This Saturday marked the grand opening of the new Southwest Branch of the Warren County Library system in the Stewartsville area of Greenwich Township, in a ceremony that included the Board of Chosen Freeholders cutting a ribbon to open the state-of-the-art facility.

At 14,090 square feet, the new branch more than triples the size of the former Franklin Branch, which it replaces. The facility provides expanded programming and hours, including meeting and conference rooms, a kids’ play area, a teen area with a video screen, stationary bikes for exercising while reading, and a comfortable adult area to read and work.

It also includes a makerspace with a 3D printer, filming gear, high-end virtual reality equipment, wood shop tools, electronics components, and more, so that users can explore and create.

“I’m very pleased that we are opening our latest 21st century technology library,” Freeholder Director Edward J. Smith said, adding, “and within less than a decade, have upgraded three of our facilities.”

The new branch also has ample parking and is situated close to community businesses and services, as well as a large residential area.

“This continues to build on our commitment to the Warren County Library system,” Freeholder Jason J. Sarnoski said. “This is the type of branch that this area deserves—state-of-the-art, with resources for everyone in our most populated area of the county.”

Residents of the 18 county library member municipalities—Belvidere, Allamuchy, Blairstown, Franklin, Frelinghuysen, Greenwich, Hardwick, Harmony, Hope, Independence, Knowlton, Liberty, Lopatcong, Mansfield, Oxford, Pohatcong, Washington, and White—have free borrowing privileges and access to all services of the library.  Residents of Alpha, Hackettstown, Phillipsburg, and Washington Borough, whose municipalities have established their own libraries, and any other individuals living outside of Warren County Library’s service area, may purchase a nonresident library card to gain borrowing privileges.

Warren County Library Director Maureen Baker Wilkinson noted more than 2,000 new library patrons have signed up since the branch’s soft opening on August. 1.

The grand opening festivities included a visit from the Star Wars 501st Legion entertainers, a drone display from Warren County Community College’s new drone program, and demonstrations of the high-tech branch’s virtual reality, 3D printing, and “green screen” equipment.

“This is another great step for educational facilities operated by the county,” Freeholder Director Smith said, noting the college’s drone lab and the New Jersey One-Stop Career Center, both located at WCCC’s Phillipsburg campus, and the Southwest branch, are “all offering state-of-the-art services.”

Participants in the grand opening included LibraryLinkNJ Assistant Director Joanne Roukens, state Sen. Michael Doherty and Assemblymen John DiMaio and Erik Peterson, Pohatcong Township Mayor James Kern III, and Lopatcong Township Mayor James Mengucci.