By Sunayana Prabhu
TINTON FALLS – The air was filled with the crisp smell of brand-new books as volunteers and staff members of the Tinton Falls Public Library rolled large boxes through newly opened doors. Fresh volumes were being arranged along fiction, nonfiction and children’s aisles that have sat empty since a mold infestation in a trailer attached to the building shuttered the community staple in 2017.
But after a seven-year closure, the library is reopening with a celebration – “Thankful for You!”
The Tinton Falls Public Library, a member library of the Monmouth County Library (MCL) system, is finally opening its doors to the public again, just in time for Thanksgiving. The reopening celebration is planned for Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library, located at 664 Tinton Ave.
The team behind the massive undertaking was beaming with gratitude amid a flurry of activity for the planned celebrations.
“We’re very thankful to be here. We’re thankful that we were given permission to continue to exist by our municipal government,” said Linda Cicalese, the interim vice president of the Tinton Falls Public Library Association.
“A segment of the population” recommended foregoing reopening and merging services with the Eastern Branch of the MCL in Shrewsbury, said Cicalese, but “this is more of a community space, and it’s more intimate.” Cicalese has been part of the tireless effort to raise funds, secure grants and oversee the library’s rehabilitation over the past several years.
The library’s closure in 2017 due to a black mold issue was a major loss for the tight-knit community, as it had served as an important gathering place and resource, especially for local children. During the shutdown, the association worked to keep the library’s presence alive through fundraisers and community events.
“We’re starting from ground zero at this point,” said Cicalese, noting that nearly 46,000 items owned by the library had to be disposed of due to fear of contamination. This included the entire collection of books, DVDs and CDs. The library also lost all of its archived materials of historic significance. Cicalese said the association pulled through the ensuing years just out of “sheer stubbornness,” even as the COVID-19 pandemic permanently changed the world.
“It’s a lot of physical work, it’s a lot of mental work, it’s a lot of legwork, and it was all to get this library reopened, back on its feet,” she said.
In late 2021 the library was awarded a New Jersey Library Bond Construction Act grant. The association then worked with the Borough of Tinton Falls in 2022 to access the grant funds. Remediation of the mold issues was completed in 2023, and the borough awarded funding and a contract for building repairs. The repairs and inspections were completed in June. Since then, the board has hired library staff, restocked shelves and purchased necessary furnishings.
The library, which sits on the same premises as the Tinton Falls Middle School, has been completely renovated with all new books and materials.
“We’re thankful to be here,” said Lauren Gormley, the new Tinton Falls Library director hired in August. She has been working closely with the association to reimagine the library’s layout and offerings to best serve the community moving forward.
The new design features dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults, with the children’s area taking a more prominent role. “I want this to be a throwback, where kids can look at each other and interact, not just stare at screens,” Gormley explained. There is a new space carved out just for teenagers that never existed in the old library.
The library will start with a collection of around 10,000 high-quality books, with plans to grow to 15-20,000 over time. They’ve also left room for community programming, including story time, music performances, and other events.
They hope the library becomes a ‘third space,’ ” Cicalese said, where people can come to gather, socialize and engage with each other, beyond just work and home.
The grand reopening Saturday is free and will feature a children’s music concert, light refreshments and the chance for community members to sign up for new library cards. The association is expecting a large turnout, as the town has eagerly anticipated the library’s return.
“People are craving a return to normalcy and a place to connect,” Cicalese noted. “We’re excited to be that space again.”
The library prides itself on its children’s reading program and is looking to re-launch it in a post-pandemic world that has normalized digital dependence to a large extent. However, Cicalese is optimistic about the power of books. She discussed the wonder of books and their relationship to brain activity. “While you’re watching TV, your brain is actually going into the first stage of REM sleep. Whereas, while you’re reading, you’re smelling things, you’re seeing things with your brain. You’re hearing noises. Your brain is on fire when you’re reading. And this can’t be anything but good and healthy.”
After years of uncertainty and struggle, the Tinton Falls Public Library is ready to write a new chapter and once again serve as a vital hub for learning, community and connection in the town.
The article originally appeared in the November 21 – November 27, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
