Avalon Library and Historical Society Museum Prepare for Merger

AVALON — Borough Council passed a resolution June 11 approving an interlocal agreement between the borough and the Free Public Library “regarding the disposition of the Avalon Museum building.”
Discussions as to whether the Avalon Museum and Historical Society will merge with the Avalon Free Public Library have been underway for about a year, Library Director Norman Gluckman said. He said it’s still in the negotiation phase and has not yet been finalized.
The organizations have agreed on a framework through a memo of understanding dated May 22; at this stage, committees representing the two groups are working through specific issues, Gluckman said.
“The library would take over the day-to-day operations of the museum but the historical society would still be involved with the historical materials,” Gluckman said.
The library would not be involved with the purchase of historical materials and the Historical Society will continue to serve as advisors to the museum.
Gluckman said the library would transfer genealogy materials and the “New Jersey Collection,” material focusing on the southern end of the state, to the museum because it would “complement the material already there.”
The museum will remain at its current location at 215 39th Street but with a merger agreement, it would continue under the auspices of the library.
Gluckman said the second floor of the library could then be used for administrative space, and signage outside of the museum would change to reflect the library’s involvement.
The library would then catalog the artifacts and print materials in the museum and patrons would likely be able to check out historical materials from the museum once an electronic mechanism is established, Gluckman said.
“It would give greater access to the historical collection,” Gluckman said. “This will free up the Historical Society from paying for daily operations and focus on the preservation aspect.
“The merger would give the library more space and some library functions could be transferred to the museum. It would benefit the community by having more historical programs and ensure stability at the museum,” he said.
Museum staff would likely increase as more positions would be developed to assist the curator; all museum employees would then become employees of the library.
The library has interlocal agreements with Avalon Elementary School and the borough in which it has access to Community Hall and the school building when they’re not otherwise occupied. Gluckman said the Historical Society would gain some access to these venues for popular events through the agreement with the library.
“The merger gives the museum some degree of stability and would allow the Historical Society to concentrate on developing the historical collection.”
“It makes sense to put all the resources in one place and there are many benefits in bringing the two organizations together,” Gluckman said. “It’s a win-win situation.”
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.