Volunteers Celebrated During Friends Of Library Week In Berkeley

BERKELEY, NJ — The Ocean County Library Berkeley Branch hosts many free programs for community members of all ages and backgrounds. Much of this work is thanks to the Friends of the Berkeley Library, a group of volunteers. And during National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 20 through 26, the Berkeley Township Council is taking the time to celebrate all of the work these volunteers have done.

Mayor John Bacchione read a proclamation in honor of the Friends at the latest Township Council meeting, noting the work the volunteers do "highlights on an ongoing basis the fact that our library is the cornerstone of our community."

"The Friends understand the critical importance of well-funded libraries and advocate to ensure that our library gets the resources it needs to provide a wide variety of services to all ages," Bacchione said.

The proclamation was presented to Berkeley Friends President Melissa Street and the branch librarian Jennifer Grazioso.

Street thanked Bacchione for his support, as the mayor has hosted two of his own events at the Berkeley Library, as well as programs with other township personnel like the fire inspector and police. "Those were really great programs," she said.

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Street also shared some of the other offerings at the library, like as telling local stories about the people of Double Trouble Village in Berkeley.

"Please spread the word, come to the library, see what we have to offer," Street said. "There's so many different programs for all ages."

She invited everyone to continue supporting the library.

"If you keep coming to the library, we're going to keep bringing programs to you," Street said.