"...and they get FREE taxes? Oh My G-d, IT MAKES NO SENSE!"

WHAT ARE "POP UP" LIBRARY BRANCHES? 
Folks may know that Hoboken's Multi-Service Center and the Hoboken Housing Authority have hosted temporary "Pop-Up Branches" for the Hoboken Public Library.

These Pop-Up Branches avoid disruption of services to the public during the library's (frequent) maintenance, renovations, repairs and capital improvement projects; other public buildings host them in  available swing space. Temporarily.  When work is complete, the 5th street building re-opens, and The People return to a better, improved Hoboken Public library.

For example, last June, the Hoboken Public Library opened the Martinez Reading Room (named for Nora Martinez DeBenedetto's Dad, a beloved Library Board Trustee) and the Anna Roberts Reading Garden (named for Mayor Dave Roberts' wife Anna, a beloved  Library Board Trustee and Director of The Hoboken Public Library Foundation.)  These two wonderful additions, plus additional lower level space,  are used by the public, and may also be used for community meetings and events. Our tax dollars (and private donations) at work.

Anna's Reading Garden

The Martinez Reading Room

POP-UP LIBRARY BRANCH AT HOBOKEN'S MULTI-SERVCE CENTER

This summer, the Hoboken Public Library displaced operations to a second-floor swing space in the Multi-Service Center. On Thursday July 20th, 2017 the City of Hoboken sent out this Nixle Alert: 

"Hoboken Public Library Pop-Up Branch at Multi Service Center, 124 Grand Street

The Hoboken Public Library Pop-Up Branch at  the Multi Service Center (124 Grand Street, second floor) is now open Mondays 10 AM-8 PM, Wednesdays 9 AM-8 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM-5 PM.

The Pop-Up Branch will feature computers for in library use, study space, and small size circulating collections for children, teens, and adults.

Please note all loan materials are available for pick up at the Main Library, 500 Park Avenue. All programs will be held at 500 Park Ave unless noted."

Note: buildings owned by the City are not taxed.  This includes the Hoboken Public Library and our Multi-Service Center.  Hence, there is no loss of tax revenue when the Library opens a "Pop-Up Branch" in another public building.

Everybody seems to get it.... except for 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher.

TIFFANIE FISHER WANTS THE LIBRARY TO PAY THE CITY FOR THE POP-UP LIBRARY BRANCH

FISHER: "Does the library... for the temporary space at the multi-service center, do they pay any money..."  

RAMOS: "No"

FISHER: "...do they pay us?"

RAMOS: "No."

FISHER: "So they pay us NOTHING in our own space and they get free taxes?"

RAMOS: "Yes."

FISHER: "Oh my G-d, it makes no sense!"

RAMOS: "Sure it does, 

FISHER: "No it doesn't."

RAMOS: That's how it works."

FISHER: "No it doesn't!"

GA Note:  Councilwoman Fisher may stand alone in opposition of public funding for our library, but she's got company in her opposition to a major grant to the Hoboken Public Education Foundation. ( The HPEF is the non-profit founded by Hoboken resident Superwoman Shirael Pollack.) Stay tuned.