A resolution adopted by the Jackson Township Committee in October 1973 created a seven member library committee to examine the feasibility of a library in Jackson Township. In November, five more members were added. Although another study committee had been formed in 1965, it wasn’t until the second group was established as a Library Commission in 1974 that a library became a possible.
The Commission asked the Jackson Board of Education to donate a parcel of land for the proposed library. A 2.34 acre parcel of land on Coventry Road was deeded to the Township for the site of the library. The name of the road has subsequently been changed to Don Connor Boulevard.
The decision to become a branch of the Ocean County Library, rather than a municipal library, was the result of the Commission’s examination of the dedicated library taxes paid to the County of Ocean, and the kind of services which could be provided through the County Library. A joint agreement was signed by the Jackson Library Commission, the Jackson Township Committee, and the Ocean County Library Commission.
The original plans for a building with a geodesic dome were rejected by the Township Committee in favor of a conventional structure, which was felt to be more aesthetically appropriate. Grand opening ceremonies of the Jackson Branch Library were held in July, 1978. Some books were still on the floor and the parking lot was not paved, but the residents were more than ready to begin using the new library.
The use of the library and materials in it expanded rapidly. By 1982, an addition was being considered. The Jackson Library Commission, which had become the Friends of the Jackson Library, reconsidered the concept of a geodesic dome, particularly in view of the fact that the addition was to be used as a children’s area. This time the Township Committee agreed, and funds for the project were appropriated. The new wing, which housed the children’s collection and a small staff room, was completed in time to celebrate the Branch’s sixth anniversary in July, 1984.
Since then, the population of Jackson has continued to increase along with the need for library services from the Branch. The 1990 Census recorded 33,233 Jackson residents who were being served by the crowded 4,000 square foot facility. Library customers include many families with young children; therefore a second full-time Children’s Librarian was added to the staff.
The library was located on Don Connor Boulevard (formerly Coventry Road), .3 miles from Route 528, between the Jackson Senior Center and the Jackson Memorial High School. It is located in the geographical center of Jackson Township, which is 100 square miles, but in a largely undeveloped area of the township.
The Jackson Library was a single story structure including the attached geodesic dome for the children’s collections and programs. Inside the dome are brightly colored shelves which line the perimeter and extend like spokes of a wheel towards the center of the room. The main room includes a circulation desk and a reference desk. Several wallpaper murals decorate the room, but are largely covered up by shelving as the collection continues to expand. The branch staff shared a work area behind the circulation desk, and there is a separate staff lounge. There are no private offices, and the building is handicapped accessible.
Written by Paul Zubritzky, Principal Librarian.
1980s to the present
As part of the 1985 master plan, a new branch was being planned for. At the time, the Jackson branch was the third busiest of the branches. The county system pledged to pay half of the buildings projected cost, which was roughly $3.6 million. The township already designated a spot for the new library on a 65-acre property that would house a new municipal justice complex. The land, already owned by the township, is across Don Connor Boulevard from the cluster of municipal buildings. (Source: Library Overdue? Jackson looks at growing need vs. municipal tax, by Laurence Arnold, Press Lakewood Bureau, Asbury Park Press, 1/8/1994.)
The Township Committee transferred more than eight acres to the Ocean County Library Commission last night in return for $500,000 that will be applied toward the construction of a new county library branch here. The new branch is expected to be 24,000 square feet – about six times the size of the current building. The cost of the new branch is projected at $4.5 million. (Source: Jackson provides land for library by Gary Liebesman, Toms River Bureau, Asbury Park Press, 12/10/96.)
On Saturday, September 25, 1999 at 11:00 am, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place. The building was designed by local architect James W. Hyers of Jackson. The estimated cost for the entire project (including construction and site work) is $4,900,000, which will be split between the county and the Township of Jackson. The new branch will feature 24,000 square feet, a 90 seat meeting room, 80,000 volumes on the shelves, a 12 station technology lab, café, children’s story/craft room, quiet study room, etc. The estimated completion date will be the spring of 2001. (Source: Local newspaper clipping, paper/date unknown)
The Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony for the new Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library were held on Saturday, November 10, 2001.
The ceremony included the following:
- A welcome and flag salute by Elaine McConnell, Library Director
- National Anthem by Kathy Erikson, Little Egg Harbor, Branch Manager
- Invocation by Rev. Barbara Novick, Jackson United Methodist Church, Special Award presented by Mimi MacMullen, Principal Librarian Children’s Services to the Brielle Ramm and Switlik School
- Presentation of the key to the building by James W. Hyers, Architect
Benediction by Archpriest Philip Petrovsky, St. Vladimir’s Memorial Church, Speeches by: James J. Mancini, Library Liaison, Board of Chosen Commissioners, Joseph D. Grisanti, Mayor of Jackson Township, James F. Malone, Chairman, Ocean County Library Commission, Ted Koch, President of the Friends of the Jackson Branch and John Glace, Library Branch Manager
2001 and beyond
The library continues to serve the people of Jackson Township and Ocean County. In 2012, the Jackson Branch answered about 84,292 questions. According to the New Jersey Public Library Survey in 2013, the Jackson Branch circulated approximately 374,899 items. The library houses over 109,855 printed volumes for customers to read.
In 2013, the library held over 50 adult programs, 160 computer classes for adults. During the Children’s Summer Reading program there were 423 children registered for the Summer Reading, 177 children who read at least 5 books, 34 programs with 1240 who attended. A wide-variety of outside groups use the library’s meeting room space including schools, scout troops, businesses, government, and civic groups.
Compiled by Meagan Toohey, Principal Librarian.