MB “Library Room” @ 100

by Greg Kelly · Published April 23, 2025 · Updated April 30, 2025

The borough “library room” opened a century ago …

Monmouth Beach is a community of readers. As a writer — they’ve been looking at my ramblings for some 40 years now — I should know.

Willow Avenue Library

An informal public library in Monmouth Beach got its start in Borough Hall on Beach Road in March 1925, when councilmen gave permission to a group of volunteers and the Monmouth County Library (that system was created in 1922) to use a single room off the second floor balcony. Even today, some borough residents remember the windowless, 81-square-foot room.

During those humble beginnings, all librarians were volunteers and often traveled to the county library in Freehold (then in the basement of the Hall of Records) to make book exchanges. For many years, the county also had a visiting bookmobile. During the 1950s, Christian Gaarder served as the borough’s librarian without pay. Known as an “avid reader” who wore a jacket and tie to work every day, he retired when he turned 90 and died in 1972. Other early dedicated volunteers were Carrie Carson, Emma Cooper, Lavinia Ireland, Dorothea Bremer, and E. Ray Smith.

It wasn’t until 1937 that a sign was posted outside of borough hall informing the public of a library inside. In 1956, a serious fire in borough hall closed the library room for a over a year.

In October 1961, the Momouth Beach Library Association was formed. A month later the library room was modestly expanded and a reference section was added. Library hours were increased from two hours on Saturdays to 10 ½ hours over four days. The volunteers all participated in purchasing, processing, and cataloging more books. In March 1963, the first “Book Fair” was held in Borough Hall. By 1971, library hours had expanded to 16 hours per week. Today, it’s open about 28 hours per week.

Librarian Margaret Heath (r) and historian Sam Smith (l), 1963.

In April 1962, the library association approved the hiring of its first paid librarian, Margaret “Peg” Heath. A Mount Holyoke College graduate, Mrs. Heath seemed a librarian right out of central casting — very smart and serious. In 1968, she supervised the move to a new library on Willow Avenue and later served as president of the Monmouth Librarians Association. After 30 years of library duty she retired in 1992 and passed away in 2011.

In April 1964, the library association was incorporated and a six-member Board of Trustees was appointed; George Chertoff was its longtime chairman. Thanks to many generous donations of funds and books from the MB School PTA and others, the library was sustained through its early years. “The borough has always been very supportive of the library,” said Lucy Nilson, who chaired the association for some 40 years.

After years of enduring cramped space, the library association began a drive for a new facility. In 1965, architect Albert Benoist was hired to design a modern facility. In February 1967, the borough commissioners approved a bond ordinance and a new 2,000 square-foot library building was constructed on Willow Avenue in back of Borough Hall. The total cost was $42,000.

At the June 1968 library dedication (by then it held 2,000+ books) it received a large diorama display depicting the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), a US Navy frigate under construction. It’s still there — the gift of Oscar K. Williams, a longtime borough resident and wealthy financier. The library association purchased new equipment and furniture and the Shade Tree Commission provided the landscaping.

“Books were my pass to personal freedom.”
—Oprah Winfrey

In October 1990, a new library wing donated by Jay W. Ross, a longtime generous benefactor, was opened. Mr. Ross called libraries “the life blood of a community.” The complex was renamed in honor of former mayor and commissioner Sidney B. Johnson, a longtime library association member.

Librarian Nancy Leporatti, 1995.

Presently, the library building and grounds belong to the borough and its contents are the property of the library association. By 2006, the library held nearly 50,000 books and media items. Nancy Leporatti served as the Director of the Library for 16 years, until her death in Sept. 2008.

Like many other structures in town the low-lying library building was decimated by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 — nearly 3 feet of flood water filled the building. According to Library Director Judith Bakos, over 15,000 books were destroyed in the storm and the items that didn’t get wet were contaminated with mildew.

Thanks to $300,000 in borough bond financing, a newly renovated library on Willow Avenue was reopened in October 2016 — offering new information services. The building was also raised to protect against future flooding.

Current library operating hours are: Monday and Wednesday from 9 am to 1 pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm. Monmouth Beach Library website — HERE.

Monmouth Beach Library Images …

Reading Up — Margaret Heath in the “Library Room” off the balcony at borough hall — the town’s first library, early 1960s.

By the Book — New Monmouth Beach Pubic Library sketch proposal, February 1967. Albert Benoist was the architect.

Named For — Three generations of “Sidney B. Johnson” at the re-dedication of the borough library, October 1990.

Monmouth Beach Library on Willow Avenue, 2006. The first “Story Hour” was held in Borough Hall in 1968.

A Team — Sidney Johnson, Lucy Nilson and Jay W. Ross at library wing dedication ceremony, October 1990. Lucy, who chaired the library association for over 40 years, was born in England in 1919. A voracious reader, Sunday school teacher and mother of six, she died in March 2014.

Dedication of the new town library. Red Bank Register, July 1968. From left: Margaret “Peg” Heath, borough librarian; Anna Stuhl of the Monmouth County Library; and MB Mayor Sidney Johnson.