Major Monmouth County Library Renovations To Begin

MANALAPAN, NJ — Work will begin in September on a $2.4 million upgrade and modernization of the Monmouth County Library headquarters in Manalapan, Monmouth County Library Commission Chair Renee Swartz announced this week.

The first of the three phases is a modernization of the library headquarters, which was first built in 1987 and expanded in 2000. The first phase is anticipated to be completed within three months. Phase two involves renovations to the children’s library and will follow immediately. The third and final phase will include renovations to the meeting rooms, staff areas and administrative offices.

The funding was made possible through a capital improvement bond ordinance requested by the Monmouth County Library Commission and approved by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Monmouth County Library reimburses the county annually for the specified period from its budget.

Phase one includes installing all new electrical wiring. To do that, all the library furniture has to be moved around, and they will install wiring under the floors, and put in new floor coverings.

Once finished, library patrons will be able to access electronic equipment from desks, tables and chairs while still be able to maintain privacy and space for individual use, library staff said.

A new, ADA-accessible circulation desk will also be built, and there will be changes to the main reading room: Shelving will be relocated to allow for both study and collaborative work, and electronics will be upgraded to enable users to bring and use their own devices.

Also in phase one, the Teen Room will be upgraded with new tables and chairs inviting both individual and group projects. The Teen Room is being re-designed to enable more programming exclusively for teenagers.

A variety of seating options at varying sizes and heights will offer greater flexibility for groups who want to study together. Many will include dividers for users who want to have more privacy.

“By simply observing our library users, we’ve come to realize the privacy some are seeking, the more comfortable seating others want for casual reading and the larger tables they need for group discussions and sharing knowledge," said Library Director Judi Tolchin. "By working with professional library planners, we have been able to incorporate all of these features, along with more electronic technology to continue to meet the needs and desires of the 21st century library user.”

“With 350,000 visits recorded at the headquarters library in the past year and over 1.2 million system-wide visitors annually, it is important that the library keeps up with and provides the technology that today’s library user demands,” Monmouth County Freeholder Deputy Director Lillian Burry said.

“The Commission, , and library staff have been working closely in planning these renovations for months,” Swartz said, “to ensure the work is done as quickly as possible and with the very least inconvenience to all library users. We are happy to report that work can continue without any expected closures on regular library days.”

Only minor inconveniences are anticipated for library users while the work is done, she said.

Most of the work will be done during regular open hours for the library; some will also be completed after hours to avoid any closures or inconvenience to users. Anticipated closures will involve only specific sections rather than the entire complex and will only be for limited times on specific days.

Photo: Exterior of the library headquarters provided to Patch by the Monmouth County Library System.