Locals Welcome to Library Town Hall Meeting

Residents, readers, and those who love the library are invited to two meetings at the South Orange Public Library. The Library Town Meeting - Looking Forward invites locals to share their hopes and thoughts about the library of the present and the future. The meeting will be held on Mon., Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.  This is the second of two town hall meetings.  .  The gathering will begin at the South Orange Public Library and conclude with refreshments at the Connett Memorial Library Building.

"These meetings are truly about looking to the future of the library in the context of this community. That means thinking about future spaces but is much bigger than that. The world of information, of reading , of cultural enrichment, is changing and expanding.  Interestingly, in this era of rapidly expanding information and access to electronic materials, the role of libraries is broadening," explains Melissa Kopecky, Director.

The Library Board and staff will host a conversation about the library now - and in the future. Topics likely to arise include: services, spaces, Connett Memorial Library Building, local history,  collections, and community, but all library thoughts are welcome. 

"The physical space, whether used for individual pursuits or for coming together, in conjunction with the ability to extend library service digitally, provides limitless opportunities for the future," notes Kopecky.

These conversations are an essential part of developing a future plan for the community library, with participation by Library Development Solutions and Atkin Olshin Schade Architects,  part of a project funded with a grant from the Garden State Preservation Trust  and the New Jersey Historic Trust.

The meeting will follow the format of "a classic town meeting format in which everyone in attendance will have a few minutes to speak," explains Kopecky. "Great libraries serve both traditional and innovative needs of their communities. Join the conversation."