Manville’s library is making the transition to a branch library in the Somerset County Library System on July 1.
On that date, it will end its affiliation with the Raritan Valley Federation of Libraries where it has been a member for many years.
Patrons of the Manville Public Library no longer will be able to use the RVF libraries. Instead, they will be able to register to gain a free Somerset County system card and use those libraries.
As of July 1, there will be no more interlibrary loans to RVF libraries, which include Franklin, Dunellen, Bernards, Bernardsville, Clarence Dillon (Bedminster), Middlesex, New Brunswick and Raritan.
Manville patrons will be able to use their library card at Somerset County Library System at libraries in Somerville, Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, Mary Jacobs (Rocky Hill), North Plainfield, Peapack-Gladstone, Warren and Watchung.
RVF patron cards will not be used at the Manville library after Aug. 24.
April 23, the Borough Council voted to join the county system.
”We had to do something,” Manville Public Library Director Ed Smith said. “We were going bankrupt and had to do something to keep going.”
The system change will allow Manville’s library to upgrade some of its patron resources, including fixing computers and getting more access to such online resources as encyclopedias.
Manville will gain the services offered at the other libraries in the county system, and Manville patrons will be allowed to continue to use their current library cards. However, they eventually will have to get Somerset County library cards.
After the changes take effect, Manville Library will be closed from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4 for a mandatory staff orientation. The library will reopen Sept. 5 as a Somerset County branch.

