The Beach Haven Library Board of Trustees and Staff are pleased to announce that renovation and restoration of the library building located at 247 North Beach Avenue is largely complete, and library collections have been moved back into place. Full operations at the historic library, which opened to the public in 1924, will resume on Monday, June 26.
The library will host a Grand Opening on July 12.
The library has been operating out of a temporary location on the second floor of Beach Haven Borough Hall since last November after environmental testing revealed unsafe conditions at the historic library, and the Borough Council declared an emergency.
Work on the library building included addressing problems with water in the basement, as well as remediating mold and higher-than-acceptable levels of lead in the air resulting from lead paint on walls and shelving.
All remediation has been completed and the building interior has been newly painted.
“After many months, there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” said Jane DeHaven, the library’s new Director. “It was no easy task to get 40,000 books back onto the shelves, rehang the artwork, curate displays, and resettle staff and equipment into the library building. The support we received from Borough administration was phenomenal, and everyone from Borough Manager Sherry Mason to the entire team at Beach Haven Public Works was there when we needed them.”
“I also can’t begin to thank our Library Board, and especially the executive committee— Board President Kathy Kelly, Vice President Tina Hughes-Kelsall, Treasurer Nancy Thornton, and Secretary Jayne McElvery—for going above and beyond during this unprecedented challenge.”
“We’re happy to be reopening, and we’re looking forward to a busy summer season.”
Beach Haven Library #609-492-7081