Fanwood’s community spirit has always shone brightly, but the recent transformation of the Fanwood Memorial Library has taken that spirit to a whole new level—from mere renovation to reinvention. Replacing a building that had served the town for nearly three-quarters of a century, the new 15,000-square-foot facility is a modern marvel of accessibility, design, and community engagement. The transformation not only reflects innovative architectural planning and substantial funding partnerships but also highlights the critical roles played by dedicated staff, enthusiastic volunteers, and an active Board of Trustees.
Director Dan Weiss, who has led the library since 1997, recalls the challenges of managing the old facility—a building constructed in 1951 with notable charm but significant functional limitations. “The old library, despite its historical value, had its share of problems: leaky roofs, a wet basement, and one of the most significant was the lack of accessibility,” Weiss explains. “We could never come up with an effective way to address it, so the decision was made to tear it down and build something that truly meets the community’s needs.”
That decision paved the way for an ambitious redevelopment project. In February 2023, as the town emerged from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and moved from a temporary location at the North Side train station back to a renewed vision of their public library, construction reached its final stages. The result was a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 24 that marked not only a new chapter for the library, but for Fanwood as a whole.
The new library is a showcase of contemporary design and thoughtful inclusivity. Gone are the cramped, inaccessible corners of the past. Instead, visitors now enjoy a bright, spacious interior complete with an elevator, modern bathrooms, and an array of flexible spaces designed for both solitude and community engagement. On the ground floor, a large community room can accommodate up to 100 people for a myriad of events—from art exhibitions displayed on the art gallery wall to film screenings thanks to a state-of-the-art projection system. Smaller meeting spaces provide privacy for groups and local organizations seeking a venue.
Upstairs, a reimagined teen area offers a comfortable setting to explore young adult literature, engage in homework sessions, and participate in specially curated programming. “We have so many wonderful things here that we didn’t have in the old building,” Weiss says. “There’s a tremendous list of programs and services available now that address the needs of all of our demographics—from seniors and parents to students and teens.”
The new library is more than a building—it is a vibrant community hub. Critical to this vision are the complementary facets that keep the library thriving: the dedicated staff, the Board of Trustees, the Friends of the Fanwood Public Library and the newly launched Fanwood Memorial Library Foundation. Fanwood Borough Mayor, Colleen Mahr, serves as the Board of Trustees President with a mandate to provide exceptional library services to the citizens of Fanwood and neighboring towns. Among the volunteer groups, the Friends play a significant role. Carol Campell, President of the Friends and a veteran supporter of the library, has helped shape community outreach and fundraising efforts to supplement the library’s operating budget for almost forty years. She is thrilled with the library’s new functionality. “I love watching residents walk in, find their space, services and materials - and leave happy” says Carol. Through her tireless work, the Friends have not only raised awareness and funds for various projects but also spearheaded numerous programming events, especially during summer reading activities and for children’s programs.
“We’ve seen a positive surge in community energy ever since the new building opened,” Weiss remarks. “The rooms here are constantly in use. Just yesterday, we had thirty Girl Scouts there doing crafts, along with tutors, local organizations, and regular weekly programs for different age groups.” The library’s programming now includes a stacked itinerary of weekly events: from Mahjong and Scrabble sessions, to monthly book clubs, to artist receptions and poetry evenings.
Inspired by the notion of a new facility and growing community in Fanwood, the Fanwood Memorial Library Foundation was created in 2024 with the understanding that truly exceptional libraries thrive on charitable contributions from engaged residents, neighborhood businesses and community stakeholders working together to enrich the lives of Fanwood residents. Founding President Michele Sabiola is passionate about this mission. "Our focus is ensuring that the Library has the funding it needs to connect residents of all ages to information, to ideas, and to each other in new and exciting ways. In particular, we want to support the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school district's commitment to educate every student to become a confident and caring lifelong learner."
The collective focus for the library remains on community engagement and growth. Plans are already underway to develop a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide the library’s development over the next three to five years. The new plan will be shaped by community input, ensuring that the library evolves as a true reflection of Fanwood’s collective aspirations.
“This is going to be here serving the community for many, many decades to come,” Weiss confidently states. Indeed, the success of the Fanwood Memorial Library’s transition promises to keep the town’s intellectual and cultural heartbeat strong for generations.
PULL QUOTE: “We’ve seen a positive surge in community energy ever since the new building opened. The rooms here are constantly in use."
SIDEBAR:
SOPHIA MEKBEB
Contributing Writer Sophia Mekbeb is a senior at Union County Vocational-Technical School attending the Academy for Performing Arts as a theatre major. President of the International Thespian Society and Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper Club, Sophia lent her talents to City Lifestyle as in intern over the past year. We are grateful for her hard work and wish her the best of luck as she heads to the College of William & Mary on a Pre-Law track.