Community Corner

Newark Library Gets 200 Pieces Of Donated Office Furniture

The donor, Shawmut Design and Construction, is currently working on the Philip Roth Personal Library.

The firm that is currently working on the Philip Roth Personal Library in Newark recently donated 200 pieces of high-end office furniture to the city’s public library.
The firm that is currently working on the Philip Roth Personal Library in Newark recently donated 200 pieces of high-end office furniture to the city’s public library. (Photo courtesy of Shawmut Design and Construction/Newark Public Library)

NEWARK, NJ — The firm that is currently working on the Philip Roth Personal Library in Newark recently donated 200 pieces of high-end office furniture to the city’s public library.

Shawmut Design & Construction delivered the bounty of furniture to Newark Public Library last month, according to a news release.

Shawmut partnered with its client, Soho House, to donate the furniture before construction begins on Soho’s new space.

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Shawmut volunteers and partners — Starlite Building Services, M.C. Electrical, Liffey Van Lines and Best Cleaners — packed, transported, delivered and assembled the furniture for the Newark Public Library over the course of two days. The library will be using the furniture, including desks, chairs and tables, throughout its main space.

“The coordination and communication to repurpose the furniture, especially in this overall pandemic environment, was gratifying to be a part of,” said David Margolius, executive vice president of Shawmut’s New York Metro region.

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“The Newark Public Library is a haven for all, and as such, it is a well-worn, well-loved space,” Newark Public Library Director Joslyn Bowling Dixon said. “Because of that, it is always in need of physical updates.”

“Our funds are largely committed to programming that meets our neighbors’ needs, including students, job-seekers, seniors, people with disabilities, and more, so a donation like this fills a void that we greatly appreciate,” Bowling Dixon said.

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