Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat.
[Music] Heat. Heat.
[Music] Well, good morning everyone and welcome to our I guess I keep calling it our
unrand reopening um because we've never closed. Um, for the last two years, uh, this building has undergone renovation. So, those of you who followed it carefully knew that phase one was to move the second floor down to the first
floor. We operated down here for a year. Once that was done, um, the first floor moved up to the second floor uh, for a year. Now, this floor is done and we have now moved back uh, effective tomorrow. we will finally once again uh
be the main library uh with two um floors. Um over this past year um this library has begun to be busier than than ever and even though we were restricted to one floor. Uh for those of you who
like numbers, last year um this building alone circulated uh over 150,000 items uh to the Edison uh community and that's part of the total last year of approximately
420,000 uh items. So we are the busiest library uh in um the Stella Consortium. We're very proud of that. uh and we um make sure that we participate uh with our
friends and neighbors and colleagues many of whom are here and I'll introduce them um when I get a chance to uh to speak a little bit more about the library and and what we have. Um we're going to start today's um unceremony
um with uh a little chat talk from the library board president Anthony Dasqual. Good morning everyone. My name is Tony Pasqual and I have the honor of serving um as the president of the Edison Library Board of Trustees. And before I
begin, I just want to introduce a a few people uh that are here. Um I first want to introduce Margot Harris who is a former uh council president here in Edison. Uh, and we do have a new um member of
the council is Kelly Dema is here. And I also would like to introduce Pat Massie who is a former president of library trustees. And again, I want to welcome you all uh here to this to this great celebration.
So before we talk about what's new in this building, I want to start with what's always been true about this library and the library system here in Edison. You know, it's never been just a building. You know, it it affects people
is is what it does. It affects the residents. It affects the education of people from little to to the older. Um, you know, I always say this. I remember myself and I still remember it being
five, six years old and my mother would bring me to the library and they would be reading, you know, stories and and and it was so it's ingrained in me. Like I still remember that. I remember the teachers that did that. Like that's how
it it was such a part of my life. Um, you know, this this library and our system, it's um it's a promise that knowledge would be accessible, that curiosity would be encouraged, and that everyone in our community would have a place where
learning, connection, and opportunities are always within the reach. And that's an opportunity for all the residents. Just a little quick uh walkthrough of our history. In 1965, this main library opened. It was expanded in 1975
and again in 1987. And because Edison kept growing, it is still growing. The library kept on answering its call in continuing to grow also to meet the needs of our residents. Over the decades, library services also
reached far beyond the buildings that we have. New branches opened up. The bookmobile started in 1973 and we're continuing with that. We are going to be purchasing a another bookmobile probably within the next year. Um so we'll have
multiple bookmobiles running throughout the the township. Um you'll see the library uh employees um at events. Um so we're not just in the buildings, we're actually bring the library out from the buildings into the
community. So why does this renovation matter? Why is it so important? So, it's not just a a grand opening. It's the next chapter in the long tradition of um of the library, providing Edison residents with
many opportunities that we as a library can offer. This renovation has been about making the library ready for the way people live, learn, and connect while staying true to what a library is supposed to be, welcoming, inclusive,
and excellent. And a project doesn't happen just because one person has a good idea. It happens because a lot of people show up and do the work. And I personally want to thank those people, the staff and the administration. What
they dealt with to continue the services at this library to continue during these renovations. We had upstairs closed and we had downstairs and we had downstairs closed and upstairs and things still worked. People were still able to come, you know. So I want to give can we clap
give a hand clap for those and you know the other the other backbone to the library system is the board of trustees and this program uh this this idea renovation started back in um I think around 2020 could be a little before that but the board of
trustees from 2020 on have been the backbone of supporting the ideas that have been brought up and you know the the uh just allowing to things make things happen when the director and the administration have those ideas of what
