From left: Somerset President Ralph Zucker, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith Chief of Staff Jo Schloeder, Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso, Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, Holmdel Mayor Greg Buontempo, Deputy Mayor Pat Impreveduto, Committee Member Michael Nikolas, Committee Member Eric Hinds and Committee Member Tom Critelli were on hand recently to celebrated the opening of the new Holmdel Public Library and Learning Center at Bell Works. — Courtesy: Peter Dant
By Joshua Burd
Somerset Development and local officials recently celebrated the preview opening of the new Holmdel Public Library and Learning Center inside the mixed-use Bell Works campus.
The new 18,000-square-foot library and learning center will officially open later this month at the 2 million-square-foot complex. It is the latest addition to the iconic former Bell Labs complex, which Somerset Development has repurposed as a hub for business and community services.
Local officials including Mayor Gregory Buontempo and Somerset Development President Ralph Zucker were in attendance. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were led on a special preview tour of the library, as well as the rapidly evolving Bell Works building.
The upgraded library — which provides more than four times the space as its previous location — uses modern technology and provides an updated, collaborative environment that encourages and enhances the learning experience, according to a news release. It features a host of improvements and amenities, including:
- Multiple meeting and conference rooms ideal for community and cultural events, with select areas sitting as many as 80 people.
- Free, on-site access to digital research and reference tools such as: Ancestry.com, Morningstar Investment Research Center, EBSCOhost journals, Hoover’s Online, Value Line, Small Business Reference Center, JSTOR Academic Journals and Weiss Insurance Ratings.
- An extensive selection of subscription-based resources for law, medicine, arts, entertainment, employment, grants and politics.
- Access to over 100 magazines, both current editions and archives.
- A comfortable, welcoming lounge areas with access to charging stations.
- A well-curated, relevant print collection with a dedicated children’s and teen wing.
- Various educational programs and services for children, teens and adults.
- A permanent exhibit honoring the legacy of innovation at Bell Labs and AT&T as well as the history of Holmdel Township.
“As we celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art facility we are reminded of how, even throughout Bell Works’ evolution into a regional destination, it remains part of the fabric of the Holmdel community,” Zucker said. “We look forward to the new and exciting dynamic the Holmdel Public Library and Learning Center will bring to Bell Works’ increasingly diverse environment.
“The library brings us one step closer to creating a hub for everyone in the community, regardless of age or occupation, to visit and enjoy.”
Bell Works tenants will receive a guest pass to use the library, while New Jersey residents are eligible to apply for a free internet pass to access all online materials, the news release said. Residents of Holmdel will have borrowing privileges as well as access to online resources with their library card.
“Today marks a special occasion for the entire Holmdel community,” Buontempo said. “We see this new Library and Learning Center as an environment that will enrich the lives of everyone who passes through its doors.
“In many ways, opening the Library at Bell Works represents a great opportunity for Holmdel residents, for our youth and for anyone aspiring to create, explore and innovate — values which are deeply rooted in the building’s esteemed history and integral to its vision for the future.”
Bell Works has signed leases for more than 75 percent of its office space. Somerset Development will soon celebrate the move-in of anchor tenant iCIMS, a technology and software provider, which will join a host of other firms in the space.
