Burlington County Freeholders officially took over ownership of Mt. Holly Library, saving the facility from closure, and setting in motion a plan to renovate the historic building and turn it into a multi-faceted history learning center that will appeal to residents and visitors alike.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era,” freeholder director Joe Donnelly said. “The transition from library to museum begins. The goal is to build upon the facility’s current holdings of historic books and artifacts, expand programs, and offer more displays and lectures that focus on Burlington County’s rich history.
“We’ve come a long way in just three months,” Donnelly added. “The library was facing certain closure by the end of August. But today, we are taking over the operating costs, and embarking on an ambitious plan to renovate the building and make it more attractive and accessible to the public-at-large.”
Current library users will be pleased to know that much will remain the same, Donnelly said. For starters, the name of the facility — the Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences — will continue, since this was the name given in 1860 when it was officially created by an act of the State legislature.
In addition, the current hours of operation will continue. Computers will remain available, and users will be able to borrow books from the Burlington County Library System via online access. A book drop will also remain on site.
“As a museum, the facility will retain a partnership with the County library system, as it should,” freeholder Leah Arter, liaison to the library said. “The County library will provide children’s programs of historical interest, archival expertise and genealogy research. And in a spirit of cooperation, the County library will plan and schedule a ‘Mount Holly Day’ at the nearby main branch in Westampton, and invite Mount Holly residents to become better acquainted with the available programs and services, as well as the new theater and expanded children’s area.”
Mt. Holly deputy mayor Rich DiFolco, who initially contacted freeholders about “saving” the facility, encouraged Mount Holly residents to embrace and support the new mission.
“The County sees this as an opportunity to showcase local history and bring more attention to Mt. Holly as the County Seat,” said DiFolco. “I hope residents appreciate the magnitude of this initiative, and I would urge patience over the next several months as the changeover from library to museum takes place.”
One of the first transition items will be to evaluate the current collection of books and other documents, and determine which items, because of their historical value, should remain in the building. Other materials determined to be of general interest may be turned over to the County library.
Going forward, a transition committee will be assembled, to include representatives of the County library, Burlington County Historical Society, county historian Joseph Laufer, and other local historians and County staff.
This committee will formulate ideas for accommodating research, displays, lectures and programs, and offer recommendations on interior changes to the building to better serve the public.
Actual settlement on the building and contents took place this morning, with Alicia McShulkis, president of the library’s board of trustees, executing the deed of transfer for a nominal fee of ten dollars.
McShulkis said that the eight-member board had already taken official steps to transform itself into a friends’ organization, or association, which will continue to support the facility, also known as Langstaff Mansion, as a museum.
“There seems to be no shortage of ideas as to how the mansion can serve as a clearinghouse for historical groups around the County, giving many entities an opportunity to display their artifacts to a larger audience,” she said.
Other items of note:
◦ Michael Eck, who served as Director of the library, was retained by the County to oversee the new museum. Two part-time employees were also retained.
◦ Operating hours will remain the same (Mon-Tues 10–7; Wed-Fri 10–6; Sat 10–3).
◦ Most organizations that currently meet in the mansion will continue to do so, including the Mount Holly Historical Society, the Mount Holly Bridge Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Burlington County Gardeners Association.
Children’s programming will continue, but with a focus on history and natural sciences.