they want to do to provide to the residents. So I want to again thank you all for being here and this is just a great time of celebration in the library's history in our town. So with that I'd like to invite Mayor Sam Jooshi
up to come and say a few words. Good morning everyone and happy new year. It is so wonderful to be here uh on this beautiful beautiful day. I can't tell you how exciting it is for a community because
libraries are the found libraries and education is the foundational bedrock of every society. That is true in every part of this world. And in Edison, we take great amounts of pride in our education system as well as the services
that we have that supplement it. And one of those happens to be our robust library system. We have truly one of the most and by numbers literally one of the most robust library circulation systems uh in the state of New Jersey. And
that's a testament to our community and how much education and learning means to all of us. So here in Edison, you look around right now, yes, we have three libraries, we have a bookmobile, and yet all of them continue to thrive. And we
want to make sure that we facilitate this as well. Today we when you look around you will see the works of the library board of trustees uh the director all of the staff
who put in so much effort into what has amounted to over just under $2 million worth of renovations. And that's something to be proud of because it was needed and it will continue to play a big role in our
future. It's strategically we've also had this library here right next to TJ our middle school and we're pretty confident that by having these renovations and by having a teen space by having a cafe and
automating a lot more things uh within the library system making it more modern too we're going to continue to make sure that over the next few decades to come these renovations will last it's something to be extremely proud of again I am very humbled an honor to be here
and I look forward to seeing this library system grow. Keep up the outstanding work. And to all the kids that are in the room right now, have fun learning. [Applause]
Uh thank you very much, Mayor, and thank you for being here. Um taking time out of your busy schedule. I know this is a busy weekend for you. Um some of us will be there tomorrow to see you and the uh new council members uh be inaugurated and uh it's exciting part to be uh here
in Edison. So let me just tell you a little bit about um how this library changed through the renovation. Uh you're now on the lower level which has always been um the children's and teen area. Um what was created here was a um
automated material handling room. So, um, beginning tomorrow, um, patrons can return their books 247, uh, put them in the slot and, um, the books will be automatically checked in. We are one of the four libraries in the state that
actually have equipment like this. Um, we never had a space down here for a cafe and that is to be determined how that's going to operate and how that is, uh, going to function. Um we have very hungry um middle schoolers who come here
every day after school um who um are waiting to see um what our new vending machines andor how what else we're going to do uh in uh that space for them. Um we finally have a dedicated teen space
which currently now has about a hundred boxes of books that we have to uh still unpack and tag. Um, but we're looking at um the teen advisory board uh for them to give us some guidance on what they would like to uh see in their teen
space. Behind me is a new um uh meeting room um which is going to be the children's program room with a storage area. Um we have already installed upstairs a new state-of-the-art equipment uh video equipment. will also
be able to do broadcasting um and do hybrid programs. Um this will be um available down here as well. Um we have basically divided this floor into three areas of learning. This um demarcation
uh in the middle uh worked out really perfect for us. This is this entire site is devoted to early learning. And so um this is where you would find your board books um your uh easy books, picture
books. Um we are looking at uh uh children's play area uh down here as well. Uh as well as this is where we have our children's uh learning computers. Um, and it may not seem exciting to you, but if you look behind
you, um, you will see that we now have three beautiful new bathrooms. Um, which which I mean, if you look at look at, you know, what's important. Um, bathrooms are very important. Um, and
they are beautiful. Open up the door, take a look at them. They're beautiful. They really are gorgeous. I um on the second floor uh we also have some uh new dramatic spaces. Uh we never had a defined maker space.
Um and so we now have a new uh maker space upstairs on the upper level. Um, and we've just received um a uh grant of uh $3,000
uh for makerpace programming from um LYB uh who uh is becoming a new partner um with us. They want to help us in having some of their scientists come and help um do learning here in our maker space.
