Brick Campaign to Help Pave Way to the New South Orange Public Library

Construction on the South Orange Public Library is progressing as planned and fundraising is in its final stretch, with a brick campaign designed for residents to help “pave the way” to the library and its 2027 opening.

Volunteers fanned out across South Orange on November 7 to drop off fliers alerting residents to the “pave the way” campaign, which allows them to purchase commemorative bricks for $200 each that will be in front of the library entrance.

“The canvassing was a huge success. With about 40 people, we were able to deliver a flyer to every single house in South Orange. Each participant was given a map with a highlighted section of town,” said Doug Zacker, who helped organize the canvassing and took pictures. “Some people did it all on Saturday and some people are doing a bit each day throughout the week.”

Volunteers for the Pave the Way campaign gathered at Spiotta Park before cavassing the entire village. (Photo by Doug Zacker)

From L to R: Jill Faherty, Executive Director; Keisha Miller, Head of Youth Services; Laura Epstein, President of the Foundation of the SOPL. (Photo courtesy of Doug Zacker)

Marietta Zacker, Chair of the Building Connections Capital Campaign addresses participants. (Photo by Doug Zacker)

Shuly Prager leaving a flyer for at a residence. (Photo by Doug Zacker)

Volunteers helping get the word out. (Photo by Doug Zacker)

Young volunteers helped out, too. (Photo by Doug Zacker)

The funds raised by the brick paver campaign will be added to other fundraising efforts to help the South Orange Public Library Foundation meet its fundraising goal of $2 million – money that will go toward the overall $17.5 million renovation and reconstruction project, which was mostly funded by the Village and the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act. 

So far, they’ve sold 232 bricks and raised $1.86 million, according to Building Connections capital campaign chair Marietta Zacker.

“We are getting closer to our fundraising goal of $2 million but still have a ways to go,” said Jill Faherty, director of the South Orange Public Library. “I hope that when the brick campaign closes in early 2027, and after our end-of-year annual appeal, we will have achieved our goal.”

The library renovation and expansion project will connect the two buildings — the original Connett library building, built in 1896, and the South Orange Public Library building next-door, built in 1968 — with a glass bridge. 

When complete, the library will be nearly double in size – with 30,700 square feet and will include an expanded children’s room, a teen section and several small study and meeting rooms. 

In addition to commemorative bricks, Faherty said, there are still naming opportunities available inside the library, such as book “stacks” or the new teen space. 

“We appreciate any support that the community can give,” she said. “There is no gift too large or too small.”       

Fundraising has been a community effort, including $110,819 raised by Mayor Sheena Collum’s birthday “party with a purpose” in November of 2025. 

“South Orange is a community that believes in equity, access and democracy—and our library is where those values live every single day,” Collum told the partygoers last year.

The Village broke ground in May of 2025. And this past May, Council Member Bill Haskins, who is the Village Council liaison to the SOPL Board, announced that construction appeared to be ahead of schedule and the library could open as soon as May 2027.

Faherty said that construction is progressing well, and that drywall, new stairs, the elevator shaft and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) are currently being installed.

“With the internal walls being erected it’s really shaping up and into the library we’ve envisioned,” she said. “I can’t wait for everyone to experience the modern, accessible and welcoming environment that it will be.”

The expanded children's room coming together. (photo courtesy of Jill Faherty)

Study rooms taking shape (photo courtesy of Jill Faherty)

The future lobby elevator (photo courtesy of Jill Faherty)

Insulation installed (photo courtesy of Jill Faherty)

Taking shape. (Photo courtesy of Jill Faherty)

The artist rendering on the construction wraparound on the fence. (Photo by Laura Griffin)

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the canvassers making sure residents got the “pave the way” fliers, met up in Spiotta Park where they were treated to bagels donated by Sonny’s Bagels and a pep talk from Marietta Zacker, chair of the Building Connections capital campaign.

The 40 volunteers were residents, library staff members, members of the Library Board, Foundation and Friends of the South Orange Public Library.

“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help out. All for the community and our wonderful newly renovated library,” said Dr. Judith C. Stark, resident and professor of Philosophy and the Environment at Seton Hall University.

Meanwhile, the Friends of the South Orange Public Library is holding its own fundraiser this weekend with its annual pre-holiday jewelry sale. They are collecting donations of fine, costume and vintage jewelry, as well as gently used puzzles and board games..The money raised will go toward books, reading programs and museum passes, among other things.

The sale will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Baird Community Center at 5 Mead Street.