What our clients say
Avon Public Library
03/03/2017
The Avon Public Library is part of the Eagle Valley Library District, located in the central mountains of Colorado. Our branch library wished to pursue purchasing new shelving for our DVD and Audiobook collections, and met Jim Malise at the Colorado Library Association annual meeting a couple of years ago. Jim was very attentive to our issues, came and visited our 3 branches, and we began the process in earnest to find the right shelving to meet the ergonomic needs of our patrons, and to meet merchandising needs and goals for our collections.
Our library is located in a remote and secluded mountain area, so Jim invited our team to the Front Range (Denver) area where we were able to meet with librarians and to see different shelving units, and to ask library staff about the pro’s and con’s of the units. This was so great to be able to meet librarians, and it helped us to narrow our shelving selections based upon the conversations with those library staff. Rather than “sell” the shelving units, Jim let the library staff sell the shelving units for him. Plus, we met some really nice people and have been able to maintain those new relationships.
Once we were able to narrow our product search, we worked with Jim and his staff, especially Chris Erdossy, to fine-tune our options and pricing. Chris was incredibly patient with us as we reviewed and revised out orders to fit our budget needs. No question or need or wish of ours seemed too small, and we really appreciated the guidance and warm reception we received.
Our new shelving units were installed in November of 2016, and the process was very smooth, with good communications about delivery dates and times, and the install crew was incredibly professional and capable. It was quite a process to watch the shelves come together (literally) and roll out into our spaces, because we bought units with castors. Our patrons enjoyed watching the process as well, an opportunity to see how their tax dollars are being used.
Now that we have had the shelves in place for over three months, we are finalizing and fine-tuning our signage and product placement to best fit patron needs. We have had many compliments on the new shelves, from liking the lighter color, to the zig zag shelves showing more covers and spine labels, to the ease of the pull-out drawers. I am happy to report that we have had an increase in the circulation of the collections as well!
Jim has tried to come up to visit us this winter, to check on the products and see how they fit our space, but the Colorado winter has prohibited this so far, but we know he will be able to come see us once the snow starts to melt, and we appreciate that he wants to follow up and finalize the process, which is very professional and very friendly.
I think any type of library would be pleased with JP Jay & Associates’ work, from those libraries looking to furnish a large or small scale renovation or simply for helping select additional pieces to add to existing decor. I would definitely use their services again in the future.
Sincerely,
Kim Saalfeld
Branch Manager
Avon Public Library
Adams County Library
04/17/2008
The Adams County Library System has had a long and very happy relationship with JP Jay Associates Inc.
In the early 1990’s, the Adams County Library System renovated a 75 year old building to become the Headquarters Library for the system. This project would not have been able to have been completed with the aid and work of the JP Jay. The library has been successfully operating now for more than 15 years and the shelving which was purchased at that time is in great shape. The shelving has been added to a number of times over the years with little hassle or fuss.
Additionally, the library system has now opened four additional locations around the country using JP Jay furnishings. We have found their delivery timely and the setup completely professional.
Again this spring, the Headquarters library of the system has contracted JP Jay for a complete redesign of our circulation desk. JP Jay worked with us to design exactly what we needed and even gave us recommendations for reuse of materials to save money.
I highly recommend their service and products. Feel free to contact me anytime about our experience.
Sincerely,
Rob Lesher
Adams County Library System
Gettysburg PA
717-334-0163
Barrett Friendly Library
04/23/2008
P.O. Box 604
Mountainhome, PA 18342
570 595-7171
April 23, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
During the past five years, the board of trustees and I have been on a long, time consuming and work intense journey to build a new library in the northeast corner of Monroe County. Our lives have been consumed with capital fundraising, special events, and planning meetings.
It has been our pleasure to work with J.P. Jay Associates Inc. We investigated several companies before engaging J.P. Jay. The company had been highly recommended to us by Carol Kern, library director at Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville, PA. She is a highly respected and trusted colleague.
