From the 2025 Educational Interiors Showcase: Ocean County College, Library Renovation
Highlights
- Interior walls were removed, and shelving was reoriented to create flexible, adaptable spaces for various learning needs.
- Semi-private, soft seating areas inspired by British 'snug' reading nooks provide cozy spaces for individual study and reflection.
Built in the 1960s and last updated in the 1990s, the Ocean County College Library in Toms River, New Jersey, was dated and dark. A renovation has revitalized the library and created distinctive study and learning areas. Beginning with a redesigned entry, the library immediately puts technology on display, using glass walls to showcase new meeting rooms, WebEx pods, and small-group study spaces. Removing interior walls, reorienting shelving, and incorporating built-in and movable furnishings accommodate flexibility. The British idea of “snug” reading nooks inspired semi-private, soft seating areas. Reflecting the college’s coastal location, the palette features driftwood and sand motifs.
Read more about Ocean County College's Library and view a photo gallery at SchoolDesigns.com.