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Renovation Planned For Historic Bishop Library
TOMS RIVER - Bishop Library in downtown Toms River will get a facelift and a new mission beginning later this year.
The building that until recently housed the Ocean County Library's local history collection will be renovated to include a public meeting area with a kitchen. A classroom for in-house library staff training will also be added, said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari.
"An important key to this renovation is that the building will be preserved and returned to its original splendor," said Vicari, who is liaison to the Ocean County Library System.
The original woodwork on the first floor will be preserved and the building's slate roof refurbished.
About $100,000 will be earmarked for the project in 2007 with additional funds likely to follow, said Elaine McConnell, director of the Ocean County Library.
The Bishop Library sits adjacent to the Ocean County Library's main branch on Washington Street.
The recently completed expansion of the larger building allowed the library staff to return the local history section back to the main branch.
Also, the opening of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School MATES academy in Manahawkin last fall allowed the marine science program to vacate the classroom space it had been utilizing in the basement of the Bishop building.
The downstairs will continue to be used for classroom space, but this time for in-service library staff training.
The space will also be available to other county departments for training purposes, McConnell said.
A kitchen will be added to the upstairs with space available for public meetings and functions.
Vicari compared the upcoming work to the renovation of Courtroom One in the Ocean County Courthouse, directly across the street from the Bishop Library.
That project restored the county's first courtroom to it's circa 1850 grandeur.
Freeholder John P. Kelly said restoration projects are especially important when the buildings can continue to play an important role.
"We're preserving our history while making good use of the space," Kelly said.
The preceding was a press release provided by the Ocean County Department of Public Affairs.
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