Bells pealed a joyful noise as the ribbon was cut on November 19, for the official opening of Cranbury’s new public library. With oversized scissors Library Board of Trustees President Kristie Venanzi and Library Director Marilynn Mullen cut the ceremonial red satin ribbon.
Township Committeeman Michael Ferrante, who was instrumental in seeing the project through from its inception 13 years ago, stood with Mayor Barbara Rogers as the cheers rang out and more than one hundred locals flooded in to see the new space.
Residents signed up for library cards, walked through the stacks, and checked out the new spaces such as the quiet study rooms, media areas, and community gathering spaces.
The grand opening provided a day full of events and opportunities for residents of all ages.
The new Swanagan Gallery for art displayed photos from local nature photographer Robert Zurfluh. The Cranbury Middle School Jazz Band performed. John Chambers, Steve Golisano and Karen Kelley presented on Cranbury’s historic cottage dating back to 1713. Mayor Rogers read stories in the new children’s area just past the brightly painted full wall mural by artist Lisa Walsh.
The Library is situated across the street from Cranbury School which used to be its home before the creation of the new free-standing space. During the transition period, the library spent 2 years on Main Street in the Odd Fellows hall while the school used its old space for socially distanced classes during COVID.
The new building, which is just under 12,000 square feet, took 19 months to complete from the groundbreaking ceremony in 2021 to the official opening on November 19, 2022, but the project was 13 years in the making. It was conceived in 2010 with the Building Spaces, Expanding Minds, Creating Community campaign.
With that effort, Cranbury raised $2.4 million in total from resident donations. However, the funds raised were not nearly enough to complete the project and the library goal remained in limbo until 2017. That’s when New Jersey voters passed the Library Construction Bond Act allocating $125 million to help communities like Cranbury build libraries.
Each grant recipient had to come up with a 1:1 match in funds, but Cranbury was in a good position to move forward because the town still had the original donations. Unfortunately, almost as soon as Cranbury filed the necessary paperwork to apply, things stalled again, this time at the state level. It took four more years before the matching funds finally came through.
When locals contributed back in 2010 they received a ceremonial brick with their name on it or in tribute to a friend or relative. Now the bricks line the walkways leading up to the new building.
Michael Ferrante, who the Cranbury Democratic Committee has been proud to support, was Mayor at the time of the groundbreaking, but his term on the Township Committee was soon up. Determined to see the Library project through to its conclusion, Ferrante ran for a second term in 2021 and won decisively as the community recognized his service, collaborative spirit, and leadership.
Under the bright blue sky and in the chilly autumn air of November 19, 2022, Committeeman Ferrante was there holding one end of the ribbon. He stood beside his friend and current Mayor Barbara Rogers, who just won her own bid for reelection. The two, along with Mullen and Venanzi, received many hugs and congratulations as their neighbors passed by to see the new space.
The CDC is proud to support the Democratic leaders who have given so much to the town through projects, such as the Library, that benefit every resident.
Next up? Everyone is looking forward to seeing if Mayor Barbara’s push for a bike path network might soon be a reality.