Librarian: Linden branch a 'community center'

Mayor Richard Howard said in May that the Linden - which costs about $9,000 per year to run - would likely close on July 1, the start of fiscal 2010. But Howard later signed a budget that funded the branch for another year. He did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the reversal.

Van Riddle said the closure delay allows patrons young and old to walk through the Oliver Street entrance this summer, signing out books, trying their hand at jigsaw puzzles, and even playing an occasional wiffle ball game on the grounds of the branch, which shares real estate with a firehouse.

"Sometimes the parents join in [on the wiffle ball games]," Van Riddle said. "It's great fun."

She estimates the branch has an inventory of about 10,000 titles, including a summer reading section for students in grades K-12. While some of the books will go to the main library when the branch closes, Van Riddle has an idea for the others.

"I've thought about the Christian Appalachian Project," she said. "They don't have books for libraries down there."

Van Riddle added that she'd transfer to the main branch if Linden closed permanently.

"Of course," she said. "I've been a professional librarian for 40 years."

Dina Malgeri, director of the Malden Public Library, said she considered moving Van Riddle to the central location this summer, to make up for a staff shortage there.

"Bringing a librarian here is all well and good," Malgeri said. "But I don't feel as a librarian that you should cut service all together in one area."

Two part-time technicians at the main branch were recently laid off, and a paraprofessional has also resigned. That position will remain unfilled. In addition, a librarian has also resigned to devote time to her newborn child.

"I don't know if we're going to be able to refill that position," Malgeri said.

The main branch offers summer programs for local youth. Van Riddle said the Linden branch offers "spontaneous" programs - such as a story hour when enough children gather - but nothing formal.

She said the branch will open Monday through Friday this summer, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on the days when she has medical appointments. Van Riddle estimates about 25 patrons come through each day.

On Monday afternoon, two youths walked into the empty branch to return books.

"You can get summer reading books here," Van Riddle told one of the boys. "Because I know who you are."