N.J. Admin. Code § 15:24-2.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 15:24-2.4 - Means by which priority alignment will be determined and evaluated

(a) Project alignment with the State priorities, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 15:24-2.3, will be determined and evaluated using the following criteria:

1. The extent to which barrier-free improvements do not exist in the public library building. The applicant must address what general improvements will be required in order to be barrier-free.

2. Socioeconomic profile. Public libraries provide an economic lift for residents, particularly in communities in which education, support services, and the social safety net are less robust. Measures of the socioeconomic need of the community should be included and cited.

3. Current needs. Articulation of the basic services the current library lacks, particularly in the absence of the expansion, repair, rehabilitation, or acquisition of an existing building. This may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the existing facility is no longer able to support the delivery of services to a community with diverse needs, limited shelf space or storage for books or audiovisual materials, and/or limited seating for customers.

4. Digital divide. Assess the extent of the current digital divide in the community, such as, high demand for public access computers, high percentages of customers with no Internet access at home, or limited access to electrical and data lines that makes it difficult to increase the number of computers at the public library.

5. Future projected needs. Assess the anticipated library service needs of residents through the year 2030, particularly as they are related to core library services, as stated in N.J.A.C. 15:24-1.1. This analysis may include, but is not limited to, projections of future community demographics, review of current and projected library use statistics, and an examination of city planning documents.

6. Resiliency. Address the need for resiliency improvements to public library buildings so that public libraries may function as community resources in times of emergency and disaster. For example, the public library building can be the one building in the community to provide cell phone charging for all in a time of emergency.

7. Extent to which current public library standards are met. Evaluate the extent to which the current facility meets the criteria for receipt of State Aid (as set forth in this subchapter) in the calendar year prior to the submission of an application. Should the minimum criteria not be met, provide an explanation or justification as to why minimum criteria have not been met.

8. Extent to which current building standards are met. Evaluation of the extent to which the current facility meets, or fails to meet, code standards for lighting, seismic, water infrastructure, and other design standards for health, safety, and energy efficiency.

9. Functionality of the public library building. Evaluate how well the building works as a library, how it is consistent with the library's mission, how it is consistent with the building program, flexibility of the building design in adapting to future needs, and overall functionality of the building for the ease of the customer.

10. How the investment furthers existing functions. Describe how the project will enhance functions of the existing facility through augmentation of collections management, technology, dedicated space, programming/meeting space, and services, among others. This may include, but is not limited to, projects fostering energy efficiency using green design principles and targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications; addressing collection preservation as part of building and rehabilitation design, such as the inclusion of climate control systems, where necessary, and ambient lighting; promoting healthy internal building environments that protect human health and well-being according to WELL Building Standards, as promoted by the International WELL Building Institute; laptop plug-in and lab areas; WiFi enhancements; age-specific collaboration spaces; workforce training/job searching equipment; consortium and delivery operations; and reconfiguration in anticipation of projected future growth.

11. How the project provides new services. Illustration of how the proposed project will contribute new or enhanced services for the broader communities it serves, including how the opportunities enabled by the project will complement other social services and programs within the community.

12. Degree of community support/partnerships. A description of the formal partners, both traditional and non-traditional, that support the library and/or the specified project, as well as the partners' respective roles dedicated to bolster the library's mission as it relates to the community it serves.

13. Effects of staffing, maintaining, and operating the proposed facility. Plans for how the proposed project will draw on future resources and how the applicant plans to support functions of the library once the proposed project reaches full functionality.

14. Cost-effectiveness of the project. Feasibility of the costs; are they reasonable, accurate, a good value, do they support increased efficiency of the building, and/or have an environmental impact.

N.J. Admin. Code § 15:24-2.4

Adopted by 51 N.J.R. 1610(a), effective 11/4/2019