NEWS & EVENTS

TOMS RIVER, NJ – State and county officials, project partners and dozens of guests joined Ocean County College students, faculty and staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 11, celebrating the reopening of the newly renovated Library building on the College’s main campus in Toms River.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a year-long revitalization project intended to address the needs of college students in the 21st century. Enhancements included new study areas and collaboration spaces, upgraded technology, and state-of-the-art services and resources.

OCC President Pamela Monaco welcomed guests to the new space, sharing her own fond memories of libraries and comparing services and resources of the past to those now available to students today.

“This new, student-centered renovation takes everything to an entirely new level, with cosmetic and technological enhancements that will facilitate collaboration, inspire innovation and provide comfort and connectivity for our students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Monaco. “The revitalization of the library will ensure that it is not only the center of our campus, but the heart of it – a welcoming, engaging space for all to enjoy, with expanded facilities for our students to study and to learn.”

During the ceremony, Ocean County Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea and Frank Sadeghi presented a proclamation in recognition of the benefits the revitalized library will provide for OCC students and for the greater Ocean County community.

“Your emphasis on creativity, your exploration of new directions, and your commitment to the community are long-lasting qualities of an enduring tradition of excellence,” said Crea.

OCC also introduced a new, permanent home for the College’s September 11 tribute memorial, which includes a segment of steel from the World Trade Center donated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The memorial, located on the first floor of the Library, includes the names of Ocean County residents who perished that day.

Donna Rosinski-Kauz, dean of Library and Learning Resources at Ocean County College, thanked everyone involved in the renovation and expressed excitement for the many new opportunities it will be able to offer for OCC students.