Sands Library Building 20th Anniversary
Executive Director Jennifer Podolsky, left, with American Library Association Interim Director Leslie Burger at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Sands Library Building. Leslie served as executive director of Princeton Public Library from 1999 to 2016.
April 24, 2004, was a transformative date in the history of Princeton. At about 10 that morning, Leslie Burger and Eric Greenfeldt, the executive director and assistant director of Princeton Public Library, respectively, opened the doors of the Sands Library Building. Neither the library nor the town would ever be the same. It took more than a decade of debate, study, outreach and fundraising to reach that moment, but once inside the new building, a community that always loved its library fell in love all over again.
Those who walk through the doors for the first time today would be excused for thinking that the Sands Library Building and the municipality’s Hinds Plaza were always here. Some are surprised to learn that the site was once a large surface parking lot with a twostory beige concrete library that was practically obsolete when it opened in 1966.
Some context might be helpful. While Princeton had a healthy downtown in the early 2000s, out on Route 1, the new café culture was thriving in commercial outlets such as Barnes & Noble and Borders. Meanwhile at the library, comfortable seating had been removed to accommodate technology, and food and drink was prohibited. As Leslie told me, the former library was set up so patrons could browse, find a book, bring it to the checkout desk and take it home. For decades, most programming was limited to the children’s room.
So you can imagine what a revelation the Sands Library Building was. Patrons didn’t need to drive to Route 1 for a café experience, they could get it at the library, which had its own café. They didn’t have to leave after finding something to read because there were now multiple places to sit and and read or work. People could also avail themselves of a robust calendar of programs for all ages and interests that provided a chance to meet their neighbors and continue discussions of what they’d just collectively experienced. Significantly, in the early days, people often remarked that they felt more connected to the community because of who they would see and meet at the Sands Library Building. It’s the reason our weekly newsletter is named Library Connections.
Much has changed for the library and the town since 2004. We’re now known for more than just physical objects located in a brick-and-mortar building. Many people utilize our resources without ever setting foot in the building, a number that has steadily grown since we were closed for six months during the coronavirus pandemic. But as the town grows around us, new visitors still experience the “wow” factor of walking into the Sands Library Building for the first time.
While we take this opportunity to look back at the opening and dedication of the Sands Library Building, please know that library leadership is forward-focused, looking at ways we can transform the library experience for the next 20 years and beyond.
Jennifer Podolsky Executive Director
192,250
19,565
When Marcus Budline was first through the door on April 24, 2004, he was entering a building that was considered “new” and “complete.” Actually, the Sands Library Building was at the start of an ongoing evolution that has seen it adapt to the changing needs of the community. Some features, such as auxiliary service desks and whole sections devoted to print reference books, were abandoned altogether. The second floor, pictured below, underwent an overhaul that resulted in much needed spaces for quiet reading, collaboration and technology instruction. While no one knows what the next 20 years will bring, adaptability will continue to be a watchword for the library.
by Cie Stroud
by Tim Quinn
This Report to the Community contains pre-audit figures for both Princeton Public Library and the Friends and Foundation of Princeton Public Library. To view the final, audited reports, please contact the finance director at finance@princetonlibrary.org.
$1,594,465
The featured author at the May 15, 2004, dedication for the Sands Library Building was Joyce Carol Oates, who has returned several times over the past 20 years. Ms. Oates was the first in a string of notable authors who have appeared in the Sands Library Building or under the library banner in nearby venues. These include Chinua Achebe, Fredrik Bachman, Jeffrey Eugenides, Richard Ford, Philippa Gregory, John Grisham (pictured below with Jim McCloskey), Chang Rae Lee, Paul Muldoon, Zadie Smith and C.K. Williams.
by Cie Stroud
April 24&May 15
The Sands Library Building (SLB) opens and is dedicated, ending two decades of debate about the future of the library, delighting Princeton and sparking a downtown revival.
November 18
Every screen in SLB is utilized as filmmaker Bryan Singer presents the world premiere of the trailer for “Superman Returns.” For one night, the library is the center of Superman fandom.
July 1
Leslie Burger begins her term as president of the American Library Association. Leaders of libraries on every continent come to Princeton to tour SLB and learn from library staff.
“Fairytales of the Brothers Grimy,” featuring celebrated puppeteer Preston Foerder, delighted children and parents at the dedication of the Sands Library Building on May 15, 2005. In the intervening two decades, the library’s Youth Services Department continued to connect youth of all ages with programs that entertain and advance literacy, such as the October, 2024, presentation by nationally noted author and illustrator Sharee Miller.
November 11
A New York Times article about the changing nature of libraries cites SLB in referring to Princeton Public Library as “a model modern library.”
