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The Somerset County Library System of New Jersey Celebrates 90 Years of Service Excellence
About Blog Post
Over the past nine decades, the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) has evolved from a small book truck, known as the bookmobile, to a Library System consisting of 10 full service branches across Somerset County. This year, SCLSNJ will celebrate 90 years of service to the Somerset County community by making enhancements throughout the system including additions to the collection, new resources and services, and more.
“Since 1930, SCLSNJ has striven to maintain our vision to work together to enrich lives, to expand knowledge, and to strengthen communities,” said Brian Auger, county library administrator. “ The Library System is, and always has been, a cornerstone of our community. We are consistently responsive to the needs of our customers and are planning a number of exciting releases and events for our 90th year.”
Then and now
In the 1930s, Somerset County residents would have access to explore the bookmobile only once per month, when it made its rounds to their local community. Fast forward 90 years to 2020, and customers can browse the Library’s collection in the comfort of their own homes, through the internet, or even on the go through the Library’s cell phone app. In the 1930s, there were just 100 stops a month on the bookmobile’s route that consisted of 37 centers and 63 schools. In 2019, the Library System branch visitors totaled over 1.1 million. Nine decades ago, SCLSNJ’s collection consisted of just 500 print books. Now the Library System has a growing collection of over 702,000 books while also offering newspapers and magazines; media including music CDs, DVDs, and videogames; and audiobooks and e-books. While the bookmobile lent out an average of 300 print books a day, the current Library System circulates an average of 3,700 physical materials and almost 700 e-books daily. Today, in addition to books, the Library System is so much more. SCLSNJ offers hundreds of programs a month for patrons of all ages; a cultural adventure pass, which allows Library customers to explore local museums, parks, and more; dozens of digital resources; and a number of services including foreign language learning, notary services, and passports.SCLSNJ commemorates staff member’s 50 year anniversary
Shirley Todoroff often finds herself sharing stories about the past five decades with her colleagues at SCLSNJ. This year, the lifelong Somerset County resident is celebrating 50 years of employment with the Library System.
“I grew with the [Library] System,” said Todoroff. “If anyone asked me if I thought I would have been here this long I would have said no. I am very proud to have worked at SCLSNJ for all these years.”
In the winter of 1970, Todoroff was hired as a full-time clerk typist. The Manville resident, who has lived in various places across the County including Hillsborough and Branchburg, is currently the operations supervisor of processing in the technical services department.
“I have done everything from opening boxes and labeling books to working with the public at the circulation desk in Bridgewater,” said Todoroff. “Anything that was ever asked of me I was always happy to do.”
She recalls her earliest days of working for the Library System, when the administration portion of SCLSNJ was located in the basement of a building in downtown Somerville. Some of her favorite memories of SCLSNJ include moving from the basement into the Bridgewater branch, located at 1 Vogt Drive in Bridgewater, in 1981, and the implementation of digitizing the Library’s catalog in 1985.
“Shirley is such a tremendous asset to SCLSNJ,” said Rebecca Sandoval, technical services manager. “She possesses a wealth of historical knowledge, and is an excellent supervisor who manages the flow of materials out of technical services to the branches on a daily basis. Shirley is a remarkable employee, a true team player, and fun to have in the office.”
Todoroff states she isn’t 100 percent sure where the Library System will be in the future, but even with all the modern technology and electronic resources she does believe there will still be print books.
“There may be all these electronic and audiobooks, but there is something that people love about holding a printed book,” she said. “And the Library will always be a vital destination for County residents.”
What’s new in 2020 and beyond
SCLSNJ continues to evolve by enhancing current services, adding to the ever-expanding collection, and by offering new resources to the community. In 2020, the Library System launched Internet On the Go, free mobile hotspots available for checkout; appointment-based notary services; and new digital resources including BrainHQ and Gale courses. In future years, the Library System will continue to evolve and grow to meet the needs of the dynamic community by offering relevant resources, programs, and services to Library customers. Explore everything your Library has to offer: SCLSNJ.org.