Summit Free Public Library

Summit Free Public Library
Established 1911
Location Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
Access and use
Population served 21,000 residents[1]
additional employees, visitors
Other information
Director Susan Permahos
Staff 49
Website website

The Summit Free Public Library is a public library located in the United States in Summit, New Jersey at 75 Maple Street. Besides books, DVDs, CDs, music, and educational CD-ROMs from The Teaching Company, it offers a wide range of services including lectures, art exhibits, cultural readings, movies, special events, programs for teenagers, and Internet access.[2] It is a short walk from the library to the train station and to Summit's downtown area.

History

In 1891, Summit's first library opened, but it was "neither public nor free," according to one account.[3] That building later became the Summit Playhouse.[4] In 1911, the first free public library opened on Maple Street on land donated by the Bonnel family's Summit Home Land Company.[3] Funds from the estate of Andrew Carnegie helped build the library during the years of 1900 to 1917, and the Summit Public Library is listed among the 36 Carnegie libraries of New Jersey. In 1964, the library was replaced by a newer building next door.[3] In 1996, there was a capital campaign to raise funds for the library; $1.3 million was raised, in part with a community production of "The Music Man".[5] Construction began in October 1997.[5] Users could still have access to books by walking inside temporary trailers during the expansion. The expanded and renovated building reopened in March 1999.[5] There is a parking lot available between the library and the Summit YMCA; in addition, there are on-street metered parking spots available, some with a 15-minute limit to facilitate availability.[6] In 2003, a young library staff member named Sherrie Murphy who had two young children died of cancer; in 2007, the library dedicated a statue entitled "The Joy of Reading" by sculptor Robert Hill in her memory, who made the sculpture without payment; the statue is outdoors on the eastern side of the building.[7]

Special programs

The library hosts week-long arts workshops and craft programs.[8] The library also features prominent local artists and photographers. The library allows users to download audiobooks.[9] Users can renew materials online.[9] The library has a special weekday afterschool program for teens called CATSS, an acronym for Cool Awesome Teen Students of Summit, which involves mentoring, projects, book reading activities, and games, and which meets on selected afternoons.[10] Sometimes lectures are held at the library. The library sometimes contributes boxes of books for charitable purposes.[11] During summer months, the library sometimes sponsors film festivals in which award-winning foreign films are shown.[12]

Administration

In 2013, the library's director was Susan Permahos, and other administrators included Alexandria Arnold, Robin Carroll-Mann, and Diane Hull.[9] Library trustees included Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, Ruth H. Hamann, Eleanor K.Haugh, John B. Crosby, Jr., Jon Plaut, Loreli Stochaj, and Diane Klaif. Trustee meetings are usually held on the second Wednesday of each month except during the summer.[9] In addition, Patricia Obst serves as Vice President of the library and coordinates programs with the New Jersey Library Association and hosts special reading programs for youngsters during summer months.[13]

Policies

All Summit adult residents can have full-service library cards if they provide current proof of residence; cards are valid for three years. The library extends permission to various others such as non-resident students, employees who work in Summit, au pairs, and residents of neighboring towns on a reciprocal basis. [14] The library offers free Internet access; filtering software has been installed on the terminals in the juvenile room.[15] The library permits donations and gifts, although is unable to accept books in poor physical condition, textbooks, magazines, condensed book, encyclopedias, and encourages donations of bestsellers, new novels (published in the current year), up-to-date nonfiction books, recently published paperback novels, and current children's and young adult books. The library can't provide appraisals of the value of donated materials for tax purposes. Donors are encouraged to call first before bringing in books and tangible items.[16] In addition, library policy states that members must not take pictures within the library without prior written permission from the director.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Summit". City of Summit. 2009-10-18. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  2. ↑ Perri K. Feldman (2009-10-17). "Summit At A Glance -- Cultural Activities". MidtownDirectHomes.com. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  3. 1 2 3 "History of Summit -- Union County, New Jersey". nynjctbotany.org. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  4. ↑ "Summit Playhouse". Summit Playhouse Association. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  5. 1 2 3 Robin Carroll-Mann (June 13, 2007). "March Down Memory Lane with The Music Man". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  6. ↑ Patricia E. Meola (August 7, 2009). "Library patrons in Summit will soon be able to park at 15-minute spots". Independent Press (nj.com). Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  7. ↑ Robin Carroll-Mann (July 10, 2007). "Memorial Statue Planned for the Library". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  8. ↑ "Upcoming Meetings". Libraries of Union County Consortium NJ. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Website home page". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  10. ↑ "Cool Awesome Teen Students of Summit (CATSS)". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  11. ↑ Liz Keill (September 23, 2009). "Summit father-son effort helps children in Ghana". Independent Press (nj.com). Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  12. ↑ Beth Wade (July 1, 2009). "Summit Public Library has International Film Festival, summer edition". Independent Press (nj.com). Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  13. ↑ "Administration and Management". New Jersey Library Association. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  14. ↑ "Summit Free Public Library - CIRCULATION POLICY AND REGULATIONS". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  15. ↑ "INTERNET ACCESS POLICY". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  16. ↑ "Summit Free Public Library GIFT POLICY". Summit Free Public Library, Summit NJ. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.

Coordinates: 40°42′55″N 74°21′37″W / 40.7152°N 74.3603°W / 40.7152; -74.3603

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