STAFFORD – The shovels were put into the ground; the hard hats were firmly in place and the latest phase of a new library was launched, celebrating the start of construction on a new 19,700 square foot library located at 179 South Main Street.
The new facility will provide educational resources and community spaces, state of the art technologies, public computers and shelving for 40 to 50 percent more books and materials. The new branch will also include larger areas for children’s programs, and an intergenerational space for senior citizens to socialize and enjoy library services.
It will also feature a new teen area, study rooms, maker space for STEAM educational activities, and a sensory space to provide a welcoming environment for people with autism, Alzheimer’s or other sensory processing needs.
“Today is the result of strong partnerships, working together for a common cause – to bring a new library branch to the southern part of Ocean County that can be enjoyed by all of our residents,” said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari, liaison to the Ocean County Library system. “We look forward to the day that we can walk through the doors of this new branch and see the vision of so many talented and creative professionals that brought this to fruition.”
Vicari was joined by Stafford Mayor Gregory A. Myhre; Chairman of the Ocean County Library Commission Timothy McDonald; Jennifer R. Nelson, New Jersey State Librarian; Director of the Ocean County Library Susan Quinn; Library Commission Member Henry Mancini; and a host of representatives from various county, local and state agencies at the ground breaking for the here.
“The new Stafford library branch will be a great asset to Stafford Township and Southern Ocean County. A library is not a school or a university, but it is still a special place of learning,” Myrhe said. “Having the library built here will tie everything together nicely and make a one-stop resource center for the Southern part of Ocean County.”
The new branch will be located next to the Ocean County Southern Service Center which houses a number of Ocean County services including a main nutrition site for seniors, the Ocean County Clerk’s Office, Senior Services, Department of Human Services and Veterans Service Bureau.
“This new branch replaces an aging facility,” Vicari said. “Relocating it to 179 South Main Street brings it closer to existing county government services. In a county as large as Ocean County, accessibility to programs and services is important.”
Vicari said he appreciated the effort to secure the grant from the state Library Construction Bond Act.
“This is a big savings for the County,” he said. “Our county library staff in concert with the administration worked tirelessly to make certain our funding application would gain the state support needed to be approved.”
The Ocean County Library was selected to receive a $4.8 million grant in the second round of funding for the Library Construction Bond Act which allocates $37 million to 36 library projects from 13 counties across New Jersey.
New Jersey State Library Librarian Jennifer R. Nelson said, “the one thing libraries give people is hope, part of what we say at the New Jersey State Library is that life happens at the library, and we hope life happens here at your new library branch.
On April 5, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners awarded a contract to Newport Construction Management Corp, Pennsauken, to construct the new branch. The cost of $9,488,700 is offset by the $4.8 million grant from the New Jersey State Library Construction Bond. The project is scheduled to be finished in September 2024.
In anticipation of building a new library branch at the County-owned property at 179 South Main Street, the County has already extended a water main to the site and drainage. Parking at the site will be reconfigured to meet the needs of all the services sharing the complex.
Ocean County Library Director Susan Quinn said, “we deeply appreciate the work of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, the Stafford Township Mayor and Council, the Library Commission, the state Library Construction Bond, the library staff and the County staff as we all work together to bring the best services and programs to the residents.”
“The new library will be a field of dreams and possibilities. It holds an exciting future for all of us at the Ocean County Library,” she added.
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