Community Corner
Fight For Mount Tabor Parsippany Library Continues
Residents are still fighting to keep the historic library building open and operational for all members of the community.
PARSIPPANY, NJ — A committed group of Mount Tabor residents has fought for months to keep the Mount Tabor Branch Library open and operational for the benefit of the community.
They are on the verge of achieving their goal after pleading with Mayor James Barberio and the township council back in November to save their neighborhood library branch.
The Parsippany Library Director, Melissa Kuzma, recommended closing the branch at the Library Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 24.
Find out what's happening in Parsippanyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Parsippany library system's evaluation cited lower usage at the Mount Tabor branch, meaning it costs more to keep it open, according to Kuzma.
The building, which has been a community library since 1901, was shuttered during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
Find out what's happening in Parsippanyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to Tabor resident Dawn Catanzaro, who organized the group in favor of the small library branch in the middle of the historic Mount Tabor district, Barberio and the town council agreed to include funds in the budget to cover the costs of operating the Mount Tabor Branch.
According to Catanzaro, Kuzma has met with the mayor to discuss reopening and has begun making changes within the library to make it more functional, comfortable, and appealing.
The furniture within the building has also been rearranged to create separate zones for children, teens and computer use.
The library board met last week in one of Mount Tabor's public buildings, the Bethel, and the new children's librarians, Jenise Sileo and Kuzma, provided an update on changes that have already occurred and those that will occur in the future.
"They answered questions and were anxious to hear ideas from the residents of what they envisioned the library to be moving forward," Catanzaro said.
Kuzma said she hopes to reopen the library in April.
They are currently awaiting approval of the lease agreement from the Camp Meeting Association and Parsippany's attorneys. The library will be able to open once the lease is finalized, according to Catanzaro.
The Camp Meeting Association owns the building, and a lease agreement is required for the library to use it.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
