WMBCTV: New Jersey cold spell turns libraries into warming shelters

While temperatures continue to dip into the near freezing range, area libraries are currently open as warming stations to help keep residents warm. 

Sara Branagan is a librarian at the Dennis Memorial Branch in Newton. She says the concept of using libraries to help local residents dates back many years even during Hurricane Sandy when the regional disaster hit New Jersey back in October of 2012.

This week, the Sussex County library branches are opening their doors to be utilized as warming stations to support residents in need during this cold spell. 

“So people can come in and spend the day. You don’t have to come in and just check out a book or DVD or music or anything else,” said Sara. “You can stay, you can charge your phone, you can check your email, you can fax, make copies or just sit. Like I said before, we have everything but food.”

Not only are the facilities taking care of functional needs, but they also provide some recreational interactive activities for residents who spend time at the branches. 

“The community is always welcome at any of our 6 branches of the Sussex County Library System. So essentially we just open it up and announce to come on in and get warm,” said Knapp. “We have plenty to do. We’ve got books and magazines and puzzles and games and there’s always events happening at the library.”

The general schedule for the library is weekdays during the day but varying branches have specific hours that residents can find by going to sussex.nj.us.

While the current cold spell is expected to last through the week, some towns throughout New Jersey have also issued Code Blue alerts including Newark and Paterson.