Not everything on display at the Moorestown library?

How many items are actually checked out each year in the Moorestown Public Library? Does everything really need to be out on display, or can the library put some items in “closed stack” circulation to save space and money? Township Manager Scott Carew shared some figures about the library’s circulation and how it could translate into some cost savings for a new library facility.

In 2011, Carew said the total number of items that the library has for its members is more than 130,000, which includes books, CDs, and DVDs. In 2011, almost 64.5 percent of those items were not taken out one time during the entire year, up about 20 percent from 2010. It equaled about 83,000 items sat on library shelves for the entire 2011.

On the flip side, only about 1 percent of the 130,000-item collection was taken out more than 10 times in 2011, down from about 10 percent in 2010.

The question is, why waste space on housing these items when they could be stored in a “closed stack,” which is basically unfinished space, and make them available on request? It can save money, Carew said, so it’s something that must be considered by the township council.

Library representatives have previously reported that the “closed stack” system cuts down on browsing within the library, a negative aspect for a new facility.

Carew said that the county library system is moving towards a “closed stack” system and the National Library Association recently published out a report explaining the benefits of such a collection.

“There is a definite cost savings if the town council decides to do this closed stacking option,” Carew said. “This would be opposed to just having the entire collection being on display at all times.”

In other news:

The township held its annual reorganization meeting prior to its regularly scheduled township council meeting last week. Members were appointed to their respective committees and Councilman Greg Gallo was once again elected to serve as deputy mayor.

The council approved most appointments unanimously, but two council members voted against the open space advisory board appointments during the reorganization. Councilwoman Stacey Jordan and Councilman Chris Chiaccio both voted against the appointments to the advisory board.

When asked why she voted against the appointments, Jordan declined to say who she was voting against, but said that she believed a member of the advisory board did not have the best interest of Moorestown in his or her heart.

She did not wish to reveal whom she didn’t agree with.

The township council also tabled an ordinance to amend a chapter of the township code for the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages. Mayor John Button said council members still had too many questions to approve the ordinance on first reading, but would likely discuss the ordinance at the next meeting.