By Catherine Wilde
Staff Writer
Posted April 10, 2008

Security cameras have been installed in the Closter Public Library after a student sent threatening e-mails to Demarest High School Principal Bruce Sabatini last year were linked back to the computers there.

Since the case is still under investigation, Closter Police Chief David Berrian would not comment beyond verifying that was the impetus for the installation of the cameras.

Public Library Director Ruth Rando said six cameras are now in the library and one in the museum area, aimed at dissuading "misuse of library equipment."

She stressed that the library values the privacy of its patrons and said the cameras cannot view what is displayed on computer screens but instead will show who is using the computers, if need be.

"We don’t hone in on anyone specific, it is overall surveillance," Rando said.

She said the cameras would also safeguard the library in the event of a break-in since the video cameras will watch over the library’s entrance doors.

Rando stressed that "99.9 percent of the people who come in here are wonderful and have never caused a problem," adding that the "people in this town are fantastic."

However, she said, "cameras were put in because of the one specific thing that did happen to deter it from happening again."