Ocean County Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ocean County Library |
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| Established | 1925 |
| Location | Headquarters: Toms River, New Jersey |
| Branches | 19 branches, 2 reading centers |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 4,302,781 in 2014 |
| Population served | 575,395 (US Census 2010 population for Ocean County minus Beach Haven) |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $36,987,888.00 in 2014 |
| Director | Susan Quinn |
| Staff | 600+ |
The Ocean County Library is a public library system in Ocean County, New Jersey. It helps almost all the towns in Ocean County, except for Beach Haven. The main library, called the Headquarters branch, is in Toms River.
The library offers many services. They have special programs for people who can't visit the library, like "Books by Mail." They also have a volunteer program. Many branches have "Friends of the Library" groups, which are people who support the library. Lots of people use the library, with hundreds of thousands of registered users. In 2014, people borrowed nearly 4.4 million items! All library locations offer free Wi-Fi and computers for public use.
Contents
History of the Ocean County Library
The Ocean County Library first opened its doors on September 19, 1925. It started in a small building called the Lonan Building. This building was located near the County Courthouse. At first, the library served 30 of the 33 towns in the county. Some towns like Dover and Lakewood already had their own libraries.
Early Library Services and Growth
In the beginning, the small library was open only one day a week. To reach people in the countryside, a Model T truck delivered books. This truck would stop at schools and special "stations." These stations were often in post offices, stores, or even on private porches. During World War II, there was even a library station at a Coast Guard base!
In 1976, more towns joined the library system. Dover Township voted to become part of the Ocean County Library. This made the service area grow to 31 towns. The Bishop Memorial Library in Toms River joined too. It later became the Children's Services Department in 1978.
Moving to New Locations
The library quickly needed more space. It moved to a temporary spot in the Robbins Street Firehouse. Then, in 1950, it moved to the Ocean County Courthouse. In 1962, the library moved again to 15 Hooper Avenue. This building used to be a school gym. Later, the library expanded into another building nearby, known as the "White House."
On October 13, 1981, the Ocean County Library opened a much larger building. This new building was at 101 Washington Street. It was special because it included an old Presbyterian Church building. The church had been built in 1853. It became a meeting room for the library. The church steeple was removed in 2005 during a big renovation. Today, the old church building is a coffee shop.
The Bishop Building was named after a writer named Nathaniel Holmes Bishop. In 1984, it became home to a special collection of local history books. These books could not be borrowed. In 1997, a new computer training lab opened there. By 2006, all these services moved to the main library building. The history collection went to the Wheeler Room. The computer lab became the Technology Lab with new equipment.
Modern Expansion and Challenges
On January 28, 2006, the Toms River Branch had a huge grand reopening. The building had doubled in size! This big construction project started in 2002. It added a lot of new space to the library.
The new building also features many amazing art pieces. These include steel sculptures, textile art, and a large bronze sculpture. There's also a colorful terrazzo floor and beautiful oil paintings of jellyfish. A special light sculpture called "Woven Light" is in the Hugh B. Wheeler Room.
Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the library system in 2012. The Bay Head Reading Center closed for repairs until June 2013. The Upper Shores Branch in Lavallette reopened in September 2013. The library helped many people after the storm. They hosted events where storm survivors could find help from different groups.
Susan Quinn became the new Library Director on August 17, 2009. She took over from Elaine McConnell, who retired after 25 years.
Ocean County Library Branches
The Ocean County Library system has many branches and reading centers. Here are some of them:
- Barnegat Branch
- Bay Head Reading Center
- Beachwood Branch
- Berkeley Branch
- Brick Branch
- Island Heights Branch
- Jackson Branch
- Lacey Township Branch
- Lakewood Branch
- Little Egg Harbor Branch
- Long Beach Island Branch (in Surf City)
- Manchester Branch
- Plumsted Branch
- Pt. Pleasant Boro Branch
- Pt. Pleasant Beach Branch
- Stafford Branch
- Toms River Headquarters Branch
- Tuckerton Branch
- Upper Shores Branch (in Lavellette)
- Waretown Branch
- Whiting Reading Center (in Manchester)
Library Membership and Cards
It's free to get an Ocean County Library card if you live in Ocean County. You can also get a card if you go to school or own property there. The only town not included is Beach Haven, which has its own library.
If you have a library card from Burlington County Library or Monmouth County Library, you can also get a free Ocean County Library card. This is part of an agreement between the libraries.
Youth Services and Programs
Every branch of the Ocean County Library has books and materials for kids. They have everything from classic stories to new releases. The Youth Services staff plans fun programs for children from babies up to 6th graders.
Summer Reading Club
One popular program is the Summer Reading Club. This club encourages kids to keep reading during school breaks. In 2007, they even offered an online way to join the club. The club also has special events that match the summer reading theme. These events are led by library staff and sometimes by outside performers. Famous guests like Dr. Loretta Long (Susan from Sesame Street) have visited!
Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
Each branch also has a "Teen Advisory Board," or TAB. This group started in 1988. It gives teens a chance to create and run their own programs or events. Library staff help them make their ideas happen.
Events and Special Programs
The Ocean County Library system hosts many free events for the community. They have had famous authors visit for talks and book signings. Some authors include Peter Maas, Sandra Brown, David Baldacci, and James Patterson. Even some Sesame Street cast members have visited!
Concerts and Performances
The library also offers free concerts with different types of music. National musicians like Steve Forbert, Ron Sexsmith, and Marshall Crenshaw have performed. Comedian Jim Breuer from Saturday Night Live also performed there in 2010.
Workshops and Community Events
Beyond entertainment, the library offers many educational workshops. These include art demonstrations, talks about Barnegat Bay ecology, and local history. They also host "Meet the Mayor" events and discussions on important topics. You can find cooking demonstrations, workshops on medical and legal issues, and small business tips. The library often works with big companies like HBO and Scholastic to create special events.
Awards and Recognition
The Ocean County Library won a John Cotton Dana Library Public Relation Award in 2007. They received this award for their "Hurricane Katrina--Partners in Caring" project. The library raised over $120,000 to help the Hancock County Library in Mississippi. This library system was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Library Mascot
Since 2005, the Ocean County Library has a fun mascot named Sparks. Sparks is a big, friendly magenta dragon. He loves to read and visit fairs and other events around the county. Sparks has even appeared at Lakewood BlueClaws baseball games with their mascot, Buster. Before Sparks, the library's mascot was a ship captain character called Captain Book.
Images for kids
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The lobby of the Toms River branch