So that really is exciting and they had been part of this process when we got the new maker space. Uh we created some administrative offices, boring of course, but the most exciting part I would say upstairs is um we never had
study rooms in this building. We have four new study rooms and we actually have a uh fully equipped conference room. So, um those spaces upstairs are constantly being used um by by the
public. Um it it's really funny when you um come in and we were basically on one floor, the public comes in, they're like, "Okay, just show me where the books are." And and I could see tomorrow when they come in here, they're going to
go, "Oh, okay. Just show me where the books are." they are really our um uh public has really adapted here in Edison to our changes. Um and that's one of the many changes that are happening this
year. As many of you know, our North Edison branch uh is currently in the process of being uh renovated and expanded. Um and we expect that that will open uh during the summer. we hope uh mid July um in time for summer
reading. Um we are starting to look at um a small project to update the Clara Barton branch um which has uh shown an increase in usage as the neighborhood itself has gone through changes uh and
we have a new bookmobile on order um that will uh replace our current uh bus um that we're currently using. So 2026 is definitely um the year of uh change for the Edison Public Library. And our
goal um two years from now uh is to reach that uh every single household uh in Edison with a library card and to reach that number of 100 one million
items being borrowed out of the library each year. So I think we are um on our way uh to doing that. Um and I think um uh we've really uh made strive really uh
strides in the the last couple of years um that I've been here. Um I would also like to um follow up what Anthony said. None of this um could be possible
without uh the support of um the board of trustees uh and the community. But most importantly, we have a fantastic staff um who um I wouldn't say single-handedly because they all worked
together to move a lot of the material up and down um on the floors so that they made sure that everything was where it was supposed to be. And so I would say for all of this, yes, the movers brought the boxes in. We still have 500
boxes to go through, but the staff's been going through the boxes, tagging the books, making sure that they're shelf ready, and making sure that this place is ready to open for tomorrow. Um, so the staff um really need to be uh
commended for a a job well done. Um, we're all very proud of them. Um, I thank um many of you for being here. Uh and I also want to acknowledge that many of our uh colleagues from uh libraries
around the county uh and uh the state uh are here and I would just like to uh acknowledge a couple of them. Um we're not in this alone. um if there's an item that we don't own and it's at another
library, um they're the ones that make sure it comes here so that you can borrow it. And so um we have some of our stellar libraries uh here. Um I think I see firstly uh Linda Hansen, the director of South Planefield Library is
here. Um I see Rebecca Martin from uh Matuchen. Um, we have uh Chris and Judy here standing somewhere from from uh South Brunswick. I think they're all here because they all want to see what we did because I know especially South
Brunswick, they're doing renovation and MTU is just about to to uh do that. Um, we have Brett Bonfield, the executive director of the New Jersey Library Association, um, who's here with us today. Uh and um uh uh Eric uh Lozakus
whose name I always mispronounce who is the executive director of Stella which is a library consortium which enables us to to share the the materials with all the other libraries and three counties. Uh a couple of other people who are here
today um that I would like to acknowledge. We have uh Joseph, where are you hiding? Joseph as one of the architects who uh from Arcarian Ayavino um who uh was responsible uh for working with us on
this project uh and he forced his entire family uh to come here with us today uh to see what it looks like. Um we have folks from the Jersey City Public Library here um also to uh see what was
uh going on. Didn't want to forget you guys. And uh Jared, if you would kindly stand up. Jared has been our hero. Um for mo um for for most of the project, uh Jared
has been the project manager and I must say I've done other projects with other construction companies and working with Jared and uh his the company has been an absolute delight. Uh, and so, um, he's
as equally responsible for everything being perfect. I have never met such a perfectionist in my entire life, uh, as he. And so, um, he he continues to be a support. I just mentioned something about the light. So, he's going to he's
going to help us do that. Um and I see um two of our trustees um Ricky and Palavi um who are on the current board uh have been strong supporters uh this year. And I finally would like to uh
thank uh the friends and foundation. Uh Keith McCoy is uh not able to be with us today. Uh Sarah is here the current president of the friends uh who has supported the the library. And I and I think that um I think this has been a a
a great occasion for us and it's the first of I think many celebrations in the library uh this year. So I want to thank you all for uh coming out to our unrand reopening. Uh and once again thank the mayor for taking his uh time
out of his busy schedule to be here. Um all of you who know the mayor know um he grew up in the North Edison Branch Library. So he is he and he was telling us today that he he I volunteered or was a page actually helping them sort books which I did not know. I know you were
you always told a story about you studying there and being there a lot. Um so um the mayor really has a a a strong connection uh to uh the Edison Public Library. And so I want to thank you all. Uh we have some refreshments for you. Um
uh staff is upstairs. I'll be around. Um uh uh where is Deborah's in the back? Um Deborah can also our assistant library director can also show you around. Um and thank you all once again and uh I
guess I'll see you in the stacks upstairs or downstairs um beginning tomorrow. So thank you all. [Applause] [Music]