Ocean County Library New Stafford Branch Grand Opening

Ocean County Library is pleased to announce that the new Stafford Branch Library located at 179 South Main Street in Manahawkin,

will officially open to the public on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM, preceded by a 10:00 AM ribbon cutting.

The 19,700-square-foot building is a state-of-the-art facility replacing the former library on North Main Street, designed to serve the growing needs of Southern Ocean County residents.

The Ocean County Library received $4,824,000 in grant funding through a highly competitive process in the second round of funding for the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act (LCBA).

The LCBA awarded $37 million to 36 library projects from 13 counties across New Jersey.

The new library will provide the following:

Educational resources and community spaces

State of the art technologies

Public computers

Shelving for 40-50% more books and materials

A large children’s area

An intergenerational space for senior citizens for socialization

A new teen area and study rooms

A maker space for STEAM activities

A sensory space to provide a welcoming environment for people with sensory processing needs

“We are incredibly excited to open the doors to this beautiful new branch and provide the community with the services, programs,

collections, technology, and gathering spaces they have been anticipating,” said Library Director Susan Quinn.

Library Commission Chair Henry J. Mancini had this to say, “On behalf of the Ocean County Library Commission,

we are very excited by the completion and grand opening of the new Stafford Branch.

This has been a project that has taken many years to come to fruition.

It is an excellent example of multiple layers of government working together to provide this great public asset to the residents of Stafford Township and Ocean County.

This cooperation included State, County and Local support and funding. We would like to thank all of those who came together and worked towards the co