Residents gathered at Jackson Township Town Hall on Thursday as Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn recognized two major library milestones: the 100th anniversary of the Ocean County Library and the observance of National Friends of Libraries Week.
Mayor Kuhn, joined by the Jackson Township Council, read dual proclamations celebrating the enduring legacy of the Ocean County Library system and the volunteers who sustain them.
The proclamations highlighted the Ocean County Library’s century-long role as a cornerstone of education and community engagement in Ocean County and in Jackson.
Librarian Rachel Montanez, of the Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library accepted the proclamation on behalf ot the entire Ocean County Library system.
The Ocean County Library first opened its doors in September 1925 in Toms River. Over the past century, it has expanded into a network of branches serving thousands of residents, providing access to books, technology, and educational programming for all ages. The library’s programs have evolved with the community, offering digital literacy classes, career resources, and cultural events that foster inclusion and lifelong learning.
A resolution adopted by the Jackson Township Committee in October 1973 created a library committee to examine the feasibility of a library in Jackson Township. The committee 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 decision to become a branch of the Ocean County Library, rather than a municipal library, was the result of the Committee’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.
That building still stands as an auxilliary building used by the township on Don Connor Boulevard.
Later, a joint agreement was signed by the Jackson Library Commission, the Jackson Township Committee, and the Ocean County Library Commission. With the population growing the library decided to build a new branch.
The township designated a spot for the new library on a 65-acre property that would house a new municipal justice complex. The Grand Opening was held on Saturday, November 10, 2001.
Mayor Kuhn praised the library staff and county for “providing free access to accurate information to all people,” noting its ongoing effort to maintain collections and programs that reflect the county’s growing diversity.
Honoring the Friends of the Library
In a separate proclamation, Kuhn recognized the Friends of the Library for their volunteer service and financial support that help local libraries thrive. She credited the group’s fundraising and advocacy efforts for ensuring that libraries have the resources needed for children’s programs, summer reading, and special community events.
“The work of the friends highlight an ongoing basis the fact that our library is the cornerstone of the community providing opportunities for all to engage in the joy of lifelong learning and connect with the thoughts and ideas of others from ages past uh to present. These volunteers set an example for civic engagement,” Kuhn said, adding that their dedication strengthens the township’s sense of unity and purpose.
