[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 7821] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO NEPTUNE, NJ, LIBRARY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY ______ HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. of new jersey in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 28, 1999 Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 17, 1999, the Neptune, NJ, Library celebrated its 75th anniversary. I was proud to join with Township officials, other dignitaries and residents to celebrate this important milestone. Neptune, named for the Roman God of the Sea and incorporated as a municipality in 1879, is a diverse community located in Monmouth County. The Township, whose slogan is ``Neptune, Crossroads of the Jersey Shore,'' is a full-service community with great historic significance and an even brighter future. One of the great features of the community is the Neptune Library. The library was started by the Ocean Grove Women's Club at its Clubhouse on Mt. Carmel Way, aided by books from the Monmouth County Bookmobile. In 1932, the Township rented a vacant store at 204 Ridge Avenue for a township library, with some books and supplemented by the bookmobile. The library shared a building on Corlies Avenue with the Township Public Health and Welfare Department in 1937 until that building was sold, moving to the Sunday School Room in the basement of the West Grove Methodist Church. In 1955, the Township Library opened at the Township Municipal Building at 137 Main St., open Tuesday afternoons, expanding its hours to Wednesday mornings in 1960. The year 1961 proved to be an eventful one for the library, with the Friends of Neptune Library organized in February. Recommendations for a new facility contained in a report released in March. On July 20, the Township Library opened its doors at 1908 Corlies Avenue, the site of a former machine shop, open to the public Monday through Thursday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. On November 30, 1961, the Neptune Library Association, Inc., was incorporated, while the Board of Trustees organized in 1964. In 1966, the first Books, Arts and Crafts Festival was held on the future site of the library, and ground was broken at the site on Springdale Ave. (now Neptune Blvd.) on May 10, 1969. Opening day for the Library was on March 22, 1971. It became a municipal library in 1972 following a township referendum. Mr. Speaker, obviously the history of the library is a long and illustrious one. Through the years, the library has been an important cultural and informational resource for the people of Neptune Township, and it continues to fulfill that mission to this day. The growth and success of the library is a strong reflection on the dedication and commitment of the people of this community to enhance the quality of life for the benefit of all. I am pleased to pay tribute on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Neptune Library. ____________________