Painting Protest Planned Saturday To Save Watchung Library

WATCHUNG, NJ — Volunteers from the Coalition to Save Watchung Library will be repainting the wooden door in the main entry way to the library building as part of a protest on Saturday at 10 a.m.

"The repainting of the door is in part a protest of the Borough's failure to maintain the library building, which has been allowed to fall into a dilapidated state, and partly a statement of support for keeping a library in Watchung," the coalition wrote.

Other volunteers will be collecting signatures on the coalition's petition that asks the Watchung Borough Council to reconsider their April 19 resolutions calling for the closing of the town's library.

More than 700 Watchung residents have signed their petition already, according to coalition members.

"Closing the Watchung Library, a branch of the Somerset County Library System, would put an end to the town's 79-year history of providing library services to residents in the small town," the coalition stated.

The library will remain open during the repainting; patrons will enter the building through a side door.

(Images via Coalition to Save Watchung Library)

Photo 1 - Coalition to Save Watchung Library volunteer Angela Della Ventura looks up from power sanding the door to the Watchung Library, preparing it for repainting.

Photo 2 - Coalition volunteer Cori Haveson prepares the door to the Watchung Library for repainting.

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