Patricia Coyle, President of the Library Commission outlined the role of a Library Trustee as a supporter of library services and an advocate for excellence. Trustees will work on behalf of the entire community. They will ensure the library has professional staff. They have visited other libraries across the state, and have used the Internet to get information.

The library will be called the Free Public Library of the Borough of Avalon. It will be an 8000 square feet building located behind borough hall. There will be a separate area for the children's library, a computer lab (where classes will be held), a study room, a small group room and a quiet room (for quiet study). There will be an area for periodicals and newspapers, a reference section, and a media area with videotapes and books on tape. There will be office space for the staff.

The project will go out for bid in September with construction to start in October. The completion date has not been set, however, the library will open on January 1, 2005 - the date on which Avalon will no longer be part of the county library system. Payment of the bond and the library operations will come out of the realty tax that would otherwise have gone to the County.

The goal of the extension is educational, recreational and cultural. In the school there will be an art room (with a kiln) and a music room. Both will be available to the community. There will be a larger community room in the school for group meetings and film festivals. It gives the opportunity to bring many more services to the community than we have at the moment.

The Commission would like to know what the public wants. What services, types of books, videos, periodicals, and newspapers would be wanted.

The Library Commission meets on the second Thursday of the month in Borough Hall at 7:00 p.m. Patricia Coyle should be contacted if a person wants to volunteer for committees, etc.