Serving theResidents of Rocky Hill & Montgomery
Spring/Summer Newsletter 2005
64 Washington Street • Rocky Hill, New Jersey 08553 • 609.924.7073
First Move into the Addition Completed
The first move into the new addition took place
during March. All of the children’s collection has
returned from storage, and the adult fiction
collection is once more available. We are enjoying
our more spacious surroundings and our roomy
circulation desk.
A harmonious blend of new and old.
In the second and final move, all of the remaining
materials -- adult nonfiction, mysteries,
biographies, reference books, music CD’s, and
videos -- will once more be available.
New shelving will be installed soon, and
new tables and chairs will
be delivered.
T
he Library staff appreciates so much
the patience of our users. The last year has
been difficult, with much of the collection in
storage and almost no seating or space to read
and write. Children’s programs have been clearly
audible throughout our temporary quarters, and
often many of us would have preferred a bit of
peace and quiet. However, visitors and staff alike
have coped cheerfully, and we hope the final
results will make all worthwhile.
The building should be complete during the
summer, and we plan to have a Grand Opening
celebration in the fall. Without the support of
Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill, as well as
many individuals, corporations, and local businesses, we could not have renovated and
expanded our building. We are grateful to all who
helped us!
Our new Circulation Desk is a masterpiece!
More photos inside >
2005 New Jersey Statewide
Summer Reading Program
Dragons, Dreams
& Daring Deeds,
the 2005 New Jersey Statewide Summer Reading Program, will begin on June 13th at Mary
Jacobs Library for children in preschool through
grade five. Children will read exciting books, win
prizes and attend programs!
The Cat’s Pajamas will kick-off the program
with a performance for all ages on June 29th at
2 p.m.
World Music with Daria, also for all ages,
will take place on August 4th at 10:30a.m.
The always-popular Party Animals will
appear at the library on July 6th at 10:30 a.m.
Additional activities will include crafts, storytimes, juggling, animal programs and singalongs. Come to the library after June 13th to
sign up for summer reading and be part of
Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds.
Welcome Aboard!
We warmly welcome two new staff
members: Suzanne Ridzy comes to us
from the Bridgewater Library and will
head the Circulation Department.
Xiangning Luo is a part-time Library
Clerk in the Circulation Department. We
know you’re going to like it here as
much as we like having you, Sue and
Xiangning (sha NING)!
Get Medieval @ Your Library, the
program for children in grade 6 and up, also
begins on June 13th.
It will include activities such as soap-making,
scrap-booking, and murder mysteries. Teens,
too, will have opportunities to win exciting
prizes. The Summer Reading Volunteer and the
Book Buddies programs offer a chance to work
with younger children. Teens may sign up now
at the library to be summer volunteers.
The Youth Services Librarians are Mary Jane
Lisney, department head and early childhood
specialist, and Beth Willoughby, teen and young
adult services librarian.
More Photos ....
The Children’s Room is bright and sunny.
A young reader shares a favorite book with a furry friend.
Teens from Montgomery and Rocky Hill celebrated
Earth Week by sprucing up our flower beds.
READ posters and calendars are being designed for each
library in the Somerset County Library System as a part of
our 75th Anniversary later this year. We held a random
drawing at the end of National Libary Week in April. Above,
Julie Harris browses new fiction during her photo shoot.
Several MJL volunteers were among the many feted at our
annual SCLS Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on April 27,2005
at the Bridgewater Senior Center. The smiling gals on the left
are Lois Pauley (wearing stripes), Peggy Lamb & Miriam Friend.
Hostess Beth Willoughby, Teen Librarian, is seated on the far
left. Sue Ridzy stands in the background catching up with her
BWL friends.
Thank You to all our Contributors!
The Capital Campaign to fund the library addition and
renovation began more than five years ago. With
Montgomery Township’s 81.9% growth in population
between 1990 and 2000, it was clear that our small
library could not offer the best service to our
community.
Our circulation and the number of cardholders had
both doubled during the 1990’s, and we had no space
for new books or for chairs and tables. The Mary
Jacobs Memorial Library Foundation has been our
primary contributor, with generous support from
Montgomery Township, Rocky Hill, and a State of New
Jersey Library Construction Grant.
We have had wonderful support from the community. More than 125 families and businesses have
given $1,000 or more to the Capital Campaign.
Contributions have come from more than 700 of our
cardholders. The Library’s teen group held a bake
sale to raise funds, and one of our young patrons has
been giving a portion of his allowance to the building
fund for more than a year.
All of these individuals, families, and businesses are
making a difference in our community. Thanks to you,
we’re able to enhance our services to our growing
clientele. Your aid ensures that our neighbors will
continue to enjoy a space to study, learn, meet and
expand their horizons.
Thank you!
Major Community, Corporate and Foundation Givers
Mary Jacobs Memorial Library Foundation
State of New Jersey
Library Construction Grant Program
Montgomery Township
Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies
James D. White, Sr. Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
Borough of Rocky Hill
Rocky Hill Community Group
Hilton Realty
Linus Gilbert Foundation
Trap Rock Industries
ExxonMobil Foundation
Merritt/Bollinger Agency
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Central Jersey Nurseries
Curtis McGraw Foundation
Trustees of the Dow Jones Foundation
Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation
Pocumtuck Company
Amboy National Bank
Bloomberg
Chinese Families
Presbyterian Homes
Princeton Area Real Estate Company
Van Cleef Engineering Associates
Donations Still Welcome
Our goal of $2.8 million is within reach, and you can help us achieve it. Please send donations to Mary Jacobs
Library, 64 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553. If you are interested in a naming opportunity, please call the
library at 609-924-7073 and speak to director Mei Mei Morris.
Mary Jacobs Library
64 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, New Jersey 08553 • 609.924.7073
Librarians
Mei Mei Morris,
Branch Director
Mary Jane Lisney
Youth Services
Gail Madak
Adult Services
Beth Willoughby
Young Adult
Staff
Gloria Mack
Ellen Roffis
Elaine Schoeffel
Roberta Woloshin
Patrice Sprovieri
Norma Bulava
Dianne Hamerling
Marilyn Malik
Denise Mitchell
Sujatha Neelam
Candis Willis
And our Volunteers!
Board of Trustees
Brenda Fallon, President
Tony Bianculli, Treasurer
Lane Taylor, Foundation
Advisory Board
Jennifer Hayden, Chair
Catherine Hitchcock
Glenn Oakley
Barry Singer
Anne Woolley
Marge Yuschak