Warren County Commissioners cut ribbon on reconstructed Catherine Dickson Hofman Library Branch, set to reopen May 10
BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – The newly rebuilt Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch of the Warren County Library opens this Saturday, May 10, after the Warren County Board of County Commissioners held a symbolic ribbon-cutting May 3 to mark the end of the reconstruction project.
Construction to rebuild and enhance the county’s northernmost library branch began in December 2023, with library service provided in the interim at a temporary location in Hope.
“The northern section of Warren County deserves a library like this,” said Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski. “It’s been a great branch with great people, but the building needed a lot of work.
The project marks the end of a complete renovation of all four branches in the county library system during his time in office, Sarnoski noted, pointing out it was done without incurring debt. The county’s long-standing “pay as you go” philosophy will result in Warren County being completely debt-free once the last payment on previous borrowing from years ago is made this July.
Sarnoski said the project would not have happened without the help of a lot of people, crediting his fellow commissioners, past commissioners and freeholders, the library staff and library commission, and the project team.
The work was completed without delays and through a team effort, Commissioner Lori Ciesla remarked.
Sarnoski, Ciesla and Commissioner James R. Kern III singled out county Public Works Director Emily A Hammer for leading the project, with Kern quipping, “She has lived up to her last name – she is always getting jobs done for this county.”
“I believe you’re going to be really impressed when you go inside,” county Library Director Jill Butcher said the state, county and local officials gathered for the ribbon-cutting.
Located at 4 Lambert Road, Blairstown, the Catherine Dickson Hoffman Branch will offer 13,000 square feet of space including the renovated areas and the newly constructed addition. Featuring state-of-the-art technology and security, the branch has a renovated Adults area featuring new shelving, reading areas and public access computers; a Teens area outfitted with furnishings encouraging both quiet study and collaboration; a Children’s area featuring a nautical-themed reading nook; an outside access book drop; and expanded parking.
It also features a “Makerspace” for library patrons to use for hands-on, creative projects, complete with 3D design capable computers and a 3D printer (shown on the left, as Hammer leads a tour), as well as an Audio/Visual Studio complete with green screen and recording capability. The newly renovated Community Room includes a kitchenette, and the Meeting Room suite features two small group rooms and a 12-seat conference room. An outdoor community space includes a gazebo.
“It’s always been a cornerstone of the community, and I know it will continue to be,” Butcher said.
For Butcher, the project was particularly meaningful, as the Catherine Dickson Hofman branch was the library she grew up in and where she gained her love of books and reading. Her mother for more than 50 years has been a trustee of the library – which was a private library run by volunteers for years before it became part of the county system – and Butcher recalled going to the original location, in a former grist mill in the center of Blairstown’s village area.
The open house to celebrate the opening takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10. More information about the event is available at www.warrenlib.org.
