Point Pleasant Borough Branch

Hours:

Mon - Thu - 10:00am - 9:00pm

Fri - Sat- 10:00am - 5:00pm

Sun - Closed

About:

Community interest in a library located in the Borough of Point Pleasant was strong enough in 1973 to make a facility the topic of newspaper editorials and Borough council meetings. The debates ranged over several locations and alternate ways of financing the project. A referendum to withdraw the Borough from the County Library and form a municipal library was among the considerations.

The Point Pleasant Council had joined the Beach Council in 1923, in making annual contributions to the Point Pleasant Library Association for the maintenance and operation of the library located in Point Pleasant Beach. Growth in both communities through the early 1970s was making it apparent that this facility was becoming overburdened.

The State Library was consulted, but unfortunately federal funding for construction was not available in 1973. Five years later, efforts were resumed. Based on recommendations in the Master Plan which was being developed for Point Pleasant Borough, Councilman Marshall Boggio contacted the Ocean County Library and the State Library in pursuit of grant funds for construction.

The venerable Library Association had been appealing to both councils for their cooperation in extending library services. A study, commissioned by the Point Pleasant Borough and the Association in 1979, determined a municipal library would not be in the town’s best interest. A joint meeting of the councils was held in March 1980 to discuss additional library facilities in the Boroughs. Shortly after his election as Mayor in 1983, Mr. Boggio formed a Library Committee to study the feasibility of a community library. Mayor Boggio contributed fees for performing marriages to a Library Building Fund.

The Facility Development Phase of the Ocean County Library’s Master Plan was adopted in 1986. Under this plan costs for construction of a new building would be split between the county and the municipality. A site on Beaver Dam Road was selected, and a contract was signed between the County, the Council, and the Ocean County Library Commission. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on October 29, 1987 for the first building to be constructed as part of the Master Plan’s development program.

A large number of pleased residents attended the grand opening ceremonies on January 15, 1989. The building has been enhanced by the installation of a stained glass rendering of a merry-go-round formerly located at Clark’s Landing. Patron complaints about the walk from the rear parking lot to the front entrance led to a decision to reconfigure the facility in 1994 to add an entrance on the side. At this same time, the branch was reconfigured, with the circulation desk and the children’s sections switching locations and many stacks moved throughout the branch.

In more recent years, a storage room has been converted to allow a work space for young adult and reference librarians. The reference desk was updated, and a book drop was added to the circulation desk. In 2005, an area being the library that had been covered in trees was cleared to create what is now Campbell Park. A closet has been converted to an ongoing Book Sale Room. In 2010 new carpet and tile were installed.