To the Editor:

Princeton is a great place to live and work. One has only to note all the businesses beyond its boundaries that use the Princeton name. Clearly there is prestige attached to being in Princeton. This is both a good and a bad thing. The desirability of business space in Princeton has made it impossible for most non-profit organizations to find a home at a reasonable rent. A case in point is our organization, Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Books, Inc. We are a 501c3 organization that serves the community in many ways. Most obvious to many residents is that we provide a place for them to recycle their books. But in addition to this valuable service, we provide scholarship money for Central New Jersey Students and we donate books to programs that benefit the less fortunate.

Like so many other non-profits we need a permanent home. Although we occupy space behind 32 Vandeventer Avenue, this is only due to the continuing generosity of our landlord. This situation could change at any time. For three years we have been seriously looking for affordable space in Princeton without success. Were we to pay the typical rental costs in Princeton we could not continue to operate. Thus it was with a great deal of joy that we first learned of the plan to renovate the Valley Road School. The opportunity to have space at a rent we could afford sounded like the answer to our prayers. Alas almost two years have elapsed since we heard that good news. In the interim, competing claims have been made on the space and the School Board has deferred and deferred its decision while the building has suffered needless damage from the lack of some timely repairs. From all I have observed since coming here, the citizens of Princeton are keenly aware of the value of recycling. Surely it would not be in the character of a community like this one to destroy rather than repair and re-use the Valley Road School building when it has the potential to serve such a useful community function.

Frances Reichl

Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Books