Franklin Street library branch sees surge in interest
CAPE MAY — The newest Cape May County Library branch opened in June 2024 after moving into the historic Franklin Street School in Cape May.
The new digs are less than a year old and already offer positive changes. The branch moved from its previous location on Ocean Street to the bigger, newly renovated building with more room for programs and resources.
“I feel that the new library at the historic Franklin Street School is a wonderful resource for the community and an outstanding use of a rehabilitated historic building,” Cape May County Library Director Andrea Orsini said. “We are excited to offer library services to the people of Cape May County in such a historically significant facility.”
The Franklin Street School was originally a segregated school built in 1927 and closed in 1949 when New Jersey banned segregation. The building has been used for different purposes throughout the years.
Mayor Zach Mullock spoke at a recent City Council meeting about the city’s efforts to restore historical buildings and use them as homes for new places and organizations.
Some of the library books were moved to the new location through a town-wide book assembly line, which brought the community together June 13 and made the process go smoothly. Afterward, everyone gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The transition went about as smoothly as one can expect when transferring all of the contents of one library to another building,” Orsini said. “It was aided by a team of professional library movers, the dedicated Cape May City Library staff and a very enthusiastic Book Brigade.”
The library has had an increase in the number of patrons and participation in library activities since the move.
“I did not expect such volume during the winter months, and did not expect so much attention to our new space,” Orsini said. “However, having more visitors in the winter and more people interested in our new building overall is a welcome surprise.”
There weren’t many programming options due to lack of space at the Ocean Street facility. The library can now offer more events and new resources such as quiet study space, a teen area and a reading room.
“We have more space, more programs, more foot traffic, more library cards made, especially for people who have lived here for years and not been in the library before,” Orsini said. “Just more in a good way!”
The library offers weekly events such as chair yoga and line dancing, allowing residents to add consistent activities to their lives. The library also offers special events such as its Pollinators Are Pretty Cool children’s activities April 24 featuring a speaker.
The new library was in motion for four years and took time and consideration from many parties before it could be executed. Orsini stepped into the director role while the plan was already established, and saw how the hard work paid off.
“I’ve learned that good things come to those who wait,” Orsini said. “This project took a lot of time, effort and planning, but in the end the result was well worth it.”
By JULIA DIGERONIMO/For the Star and Wave
