[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO NEPTUNE, NJ, LIBRARY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 1999

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 17, 1999, the Neptune, 
NJ, Library celebrated its 75th anniversary. I was proud to join with 
Township officials, other dignitaries and residents to celebrate this 
important milestone.
  Neptune, named for the Roman God of the Sea and incorporated as a 
municipality in 1879, is a diverse community located in Monmouth 
County. The Township, whose slogan is ``Neptune, Crossroads of the 
Jersey Shore,'' is a full-service community with great historic 
significance and an even brighter future. One of the great features of 
the community is the Neptune Library.
  The library was started by the Ocean Grove Women's Club at its 
Clubhouse on Mt. Carmel Way, aided by books from the Monmouth County 
Bookmobile. In 1932, the Township rented a vacant store at 204 Ridge 
Avenue for a township library, with some books and supplemented by the 
bookmobile. The library shared a building on Corlies Avenue with the 
Township Public Health and Welfare Department in 1937 until that 
building was sold, moving to the Sunday School Room in the basement of 
the West Grove Methodist Church. In 1955, the Township Library opened 
at the Township Municipal Building at 137 Main St., open Tuesday 
afternoons, expanding its hours to Wednesday mornings in 1960. The year 
1961 proved to be an eventful one for the library, with the Friends of 
Neptune Library organized in February. Recommendations for a new 
facility contained in a report released in March. On July 20, the 
Township Library opened its doors at 1908 Corlies Avenue, the site of a 
former machine shop, open to the public Monday through Thursday 
afternoons and Wednesday evenings.
  On November 30, 1961, the Neptune Library Association, Inc., was 
incorporated, while the Board of Trustees organized in 1964. In 1966, 
the first Books, Arts and Crafts Festival was held on the future site 
of the library, and ground was broken at the site on Springdale Ave. 
(now Neptune Blvd.) on May 10, 1969. Opening day for the Library was on 
March 22, 1971. It became a municipal library in 1972 following a 
township referendum.
  Mr. Speaker, obviously the history of the library is a long and 
illustrious one. Through the years, the library has been an important 
cultural and informational resource for the people of Neptune Township, 
and it continues to fulfill that mission to this day. The growth and 
success of the library is a strong reflection on the dedication and 
commitment of the people of this community to enhance the quality of 
life for the benefit of all. I am pleased to pay tribute on the 
occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Neptune Library.

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