Glassboro library is getting a makeover

Gloucester County Library officials, looking for ways to fix up their Glassboro branch, made what seems to be an odd decision: They called in a SWAT team.

But they weren't looking for police officers in riot gear.

Instead, they applied to be part of the SWAT Team program created by the New Jersey State Library, which assists libraries with transformation projects.

The state announced this month that the Glassboro branch was one of four public libraries chosen to participate. The others are the Caldwell, Matawan-Aberdeen, and Midland Park libraries, none of which are in South Jersey.

In Glassboro, the project calls for brightening the interior with paint and additional lighting and modifying how materials are organized to make the library feel more like a bookstore.

Carol Wolf, the branch manager, said the improvements had been needed for a while.

"Once upon a time this was an Acme," Wolf said. "We hope to change the unattractive brown wood paneling and cinder-block walls so the inside has a brighter feel."

Plans to replace the Glassboro branch of the Gloucester County Library began five years ago, but have been put on hold for budget reasons.

"We are still hoping for a new library," Wolf said. "This economy has made that dream just a little farther away, so we decided participating in this program would be the best way to serve the current needs of our community."

Under the state program, one of the four SWAT team members is assigned to each of the participating libraries and will bring expertise to the project. The team member assigned to Glassboro is Gloria Urban, director of the Vineland Library, who said she was excited about the project because the branch is large and has a lot of potential.

"Any of the SWAT team members could give a talk about marketing a collection and making the library more user-friendly, but the staff knows the community and its specific needs," Urban said. "I'm coming in with ideas on lighting and displays and how they will flow through the building."

Urban stressed she would not suggest any changes that would exceed the project's $5,000 budget, which comes from county funds. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Heather Polillo of Glassboro, a frequent patron of the library, agreed that the interior was outdated.

"It has been here for such a long time," she said. "I'm glad they're going to fix it up inside."

Lori Karnuk, also of Glassboro, thought the suggested improvements were a good idea, but said she felt the money might have better uses.

"I would like to see it bigger," she said. "I'm just not sure if it is worth doing these renovations now. It might be a mistake to spend this money now instead of putting it into the new building."

Susan Kortonick, senior library assistant, was thrilled about the SWAT team's involvement.

"It really needs an update," she said of the library. "I've worked here for 19 years and have seen a lot of changes, but nothing like this. Being selected shows there is a large need for work like this."