We met with Jim Malise and Christine Erdossy for the first time in January 2006. My board president, Carol Hillestad and I were impressed with their expertise and their ability to listen to our needs. After the initial meeting, Christine Erdossy quickly supplied us with answers to our preliminary questions. After receiving our floor plan from our architect, Ms. Erdossy developed display boards to help us visualize the furnishings and begin the selection process. Both Ms. Erdossy and Mr. Malise have always been professional, friendly, adaptable to our concerns and able to find beautiful furnishings within our budget.
In the last week, our furniture and shelving has been arriving. We are very pleased with the installation process, and the beauty and workmanship of the furniture. Our library does not have a maintenance staff; we needed a full service organization, which would install the shelving and leave the library turnkey ready. J. P. Jay is that kind of organization.
On behalf of the library, I heartily recommend J.P. Jay Associates. It has been a pleasure to work with both Jim and Christine throughout the entire process. We look forward to moving to the new library in the next month and enjoying the results of our collaboration.
If I may be any assistance to you, please contact me by phone or email; my email address is brfpubli@ptd.net.
Sincerely yours,
Cindy DeLuca
Library Director
Bethlehem Area Public Library
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to commend J. P. Jay Associates for their excellent work in our recent library renovation. The Bethlehem Area Public Library recently opened the “Frances L. Barnard Children’s Center,” a $1.3 million project which turned an unappealing section of the library’s storage stacks into a beautiful area for children and families. Jay, Chris, and the team at J.P. Jay were absolutely invaluable throughout this process. They helped us with design decisions, furniture choices, shelving measurements, and all manner of issues big and small. They truly are library experts who brought an amazing wealth of expertise to a very difficult project. From the big picture to the tiniest and thorniest detail, they were stellar.
Throughout the long project they were cheerful, helpful, and always prompt in responding to our (sometimes panicked) questions. The final result is a huge success – surpassing our expectations in every way.
I recommend J.P. Jay Associates without reservation to any library working on renovations big, small, or in between!
Sincerely,
Josh Berk
Bucks County Free Library
05/20/2014
150 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-348-0332
May 20, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
The Bucks County Free Library has had a longstanding and productive relationship with J.P. Jay Associates for several years. Our service goal is to deliver customer friendly and flexible spaces to our customers, and J.P. Jay helps us meet that goal.
I am very proud of our work with J.P. Jay to improve how we display library materials by installing slat wall end panels as well as wall installations. Our vision of flexible service desks would not have become a reality if we hadn’t been able to turn to J.P. Jay. “Out of the box” solutions didn’t do what we wanted them to do. Other custom furniture companies were way out of our price range.
I particularly appreciate how Jay invariably comes to meetings prepared to listen well, take good notes, and throw out ideas. Working with him feels like a true partnership. It’s amazing to see, first, the drawings, and then, the pieces of furniture, that come to life as a result of this process.
I would recommend J.P. Jay to any library that’s interested in high quality and innovative work.
Yours truly,
Martina Kominiarek
Executive Director
Central York Middle School
10/07/2014
In the Fall of 2014, the CYMS school community was introduced to THE HUB, a re-engineered school library designed to meet the 21st century needs of teachers and students. JP jay Associates has been a pleasure to work with every step of the way, from offering advice and assistance with furniture choice to final assembly and installation. Thanks to JP jay Associates, THE HUB is an inviting learning space filled with bright colors to inspire creativity and unique spaces to work collaboratively.
Tammy Howell
Teacher
Dauphin County Library
04/28/2008
Letter of Recommendation for J.P. Jay Associates, Inc.
The Dauphin County Library System is pleased to write a letter of recommendation for J.P Jay Associates, Inc., a vendor we have used for several building projects.
Mr. Jim Malise oversaw the company’s work with us, including
- An outstanding initial sales presentation of his company’s products and credentials. He provided visuals and detail beyond the presentations of competing vendors. He put a great deal of effort into informing our staff of shelving and furniture options.
