9-24-2024 8:18pm

SCLSNJ Announces Termination of Mary Jacobs Library Partnership

Donnella Tilery Editor

(Somerset County, NJ: Tuesday, September 24, 2024) The borough of Rocky Hill, the Mary Jacobs Foundation, and the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) have been cooperatively operating the Mary Jacobs neighborhood library since May 13, 2023. As the contract terminates, it is in the best interest of resident taxpayers to close the library building and instead offer library services through other innovative ways.

“In Somerset County, library buildings are provided and maintained by the hosting town. We have been operating a neighborhood library in Rocky Hill in cooperation with the Mary Jacobs Foundation, the borough, and previously, the township of Montgomery,” said Brian Auger, library director. “We took on the project under a two-year agreement set up by the Borough and

Township to fund the operation of the building. In reaching that agreement, we all concurred that usage data would drive any plans beyond those initial two years. As the contract reaches its completion, our experience does not support keeping this facility open. It is not fiscally responsible to continue operations for the handful of residents who use it exclusively.”

The Mary Jacobs Foundation provided this statement, “The Mary Jacobs Foundation is so proud to have worked to provide a

beautifully renovated space for library services in Rocky Hill and thanks SCLSNJ for partnering with us to provide those services.”

Mayor Bob Uhrik of Rocky Hill provided this statement, “Rocky Hill Borough remains committed to facilitating any and all efforts to preserve a library within Rocky Hill Borough that is walkable, sustainable, and community oriented.”

Auger went on to add, “The Library has upheld its commitment to provide service under the agreement. But because the costs to maintain the building have exceeded the funds set aside for that purpose, the Library must cease operations before May, since it cannot use taxpayer funds to manage or maintain properties it does not own.”

Continued Auger, “Closing a library is not a thing we take lightly - even when you have all the metrics and data telling you the

usage is unsustainable. I would like to personally welcome Rocky Hill residents to visit one of our other Library branches. Since we are a System, we have branches in a variety of municipalities. We also have a reciprocal borrowing program with other neighboring libraries. I also know that our staff are always working on new ways to serve the residents of Somerset County whether there is a building in their town or not, such as our materials mailing service for residents who are experiencing difficulties in getting to the Library.”

Learn more about SCLSNJ’s Home Borrowing program. If you or a loved one is facing a barrier to getting to the Library lasting longer than 2 weeks, email homeborrowing@sclibnj.org or call (908) 458-4938.

An update will be shared in early January 2025 announcing a final date of service. All questions about the status of the building

located at 64 Washington Street in Rocky Hill should be directed to the Mary Jacobs Foundation or Borough of Rocky Hill officials, who are stewards of the facility.

For additional assistance, call (908) 845-8400. To discover all SCLSNJ has to offer, visit SCLSNJ.org or connect with SCLSNJ on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), or YouTube.

About Somerset County Library System of New Jersey

Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) partners with you to connect, to explore, to share, and to discover. Together we enrich lives, expand knowledge, and strengthen communities. SCLSNJ serves the following communities in Somerset County: Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Green Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, Millstone, Montgomery, North Plainfield, Peapack and Gladstone, Rocky Hill, Somerville, South Bound Brook, Warren Township, and Watchung. Visit SCLSNJ.org.