MANAHAWKIN, N.J. — The Ocean County Library will officially open its new Stafford Branch on Oct. 5, replacing its former facility on North Main Street with a larger, state-of-the-art building designed to accommodate the region's growing population.Located at 179 S. Main St., the two-story, 19,700-square-foot facility featuring a coastal navy facade and white trim will host an outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by its official public opening at 11 a.m.The project was funded in part by a $4.824 million gra...
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. — The Ocean County Library will officially open its new Stafford Branch on Oct. 5, replacing its former facility on North Main Street with a larger, state-of-the-art building designed to accommodate the region's growing population.
Located at 179 S. Main St., the two-story, 19,700-square-foot facility featuring a coastal navy facade and white trim will host an outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by its official public opening at 11 a.m.
The project was funded in part by a $4.824 million grant through the second round of the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act, a competitive program administered by the New Jersey State Library that distributed $37 million across 36 library projects statewide. The remaining costs were backed by county and local support, placing the new branch near existing Ocean County government facilities on the same property.
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"This has been a project that has taken many years to come to fruition," said Henry J. Mancini, chair of the Ocean County Library Commission. "It is an excellent example of multiple layers of government working together to provide this great public asset to the residents of Stafford Township and Ocean County."
The upgraded facility increases collection capacity by 40% to 50% over the previous location and introduces several specialized community spaces, including:
"We are incredibly excited to open the doors to this beautiful new branch and provide the community with the services, programs, collections, technology, and gathering spaces they have been anticipating," said Library Director Susan Quinn.
Jennifer Bacchione, deputy director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and liaison to the library system, emphasized the role of the state's largest library network in community development, noting that the new location ensures broader access to county resources.
Following its grand opening, the Stafford Branch will operate seven days a week: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.