Thank you, Montclair council, for proposed library budget (Letter to the editor)

We want to thank the Township Council for their unanimous support of a proposed $515,000 ancillary budget for the Montclair Public Library in 2022. When adopted, these funds will represent a major step toward restoring the library’s service to the Montclair community in a way that is desired and needed.

This funding will:

• Enable the main library to be open for 61 hours each week, including Saturdays, Sundays and three weekday evenings. This expansion of hours is especially important for working families.
• Add 22 hours at the Bellevue Avenue branch library for a total of 40 hours per week, including Saturdays and two weekday evenings.
• Partially restore the budget for books, videos and other media, making more resources available to serve our community.

The library hopes to begin the extended hours in June. Please join us in thanking the council for their support.

The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed municipal budget on Tuesday, April 19, starting at 7 p.m.

Irena Goldstein, Montclair Public Library Foundation
Edward Robin, Montclair Library Friends Steering Committee
Ilmar Vanderer, Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library

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