Cranford Public Library Expansion Project
Cranford Library Breaks Ground on Expansion, Children's Room Moves!
Exciting times are ahead for the Cranford Public Library!
We're thrilled to announce the official commencement of the library expansion and renovation project for our Children’s Room.
Groundbreaking Ceremony: Mark Your Calendars!
Join us on Monday, March 3rd at 5:00 PM for a brief groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate this significant milestone. We're honored to have State Senator Nicholas Scutari, a key advocate for securing funding for this project, in attendance.
Children's Room Moves to the Community Center!
As construction begins on Wednesday, March 5th, the Children's Room will temporarily relocate to the Cranford Community Center. Doors will open at 10:00 AM, and the Children's Collection will be available during regular library hours.
Parking Information:
Please note that a portion of the library parking lot will be fenced off to accommodate construction equipment. We're incredibly grateful to the Methodist Church for kindly offering their parking lot to library patrons and Community Center visitors.
Community Center Access:
While the Community Center remains closed on Sundays, library patrons can access the Children's Collection via the connecting door.
Thank You, Generous Donors!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredibly generous donors for their overwhelming support of our "Room to Read" drive. Your contributions will enable us to purchase brand-new furnishings for our expanded and renovated space, ensuring a vibrant and welcoming environment for all. A special thank you to our Cornerstone Sponsors CRANFORD JAYCEES and CRANFORD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION for their generous donations.
Ribbon Cutting & Toddler Time!
Join us for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 4th at 10:00 AM to officially recognize our first program in the temporary location of the Library’s Children’s Department at the Cranford Community Center! Immediately following the ribbon cutting, we will host our beloved Toddler Time. All are welcome to celebrate with us!
We understand that construction may cause some temporary inconveniences, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to create an even better library for our community. We look forward to welcoming you to the new Children's Room at the Community Center and celebrating this exciting chapter in the library's history.
Children's Room Expansion Project To Begin This Month
The Cranford Public Library is thrilled to announce the start of construction on a major expansion of its beloved Children's Room! This exciting project will double the size of the current space, creating a bright, modern, and inviting area for our youngest patrons. The expanded room will feature large, sun-filled windows and a spacious layout designed to foster learning, creativity, and a love of reading.
To accommodate the construction, the Children's Room will be temporarily relocated to the Community Center next door, 220 Walnut Avenue. The Children's Room in its current location will close at the end of the day on Wednesday, February 19th. The temporary Children's Room in the Community Center will open on Monday, March 3rd, and will be open during regular library hours.
We understand that this temporary move may cause some inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to create a wonderful new space for the children of Cranford. The construction is expected to take approximately one year. We are confident that the final result will be well worth the wait!
During the construction period, all children's programs and services will continue to be offered in the temporary location at the Community Center. Please check our website at www.cranfordlibrary.org for a complete schedule of events and updates on the construction progress.
We look forward to welcoming you to the temporary Children's Room in the Community Center on March 3rd, and we can't wait to unveil the new and improved Children's Room next year!
Exciting News!
We Have a Construction Manager Selected for the Children's Room Renovation!
We're thrilled to announce a major step forward in the exciting expansion of the Children's Room! After careful review of bids, Grove Contracting LLC has been selected as the construction manager for this important project.
The selection process involved thorough evaluation by our consulting architects and other appropriate Township officials, who carefully reviewed all submitted bids. Based on their professional assessment, they recommended awarding the contract to Grove Contracting LLC.
This recommendation was officially approved by the Township Committee at their meeting on December 3rd. This formal approval allows us to move forward with the construction phase of the project.
What does this mean for the Children's Room? It means we're one step closer to:
An updated and engaging space: The renovation will create a more welcoming and stimulating environment for children of all ages.
Improved resources for Tweens: We're looking forward to providing a welcoming space for older children to support learning and exploration.
A brighter future for young readers: This project underscores our commitment to fostering a love of reading and learning in our community's children.
We understand how important the Children's Room is to our community, and we're committed to keeping you updated on the progress of this exciting expansion. Stay tuned for further announcements and updates as we move forward with Grove Contracting LLC! We anticipate sharing more details about the project timeline and anticipated completion date soon.
We're excited for the future of the Children's Room and the positive impact it will have on the young minds in our community.
Our Next Chapter Begins
Check in here for updates during our expansion of the Children's Room.
Our Next Chapter Begins
After more than a decade of planning and community input, the Cranford Public Library is set to begin a long-awaited project to renovate and nearly double the size of our Children's Room. The renovation project is made possible by pivotal support from the state of New Jersey, the Township of Cranford, and funds designated by the Cranford Public Library Board of Trustees.
Among the factors driving our Children’s Room renovation project are:
More than 20 Years of Cherished Use:
The Children’s Room has the highest use/square foot of any space in the library, yet it has not been updated since 2002. It’s well loved and well worn and in need of updating so that it can serve the next generation of Cranford kids and families.
Safer Spaces for Our Youngest Library Users and Their Caregivers:
Our Children’s Room is currently configured to maximize the size of the collection, at the expense of staff and caregiver oversight. This project reconfigures our spaces to put people and safety first. The new children’s room will also be getting its own brand new HVAC on the expanded roof. This will keep the temperature comfortable for staff and visitors so they can enjoy the new space in comfort.
Better Accessibility Benefits Everyone:
Our library spaces should be accessible to everyone. To this end, our renovation project will aim to lower shelving heights for some collections and expand the width between shelves to improve accessibility. Restrooms will be improved and the Service Desk will be reconfigured for better service to children and individuals with disabilities.
Room to Read:
The design team at Creative Library Concepts have helped us design a bright and welcoming space for our youngest visitors up through our tween patrons.The front of the new space will be geared as an area for small children to explore and use their imagination for play and learning. Here is where you will find picture books and activities. The area towards the rear of the new space will have computers and study tables for our older children to do their homework and just read for pleasure. Here you will find chapter books and graphic novels. The program room at the back of the children’s room will also be looking brighter and more welcoming. There will be new vinyl flooring for easy clean up, a fresh coat of bright paint, and the vertical blinds will be removed to allow for more natural light.
Timeline and Updates
We are now out to bid for a construction manager to oversee the new construction in concert with our architects, Arcari + Iovino. Please follow this site for updates on our project, design renderings, timeline, announcement of service interruptions during construction, and opportunities to support this project. These posts will be shared on the Cranford Public Library’s Facebook and Instagram pages as well.
We deeply appreciate the outstanding support, understanding, and enthusiasm of our fellow Cranford residents for this exciting project that will benefit our kids and community.