Construction On New Teen Room Planned At Library Of The Chathams

CHATHAM, NJ — Officials at the Library of the Chathams have been working for several years to get the ball rolling on an improvement plan, and construction on one area will officially begin next month.

According to Galina Natenzon, Assistant Director at the Library of the Chathams, construction will take place in two areas of the library from Aug. 1 through November 2023: the back entrance from the parking lot and the reference area.

As a result, the library's back entrance will be closed during construction.

Patrons are asked to use the front entrance from Main Street, which will be equipped with a temporary ramp.

The book drops at the back of the library will remain open, but will be relocated to the library's side, according to officials.

During construction, the reference area will be noisy. Patrons are advised to use other areas of the library for quiet reading or studying.

When construction is completed, a portion of the reference area will be converted into the library's new Teen Room. While school is in session, it will still be available to anyone who is not a teen.

According to Karen Brodsky, director of the Library of the Chathams, and Andy Hollander, president of the board of trustees, community demand for the library has reportedly returned to pre-pandemic levels and even surpassed those of 2019.

"Numbers are up. They are up from before the pandemic. They're up regarding circulation, visits are up significantly. The library is a bridge, it brings together all age groups from children, teens, adults and senior citizens. It bridges the township and the borough," Hollander said.

According to Hollander, the library revamp project has been divided into phases, with phase one already approved and construction set to begin in the coming months. The first phase will begin with the construction of a teen room and an entry plaza with a ramp in the rear of the building.

Phase two and subsequent phases are not confirmed and will be contingent on the library receiving a commitment of funds. Officials stated that the project's scope could not be reduced because each component was interconnected.

The public library is located at 214 Main Street, in Chatham, and is open Monday through Saturday.