- Low bid on shelving for the Northern Dauphin (2003) and Madeline Olewine (2006) branches of the Dauphin County Library System.
- High-quality shelving for the libraries meeting or surpassing rfp standards. Shelving plans and layouts were executed with attention to detail and double-checking of measurements and spaces. Several “unknowns” occurred on both jobs, i.e. unexpected items on walls, and they came up with workable solutions.
- Installation was performed by trained and accountable J.P. Jay employees instead of being out-sourced to unknown labor. The installation and follow-up went smoothly.
- Additional furniture and display units were purchased through J.P. Jay to our satisfaction.
We believe the company’s work to be of high standards and quality, with good, personal customer service from Mr. Malise and staff. We would recommend their services to other libraries.
Catherine Alloway
Public Services Director
Fleetwood Area Public Library
08/06/2020
The Fleetwood Area Public Library would like to thank J.P. Jay Associates for their outstanding service during our library renovation project. For two years we had the pleasure of working with Jay, who guided us through the process of designing a beautiful new library space for our community. From start to finish he was patient, professional, and attentive. His knowledge and experience made him an asset to our library renovation project. We would also like to commend all the staff we worked with at J.P. Jay Associates. Chris in the office was thorough and handled all our questions and concerns quickly. The installation team was friendly, fast, and professional. Our beautiful new library space is now open to the public and the first word we hear when our patrons walk in the door is “wow!” We have the entire team of J.P. Jay Associates to thank for that.
Sincerely,
Carin Mileshosky
Library Director
Fleetwood Area Public Library
Fredricksen Library
04/23/2008
J.P. Jay Associates, Inc. handled all of the wood furniture & metal shelving for our 6.4 million dollar facility which opened in January 2001. That included our three public service desks, too. When we were in the planning phase Jim Malise met with our furniture committee once a week for about 9 months. He was very good with all the details that were necessary to bring out the Arts & Craft design we were looking for.
Everyone with J.P. Jay Associates was a delight to work with. We had lots of questions and they were very responsive. Follow through upon installation was very good. We were very pleased with the highly professional attitude of the company and highly recommend them to your library.
Best wishes to you in your building project.
Sincerely,
Joy Hamsher
Assistant Director
Cleve J. Fredricksen Library
Fulton County Library – Adult Area
09/25/2009
J.P. Jay Associates has worked with the Fulton County Library for over two years during the planning and implementation of the library’s renovation project. Even though we are a small rural library and our project is modest compared to larger libraries, we could not have been treated with more respect and consideration if we were the Library of Congress.
Jay Malise made many personal visits to our library, not to mention being readily available via phone and email. He attended our building committee meeting several times to answer questions regarding our shelving and furnishings. He was quick to answer all of our questions and concerns. As this was the library’s first major renovation, I had many questions and Mr. Malise helped me sort through and choose the best options for our library and our budget.
Every step of the way, from choosing the furnishings to the actual installation, J.P. Jay Associates made sure each detail was to our satisfaction. I highly recommend J.P. Jay Associates for their professionalism, selection and expertise.
Sincerely,
Jamie Brambley
Fulton County Library Director
Fulton County Library – Children’s Area
02/13/2017
Our patrons and staff are thrilled with our children’s furnishings! Everyone at J.P Jay is wonderful to work with and helpful, from the selection of colors and materials, and coordination of the delivery, to the installation itself. It was important for us to know we were receiving high quality furnishings that will last for many years. This is the second major renovation that we have used your services and both times you helped us stay within our (small, rural library) budget. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Jamie Brambley
Fulton County Library Director
Greenwood Public Library
To Whom It May Concern:
The Greenwood Public Library finally opened its doors on June 24, 2014. Community leaders, elected officials and long‐time users of the “old” facility were bowled over. First, the aesthetic design warmly welcomes one in with simple elegance. Then, it becomes obvious that the design wraps around effective function. The furniture and shelving have a job to do; they need to support ‐ literally and figuratively ‐ the multiple functions of a busy public library. Our mission is accomplished.
