STAFFORD – A new Ocean County Library branch opened on South Main Street, offering nearly twice the space of its predecessor and expanded areas for reading, technology and community programs.
The 19,700-square-foot facility at 179 South Main St., also known as Route 9, welcomed patrons at 11 a.m., following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by library and township officials.
The $13.2 million project received nearly $5 million through the second round of grants awarded under the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act. Library Commission Chair Henry J. Mancini credited cooperation among state, county and municipal governments with bringing the project to completion.
The branch replaces the North Main Street library, which closed May 1.
Inside, visitors will find a larger children’s section, a dedicated teen area, study rooms, public computers and an intergenerational space intended to help older adults connect with others. Shelving accommodates 40% to 50% more books and other materials.
Sparks’s Lab, the branch’s makerspace, provides room for activities involving science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Colorful seating areas offer places to read, browse magazines or spend a quiet afternoon.
A new sensory space includes equipment designed to engage visitors with different sensory-processing needs. Among its features are an Everbright wall installation with rotating, color-changing dials, a Surfpro ceiling projector that displays interactive games on the floor and a tactile fiber-optic wall panel.
Ocean County Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione, the board’s library liaison, said locating the branch beside the county resource center gives residents convenient access to multiple services. She pointed to the library, Meals on Wheels and county clerk services as resources available in one location.
Stafford Mayor Robert Henken praised the building’s design and efficient use of space, while thanking those involved in the project.
The opening marks the third home for the Stafford branch. It began operating in 1980 in a second-floor room at 94 Stafford Ave. A decade later, it moved into the former Manahawkin Baptist Church building on North Main Street.
Nora DeRosa, a former president of the Friends of the Stafford Library, said seeing the finished facility was especially rewarding after the group’s support for the project.
Tim Hart, director of the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission and historian for both the county and township, said the new building should create opportunities for additional programs and guest speakers. Presentations at the former branch were held in its basement meeting room.
Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
For information, call 609-597-3381 or visit theoceancountylibrary.org.
