By Jennifer Ersalesi
The Rutherford Chamber of Commerce will host and present the 72nd Annual Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 30th. Although the Parade kicks off at 4 pm, family-friendly activities on the West End (Union Avenue between Union School and Carmita Avenue) will begin at 2:30 and continue until the parade starts at 4 pm.
This year the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce chose the Rutherford Public Library, the Rutherford Library Foundation, and the Friends of Library as their Grand Marshals. One of the Borough's greatest assets is the Rutherford Public Library, its resources, and its staff. The Foundation and the Friends of the Library support the library and its programming and offer opportunities for community involvement and education.
This is Rutherford interviewed Gretchen Corsillo (Director of the Rutherford Public Library), Kim Bogosian (President of the Library Foundation), and Linda Rynd (President of the Friends of the Library).
TIR: How long have you been the Director of the Rutherford Public Library?
Gretchen Corsillo: December will mark four years I've been the Director of Rutherford Public Library. I started here in December 2020. The time has flown by!
TIR: What is the most rewarding part of being the Director?
GC: The most rewarding part of being the Director is knowing that the library's work makes a difference in the Rutherford community. When residents comment that our team has helped them find the right book, complete a task on the computer, or explore a new interest by attending a program, it truly makes our hard work worthwhile. I am constantly looking at our offerings to see how we can have the most impact, and I love being able to make a difference in people's lives.
TIR: Tell us more about your staff and their roles in supporting the programs at the Library.
GC: We currently have a staff of 20 people, and many of our team members contribute to our programs. Jane Tarantino - known affectionately as Ms. Jane - has provided high-quality children's programs for decades. Our Technology & Teen Librarian, Marion Johnson, handles all programming for students in grades 7-12 and also serves as our Tech Tutor for adults. I coordinate most of our adult programs that are offered by outside vendors with some assistance from Rhoda Portugal, our Reference Librarian. Lauren Walsh and Jen Capoano both run in-house programs for adults, such as their popular Cook-A-Book Club and Lauren's adult crafts. We are also very fortunate to have a full-time ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in Tatiane Ontivero, a rarity in public libraries. Tati teaches four in-person and four virtual classes each week to English learners. Our volunteer, Carol, teaches our Advanced ESL classes on Saturday mornings. All of our staff contributes to our programs' success by helping patrons with registration and answering questions. Our Marketing Associate, Pam Tully, also promotes all of our events. We have a great team!
Check out this month's Library Newsletter.
TIR: What are some of the most exciting new programs and initiatives at the RPL?
GC: This fall, we are launching a Library of Things. This new collection will have a variety of fun and useful items available for Rutherford residents to borrow. There will be a mix of household items, such as folding tables, basic tools, and entertainment, along with technology like external drives, a GoPro, and a travel-sized projector. The idea behind this collection is to provide access to items that one might need on occasion but not often enough to purchase on their own. It can also be a great way to explore a new hobby or skill without investing a lot of money. We are so excited to hit the ground running with this later in November! This year, we have also continued to expand our program offerings for teens in conjunction with the opening of our brand new Teen Space, generously funded by the Rutherford Public Library Foundation, in early 2025.
TIR: The Library, Foundation, and Friends of the Library have been chosen as the Grand Marshals of this year’s Holiday Parade. How do you feel about this honor and recognition?
GC: At the library, we are so honored to be named Grand Marshal alongside the Friends and Foundation. We truly appreciate the recognition and are excited to participate in such a well-loved event! The timing for this is great as 2024 marks our 130th anniversary and also coincides with being named Best Library in (201) Magazine's 2024 Best of Bergen Awards. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for recognizing our hard work, and that of our volunteers!
TIR: How long have you been on the Board of the Rutherford Library Foundation? Which role do you currently hold?
Kim Bogosian: I've been on the Foundation since 2015. It was actually this year's Foundation Gala Honoree, Jim Rizzo, who asked me to be a member, and I am grateful he did!
TIR: What is the most rewarding part of being part of the RPL Foundation?
KB: The Foundation is able to make major contributions to the long-term maintenance of the Library. The Foundation's main mission is to support the Library by raising funding for capital projects. As the needs of the community and technologies change, it's important for any Library to have access to funding that allows its physical space to adapt as needed. Our newest adaptation is the space dedicated to teens on the second floor that will be unveiled in early 2025, funded by the Foundation. We had initially anticipated this space to be open in 2024, but there has been a delay in the furniture delivery for the space. It's now more important than ever to preserve a physical space that's open to all, free of charge, and that encourages a sense of community and togetherness. I'm happy to be part of an organization that supports that.
TIR: Congratulations on being named one of the Grand Marshals of the Holiday Parade. How do you feel about the Library, the Foundation, and the Friends of the Library being honored this way?
KB: The staff of the Library deserve the accolades. The Friends and Foundation are support organizations, but the directors and staff who have maintained the institution for all 130 of its years in service are the ones who deserve our thanks. Our current Director, Gretchen Corsillo, does a great job of managing all the ways the Library touches the community every day. We're all grateful to the Chamber of Commerce for honoring the Library this year!
TIR: How long have you been part of the Friends of the Library? What position do you currently hold?
Linda Rynd: I joined the Friends of the Library of Rutherford when I retired from high school teaching in 2011. I am currently the President of the Friends.
TIR: What is the most rewarding part of the Friends of the Library?
LR: I love working with a wonderful Board of Trustees to raise money to support library programs.
TIR: Please tell us more about how the Friends of the Library support and are involved in library programming and events.
LR: Through our efforts, we fully fund the Children's and Family Programs which are held throughout the year; and the Summer Reading Programs for children, teens, and adults. We also contribute half the cost of both the Museum Pass program and the Library Speakers Consortium Membership. We pay for public performance licenses to enable the showing of movies at the library. Our requested budget for 2025 is $25,000.
TIR: What are the Friends of Library currently planning?
LR: Our major fundraiser of the year is our annual Mini-Golf Event, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8. The library is transformed into an 18-hole mini-golf course! Friday evening from 6:30- 9:30 is Adults-Only night, with drinks and snacks provided, for $30/person. Friday and Saturday from 10:30 to 3:30 are family times, costing $5/person or $15/family.
In addition, we hold our annual book sales in the fall and spring.
TIR: How are you feeling about being named one of the Grand Marshals of the Holiday Parade, along with the Library Foundation and the Rutherford Public Library?
LR: We are honored, along with the Library Foundation, to stand beside the Rutherford Public Library this year as it celebrates its 130th anniversary.
Comments