Ocean County Library System Celebrates 100th Anniversary With Festivities Across All Branches

Crowds filled Ocean County's 21 library branches as the system marked its centennial on Sept. 19 and 20. Staff cut anniversary cakes while kids and adults joined the fun.

"Ocean County Library has always been about more than books: it's about people, community and lifelong learning," said Ocean County Library Director Susan Quinn, per Newsbreak.com. "From our humble beginnings as a single branch to now serving the entire county with 21 locations, we are proud to celebrate 100 years of growth, innovation and connection."

Each site buzzed with its own mix of shows, exhibits and hands-on activities. Local groups pitched in to make the events special. Kids built crafts while adults pored over old photos showing the library's past.

Back in 1925, it all started in a tiny cottage, the Lonan Building, next to the courthouse. Books went out just once per week. An old Model T truck bumped along dirt roads, bringing stories to far-off spots.

That truck made stops at 32 schools. It also visited 22 other spots: stores, post offices, and even people's homes. The whole county only had 28,000 people then.

As more folks moved in, the library grew too. Small town reading rooms joined forces with the county. Fresh branches popped up where none existed before. What started as one small room turned into a web of buildings across the map.

Now the system does much more than lend books. People come to use computers, take classes, and watch shows. The branches act like community hubs, each with its own style.

At the big party, visitors saw how far things had come since those early days. Some branches showed films while others had music. A few brought in storytellers who spun tales about the old times.

Though the main party happened later, it still honored that first day, Sept. 19, 1925, when Ocean County folks first borrowed books from their very own library.