Maplewood Libraries Stay Open

A couple of weeks ago the library board in Maplewood, New Jersey, considered closing two libraries during the immediate after-school hours because of the uncontained rowdiness of some of its middle-school patrons.  (A middle school  is right across the street from one library.) However, the  Maplewood powers that be convened and came up with some solutions. Library Journal reports,

Indeed, in Maplewood, the issue appears to be resources. Mayor Fred Profeta, who was dismayed at the board's decision, directed some $220,000 to expand a once-a-week church program to three days a week and to keep the middle school gym or cafeteria open after school. A consulting firm, Global Pact, will meet with students to help develop alternatives to hanging out at the library. The city offered to fund security guards, which the library has been reluctant to deploy.

I am heartened that the community responded to the problems in a positive way. Publicity from a front-page New York Times article (no longer available for free online) undoubtedly helped, as Library Journal points out.