Current Press Release

TOMS RIVER – To better serve our customers and the community, the Manchester Branch of the Ocean County Library, 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester, will be closed for interior renovations.

The branch will be closed beginning Monday, May 28 and is expected to reopen Monday, June 11.

The branch can be reached at 732-657-7600 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Tuesday, May 29 to Friday, June 8.

Library materials can be returned through outdoor collection bins at the branch during this period, or at any other Ocean County Library branch.

Holds that are not picked up at the Manchester Branch by 5 p.m. Saturday, May 26 will be available for pickup at the Whiting Reading Center, located at 400 Lacey Rd., Suite 5, Whiting. Items will remain at the Whiting Reading Center until 1 p.m., Saturday, June 9.

Customers may call to request their holds be sent to any of our other 20 locations.

The Manchester Branch interior renovation project will increase the number of meeting rooms available for use by the public from one to three, and relocate the children's area to the rear of the building to provide families and grandparents with additional space for story time and children's activities. The branch will receive new carpeting and the restrooms will be refreshed.

The technology infrastructure will also be upgraded. For the benefit of our hearing-impaired customers, a hearing loop system compatible with most common types of hearing aids, will amplify sound during library programs.

“The Ocean County Library makes every effort to provide the most updated state of the art technology and facilities for our residents,” said Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Library.

“Once this work is completed and the branch is reopened, this newly renovated facility will provide our residents with more space, more room for children’s activities, technology upgrades including advances to help hearing-impaired patrons in a more efficient and modernized atmosphere. We look forward to June 11 when we will invite our citizens back to a renovated facility with new and helpful features.”

Ocean County Library Director Susan Quinn noted the library’s commitment to connecting people, building community and transforming lives through excellence in facilities and advancements in technology.

“We hope our residents enjoy the new features coming to the Manchester Branch. We are looking forward to enhancing our library services to continue to educate, entertain and bring together the members of our community,” Quinn said.

“We look forward to providing new and expanded services to accommodate all of the groups that use the library,” said Ocean County Library Commission Chair Susan L. Hutler.

“Manchester staff are very excited for the renovation and look forward to better serving our customers in our improved building,” said Branch Manager Erin DeLucia.

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