January 2
The inaugural Princeton Environmental Film Festival kicks off in the Community Room with a screening of “What Will We Eat?” followed by a filmmaker Q&A and panel discussion. It proves a sustainable format.
October 10
An all-day celebration of the 100th anniversary of Princeton Public Library fills SLB and Hinds Plaza. The day is capped with an announcement that the Centennial Campaign brought the endowment up to $10 million.
Some of the first visitors on Opening Day of the Sands Library Building on April 24, 2004, were drawn to the state-of-the art Dell Inspirion desktop computers running Windows XP. A small, similarly equipped room in the back of the second floor was devoted to technology instruction. Since then, our hardware offerings have expanded, with new iMacs equipped with professional software in the Technology Center, along with Windows machines in the Computer Commons and laptops to use in the library or borrow for home use.
After Superstorm Sandy leaves much of Princeton without power, residents flock to SLB to warm up and charge devices. Staff extend hours and the library serves more than 30,000 people over five days.
A totally redesigned second floor reopens to the public.The library uses $3 million in private funding to change its physical space, meeting the evolving needs of a growing town.
While this report has focused on the Sands Library Building, throughout our history, when patrons talk about why they love the library, the first thing they mention is staff. From the staff members who gathered for a photo minutes before the doors opened on April 24, 2004, to the staff members who were able to pause from their work to pose on April 24, 2024, (and those who came before), Princeton has been grateful for the dedication and expertise of those who serve 72 hours a week and 356 days a year.
SLB closes during the coronavirus pandemic Staff quickly pivots, creating a website for the town, shifting to digital resources and virtual programming, then providing contactless pickup of materials. SLB fully reopens Oct. 21.
The library caps off the 20th anniversary of the opening of SLB by announcing that it will open the Myrna and Van Williams Spark Lab, a technology instruction area for youth, in 2025.
Operating and funding a library is a cooperative affair. The library is owned by the people of Princeton and is governed by a board of trustees in accordance with state law. The board, which includes representatives of municipal government and the school district, is appointed by the mayor with oversight by council. Its role is to make policy and ensure the library is well run. The library is funded by a combination of municipal and private funding. The latter, which includes money raised in an Annual Appeal and funds dispersed from an endowment, is overseen by a volunteer board. Together with staff, these volunteer advocates not only ensure that the doors open every day, they provide a structure by which the library can evolve to meet the needs of a grateful, and growing, community.
PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2024
Robert Ginsberg President
Christopher Van Buren Vice President
Jeffrey Liao Treasurer
Sebnem Tuzun Secretary
Keisha Smith-Carrington Superintendent’s Designee
Eve Niedergang Mayor’s Designee
Holley Barreto
Kushanava Choudhury
Stephanie Oster
Courtney Lederer Co-President
Shalu Naso Co-President
Sohini Rath Vice-President
Brett Shaver Treasurer
Swati Bhatt
Jane Fransson
Christie Henry
Florence Kahn
Nicky Katz
Seva Kramer
Beth Leman
Ann Parker McKeehan
Stefanie Rossitto
Dina Shaw
Jane Silverman
Andrew Sutphin
Administration
Jennifer Podolsky Executive Director
Erica Bess Assistant Director
Susan Chernik Finance Director
Kaylie Keesling Development Director
Timothy Quinn
Marketing and Communications Director
Bonnie Sprouls Human Resources Director
Department Heads
Laura Bishop Adult Services
Becky Bowers Information Technology
Janie Hermann Adult Programming
Ji Hae Ju Access Services
Pat McAvenia Facilities
Sonja Vloeberghs Lending Services
Marissa Warren Youth Services
What will the Sands Library Building look like in 2044? We can no better answer that question than anyone could in 2004, a time when such staples of modern life as the smartphone abd social media either didn’t exist or were still in the planning stages.
We can answer for 2025, at least. In the fall of 2025, we’ll open the Myra and Van Williams Spark Lab. This expanded space, originally an arts and crafts room, will feature laptop and desktop computers, iPads, sewing machines, a 3-D printer bar, woodworking tools, virtual reality and gaming equipment, crafting supplies and STEAM learning kits for up to 12 students at a time. The expanded space was designed by Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design of Princeton.
This expansion will help the library fulfill its mission to provide equitable learning opportunities in our community. Providing this space, where every child will have the chance to create, discover and increase their knowledge of science and technology, is a great example of how vital the library is to Princeton.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 CORPORATE
Bank of Princeton
Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s
International Realty
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
Glenmede
Graduate Hotel
Hiltons Princeton
Howe Insurance Group
JM Group
Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design, LLC
NJM Insurance Group
Noom, Inc.
Princeton Global
Princeton University Office of Community and Regional Affairs
Princeton University Press
Stark & Stark
Triumph Brewing Company
Whole Earth Center
Withum
