For Release: December 16, 2002                

Contacts:   Robbi Battey, President-elect, Library of the Mendhams : 908-879-9094

Richard G. Kraft, Mayor, Mendham Borough:
(Day) 973-625-8500
(Night) 973-543-7748

                  Katie Porter, Mayor, Mendham Township : 973-543-4003

Mendhams Agree to Share Joint Library Feasibility Expenses

Mendham, NJ—Mendham Borough and Township officials today agreed to share the costs involved in finding a viable site to build a new joint, private library to serve both communities.

            “This is a significant step toward realizing our dream and fulfilling the wishes of our community for an upgraded facility,” said Robbi Battey, president-elect of the Library of the Mendhams board. “This agreement gives us the funding we need to conduct preliminary engineering studies to analyze potential sites for a new joint library.”

Municipal officials estimate the cost of the preliminary studies to be approximately $40,000.

“This agreement is the first step in a long-term process that demonstrates the commitment and support of officials in both municipalities to work closely with the Library of the Mendhams board to see that this important project moves forward,” noted Borough Councilman Neil Henry.

            While several sites throughout both towns have been under consideration over the last year by a facilities steering committee, a five-acre parcel of land adjacent to West Field in Mendham Borough seems to have the greatest potential. “This land has been generously offered to our community by the De Neufville family,” noted Henry Roe, vice-president elect of the joint library board. “The site is located centrally in the Mendhams with direct access from Main Street (Rt. 24),”  he added.

            The Library of the Mendhams, in conjunction with the Borough and Township governments, will conduct feasibility studies on the Main Street/Route 24 site to meet due diligence standards. If the site is deemed viable, the board will convene a public meeting to continue collecting feedback and to ensure the new facility meets the needs of the community.

            A steering committee for the Library of the Mendhams was formed in January 2001 to consider constructing a new library facility that would combine the resources of both towns and better serve overlapping constituencies with expanded collections and services. Since then, the committee has sought community input through a series of roundtables held last spring and has visited some 15 libraries throughout New Jersey to learn about effective building design, desirable services and programming, and successful fund raising campaigns.

“A dedicated joint committee of the Township and Borough Libraries has worked

diligently for more than two years and looked at many potential sites,” noted Township Mayor Katie Porter. “This is a true cooperative venture.”

            “This is a huge undertaking,” commented Battey, “and we need to tap into the talents and skills of people in our community. We invite anyone who would like to dedicate their time to this worthy cause to please join us as we move into the next critical stages, including capital fundraising, building design and construction.”