PETERSBURG — On Wed., Sept. 8, freeholders and library officials reopened the newly renovated Upper Cape branch of the County Library system at a ribbon cutting ceremony. A long-time library commissioner was also honored with a reading room.
“Improvements include many energy-saving steps such as new gas HVAC system complete with a building management system for monitoring and maintenance and more energy-efficient lighting,” said Freeholder Ralph Bakley, liaison to the library system. “Other improvements include new carpeting, ADA compliant bathrooms and entrances as well as a new quiet reading room.”
Renovations at the branch, located at 2050 Tuckahoe Road in the Petersburg, totaled about $980,000, according to Bakley.
“In these hard times, libraries have become more essential to people as they seek access to free education, research, job training opportunities, as well as entertainment,” Bakley added. “I am glad our county is effectively providing these services.”
“The library, in addition to being much more energy efficient, is now brighter and more appealing for our patrons,” said library Director Deborah Poillon.
Poillon noted that the branch’s children’s room was redecorated with brighter colors, new shelving and rugs making it more kid friendly and a teen area has been created with café seating.
Poillon also announced that a new reading room at the branch was being dedicated to former Library Commission Chair Mary Dempsey “for her dedication to the Cape May County library system.”
Poillon said Dempsey, who served on the commission from 1991 to 2010, was always an “enormous help” to her.
“As a new library director in 2005, I often called Mary to ask her advice,” Poillon told the Herald. “Over the years we continued that relationship. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
Under Dempsey’s lead, the Library Commission oversaw the dedication of the new Woodbine library as well as the addition of the Wildwood Crest and Cape May libraries into the county system, Poillon said, noting that nearly every branch was also renovated during Dempsey’s tenure.
According to a county release, the Upper Cape Branch Library is one of three library branches recently renovated by the Library Commission. Additionally, two new library branches are being built, one in Sea Isle City and the other in Stone Harbor.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