And, J.P. Jay Associates were beside us every step of the way.
New to the construction project game, the director and I emphasized to prospective businesses our need for dependable, unbiased guidance throughout the process. Jay Malise stood out from the crowd immediately. And our instincts proved right. For over two years, Jay helped us narrow down our design, never balking at “left turns” that sent us into an altered vision. Rather, he would settle any of our worries about changes. As he often said, “It’s all about what you want, folks.”
J.P. Jay Associates walk‐the‐walk of excellent customer service. From quality products to fresh and flexible design ideas to a superior selection/installation process, they can be counted upon. What a gift when faced with a repeatedly daunting construction project!
Yours truly,
Kathy Graybeal
Sussex County Librarian
Georgetown, DE
Hedgesville Public Libraries
09/16/2014
Dear Jay:
As the Director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries,my staff and I want to express our appreciation for the exceptional work your company did with the furnishings for our new branch library in Hedgesville.
From working with the staff to select shelving, tables and chairs within a limited budget to the installation which had to be on time and to be modified,the process was almost seamless. When we changed colors or materials, your staff was patient and respectful with a committee of strong minded librarians.
Both the public and the staff are very pleased with the aesthetics and the functionality of the new facility. These furnishings will not only work well now but will continue to do so in the future as the library has to adjust to a changing world.
My staff and I would highly recommend J. P. Jay and Associates to any library that wants to create a visually impressive and functional library.
Sincerely,
Pamela K. Coyle
Director
Hershey Public Library
12/05/2011
To whom it may concern,
It is indeed my pleasure to give a professional recommendation to Jay Malise of J.P. Jay Associates for his exceptional skill in meeting the redesign needs of the Hershey Public Library, recently.
The library staff, board of directors, and a space designer worked together to create a plan for the area to be changed. In keeping with our concepts, Jay made every effort to meet our demands, both creatively and practically. The challenges faced during this project included a limited budget, established design elements, color matching, and space efficiency. In addition, when our timeline for completion was imminent, Jay made sure that we had our furniture delivered, as planned.
As the elements took shape and became reality, Jay was always available by phone or e-mail to answer every question and /or to offer a new solution. I and my staff credit Jay Malise and his colleagues at J.P. Jay Associates with the success of this project which has received numerous accolades for its continuity, warmth, and comfort.
We look forward to our next project, now in the concept stage, to include Jay Malise’s expertise once again.
Barbara S. Ellis, MSLS
Director of Library Services
Hershey Public Library
Hoyt Library
Dear Jim:
Each new day brings more people into the new Hoyt Library to tell us how much they enjoy this wonderful community asset. They consistently talk about the pleasant environment and ambiance that exists in the new Hoyt. Much of the credit for that pleasant, welcoming environment belongs to J.P. Jay Associates, Inc. The furniture, the shelving, the quiet mix of vibrant and subdued color provided through your counsel have enhanced the design of this new edifice.
When the roof collapsed in February of 2007, destroying the Children’s Wing, the Founder’s Wing and most of our collection we were frozen in place for a brief period of time but soon managed to come together with the Municipality of Kingston to create a team of people who worked tirelessly to create the Library we now have. Then Director David Marks searched far and wide to find the best vendors to furnish the Library and invited them to bid. Your organization was selected and we are grateful that it was.
We thank you for your constant care, your counsel, your professionalism and your many visits to discuss the project. We especially thank you for the finishing – to the smallest detail – the installation and adjustments requested by staff.
On behalf of the Board, the staff and especially the patrons who enjoy, on a daily basis, the new Hoyt Library, let me say thank you.
Sincerely,
Jane Manganella
