Barnegat Branch Library

History:

September 1978: Peter Pellicoro and Barnegat Library Committee meet with Library Director, Joseph Garcia and Branches Supervisor, Marie Cranmer to discuss the establishment of library services in Barnegat Township.

October 1978: The Barnegat Library Committee incorporates and adopts by-laws. Mrs. Mary Ann Cox is appointed director of the committee’s building fund.

January 1979: Major fundraising begins with the sale of membership cards for $1.00. Other fundraisers that take place throughout the year include: cake sales, a flea market, benefit softball game, and a production of a three-act play The Luxury Cruise performed by the Cross Winds Players.

May 26, 1979: The Barnegat Library Committee formally requests admission as a branch of the Ocean County Library System in a letter to Commissioner Albert I. Mayer.

January 1980: The Ocean County Library Commission, Barnegat Township, and the Barnegat Library Committee signs a three-way contract and establishes the Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library in half of the former Town Hall building at 700 West Bay Avenue (circa. 1910).

March 10, 1980: The Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library officially opens with approximately 3,000 volumes and subscriptions to 8 magazines and 2 newspapers, and is staffed by branch manager Jean Volgrin, one library assistant, pages, and volunteers.

1982 - 1985: The branch is enlarged and remodeled when the Township court is relocated. The Cox Home is also used for library programs and activities held by the Friends of the Barnegat Library.

April 1991: The branch location is closed by Barnegat Township due to severe structural problems. Barnegat Township, the Library Commission, and Ocean County begin talking and develop a plan for a new library building. Branch staff is temporarily reassigned to neighboring locations while repairs take place.

1992: Barnegat branch reopens. And ground is broken for a new 11,230 square foot branch located on the corner of West Bay Avenue and Burr Street. Building and furnishing of the branch is aided in part by $113,000 bequest from the estate of Eleanor R. Muniz.

February 7, 1993: Grand opening celebration at current branch location, 112 Burr Street. Services for public began on Monday, February 8, 1993.