the past, Mack said it has several activities for teens coming up, such as a coding program, a Harry Potter-themed escape room, and a Minecraft competition. 

The original library building is not expected to be ready until the autumn of 2018.

Construction is expected to begin following a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 19, prior to the 7 p.m. Township Council meeting.

When that day comes, Ashley said she can’t wait to see all the improvements.

“This is temporary,” she noted of the construction. “This is going to be well worth it.”

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com