The New Jersey State Library has announced that the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act passed on Nov. 7 with a nearly 60 percent approval margin from New Jersey voters.
The bond act will provide $125 million for county and local library construction and renovation projects statewide and enable New Jersey public libraries to build the capacity of their current facilities and to upgrade technology infrastructures, according to a press release from the New Jersey State Library, an affiliate of Thomas Edison State University.
“This is a victory for the people of New Jersey and an investment in their future,” said Mary Chute, New Jersey State Librarian. “Libraries are anchor institutions in our communities. They are places of lifelong learning and community engagement.
“Since the last statewide construction project passed in 1999, many New Jersey libraries have been unable to meet the demands for capital and technology improvements to their facilities. Libraries across the state have been in desperate need of funds for construction projects in order to transform and adapt to meet community needs.
“Voters turned out and their voices have been heard. There is agreement that building the capacity of libraries and access to library services in communities improves the overall health of New Jersey and makes the region stronger,” Chute said.
The State Librarian, in consultation with the president of Thomas Edison State University, will set eligibility criteria for the grants, according to the press release. Under the bill, for any approved project financed by bond proceeds, the grant award may support up to 50 percent of the eligible cost of the project.
These funds will allow facilities to become fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and will present the opportunity to explore environmentally friendly “green” initiatives, and the building of disaster-resilient infrastructures, according to the press release.
