Jeffrey Kesper
LAKEWOOD — Since the first libraries sprang up in Greece during the 5th century B.C.E., people have been drawn to libraries because of their love of scholarship and the pleasure books bring.
Jeffrey Kesper of North Brunswick, Middlesex County, the new branch manager of the Lakewood Public Library, was drawn back to the library system after serving as executive director of Southern Arts Federation, Atlanta, for 10 years.
"When we came back to New Jersey," said Kesper, "I had an opportunity to stay in the arts or come back into the world of the libraries. When I left the library system in 1980, I always knew I would come back. Libraries have been a part of my life since I was a child. I’ve loved books. I have a small art book collection. Returning to the library system just made a lot of sense to me."
Kesper, who holds a master’s degree in Library Science from Rutgers University, was a librarian at Woodbridge Public Library for seven years and then made a career switch to arts administration.
Now, approximately 23 years later, he has returned to the field of public libraries.
Kesper’s wife, the former Susanne Ahl, grew up in Jackson and was graduated from the Jackson school system.
"As I researched library systems, it became evident that the Ocean County Library System is one of the largest and the best systems in the state. It offers outstanding professional development, community outreach and a statement of purpose that focuses on service to the people in the community. The devotion to its public and the general philosophy of the Ocean County Library System were the major reasons I decided to come here," Kesper said.
The public is invited to an open house at the Lakewood Public Library on April 8 from 4-7 p.m. to meet Kesper and to see demonstrations of the Gates computers donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The foundation, which has given away 60,000 computers across the country to date, donated four computers to the Lakewood library.
The computers are fully loaded with software.
The complete computer systems even have additional keyboards in Spanish, audio monitors and hard drives with more than 20 foreign languages.
Kesper feels strongly that the Lakewood library is a place for everyone in the community.
"We continually strive to create programs that will appeal to our community’s diversity. We have programs in Spanish for children and adults, focusing on Spanish culture. We have a wonderful staff, many of whom can interpret for the Hispanic community. We have a significant collection of books written in Spanish, Russian, and a special collection geared to the Orthodox community. We have books on tape, CDs and videos in Spanish and English.
"We have programs about African-American subjects throughout the year, not just during Black History Month," says Kesper. "We also have programs, on a regular basis, for the Orthodox Jewish community. Most of our food at events is kosher. We strive to offer something for everyone at our library.
"I truly believe in the Lakewood library statement of purpose: Connecting People — Building Community — Changing Lives."
As a way of connecting people and building community, Kesper is in the process of helping to revitalize Friends of the Library, an organization that works to support the library by sponsoring book sales, cosponsoring library programs, participating in dinner and theater programs, and taking trips to see the BlueClaws, among other fund-raisers.
Anyone interested in becoming a member should call Kesper to find out when the next meeting is scheduled.
Kesper notes that the Lakewood library is a full-service library, providing information services such as answers to reference questions; and 30 computers with Internet access.
"Lakewood is unique because of its extraordinary diversity," Kesper says.
"What makes the Lakewood library especially unique is the fact that it is an urban library right in the midst of the town center. It is in a community that has seen incredible growth over the last 10 to 20 years from a population of approximately 45,000 to more than 65,000. It is unique because it has a very large African-American, Hispanic and Orthodox population as well as a very large senior citizen population. That combination is probably unique in the country and I am looking forward to being a productive part of it all."