November 16, 2020 Update
Library Construction Bond Act Awardees Announced
The New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act passed both the Assembly and the Senate unanimously on November 16, 2020. It was then signed by the Governor on November 20, 2020, and the successful awardees were notified. To see the list of grantees, click here.
- At this time there is no set schedule for the second round of construction grants.
- All updates will be published to this page, emailed to NJ library directors, and also sent out via our NJSL Direct newsletter.
This web page provides information on the program, resource lists of architects, building program consultants, interior designers, and fundraisers.
To learn more, visit the links below:
- New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act regulation
- New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act timeline
- PDF Presentation of the Technical Assistance Webinar – January 22, 2020
Questions and Answers about the Bond Act
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions regarding the Library Construction Bond Act. As of February 20, 2020 the final Questions and Answers are posted below.
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- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 1 – February 11, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 2 – February 12, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 3 – February 14, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 4 – February 14, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 5 – February 14, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 6 – February 14, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 7 – February 14, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 8 – February 14, 2020
- Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Set 9 – February 14, 2020
- REVISED Questions and Answers about the Bond Act – Revised Set 9 – February 20, 2020
Please note: The answers in Set 9 have not changed. The previous document was missing four questions and some numbering was incorrect. The new questions are now #185 through #189, and the previous #185 through #190 have been renumbered #189 through #194.
November 4, 2019 Update
The public comments received between July 1 and August 30, 2019 and agency responses that indicate changes to the rules for the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act are printed in the New Jersey Register today. Instructions for accessing this information are as follows:
- Click on: http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/njoal
- In the search box enter: 51 NJR1610(a)
- Click on the search icon
- Click on “rule adoptions”
The complete revised rules can be found HERE
Effective today, we cannot respond to individual questions regarding the Bond act. All potential applicants must be able to see all questions and answers so that each potential applicant has the same information at the same time. This is official State policy for all Bond Programs.
Information on a Q and A website where questions can be posted and answers received will be available soon. There will be a deadline for posting all questions, so please check here frequently for pertinent dates.
Information will also be posted soon on the availability of the grant solicitation package. Technical assistance for submitting grant application(s) will occur in early December.
October 30, 2019 Update
We have received confirmation from the Office of Administrative Law that the public comments and the agency responses are scheduled for publication in the New Jersey Register on November 4, 2019.
You may go directly to the New Jersey Register or check back here after November 4, 2019 for a direct link.
October 10, 2019 Update
At this time, we are in the regulatory phase of this program and cannot respond to individual questions. All potential applicants must be able to see all questions and answers so that each potential applicant has the same information at the same time. This is official State policy when a State agency proposes and adopts regulations for a program such as the Library Construction Bond Act.
The Public Comment period has closed. It yielded 117 comments from 40 commenters. Revised Regulations along with the agency’s response to all the Public Comments have been submitted to OAL for approval and publication.
July 1, 2019 Update
As of today-July 1, 2019-the draft regulations have been posted to the New Jersey Register. They will be open for comment through August 30, 2019.
Submit written comments by August 30, 2019, electronically to mchute@njstatelib.org. Each comment should be identified by the applicable N.J.A.C. citation, with the commenter’s name and affiliation following the comment. The State Library encourages electronic submittal of comments. In the alternative, comments may be submitted on paper to:
Mary L. Chute, State Librarian
New Jersey State Library
PO Box 520
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0520
Fax number 609-278-2652
Please click here to see the regulations.
July 18, 2019 Update
June 18, 2019 Update (click to view Word Doc with full update)
May 1, 2019 Update
Dear Public Library Director:
I am pleased to make available to you this information gathering survey for public library directors to complete and return if a construction project for their library is currently under consideration. The information requested on this form will inform the State Library in its planning for the administration and implementation of the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act grant program. Development of draft program regulations is on track for release in early Summer, after which time the public will have an opportunity to comment on them.
We are asking you to complete the survey if you are planning or considering a library construction project. Whether you intend to submit a New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act application or not, this survey will help the state understand the level and nature of need for library construction in New Jersey. The information received will be used by staff to anticipate the number of potential grant applicants, scope and nature of projects, and the potential total dollar amount of resources required to address needs across the state. Please fill out a separate form for each anticipated project proposal. For more information regarding this important program please visit the State Library’s New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act webpage.
Please fill out this survey (PDF) with as much information as you have at this time. It is important, if you are planning to apply, that you fill out the estimated cost of your potential project. You may be asked to update the information at a later date.
I appreciate your time in completing this important survey.
Sincerely,
Mary L. Chute
State Librarian
March 11, 2019 Update
- Construction Bond activities have started to move forward. We are corresponding and meeting with our liaisons in the Governor’s Policy Office regularly.
- The Governor’s Policy team has been brainstorming in-house regarding library construction and high level goals highlighting the value of this investment in our communities.
- They have expressed interest in how much of the current need will be covered by the $125 million grants with their one-to-one match. Upon being advised that the $125 million figure was calculated a number of years ago when this campaign was first launched, it was suggested that we distribute a survey somewhere in this grant process to determine the overall level of need. Our NJSL core team had already designed a similar tool last summer. We will follow up to see if this poll will suit their purposes.
- The policy team will be aiding us in eliciting responses to questions we submitted to other departments involved in the overall process.
January 16, 2019 Update
The State Library has continued to work on various iterations of documents which will be needed for the Library Construction Bond Act so that we may be ready when the bonds are issued. At this time, however, there is no news on when the bond act will begin to be enacted. Thomas Edison State University has also done their part in the process. The State Library is waiting on direction from the Governor’s Policy Office as to when we may begin to move forward.
October 16, 201 Update
The New Jersey State Librarian, and other State Library staff involved in the Library Construction Bond Act program, attended an initial meeting on Friday, October 5 with staff of partnering agencies working to advance the Library Construction Bond Program.
State Librarian, Mary Chute, presented an overview of the construction program and what has been accomplished to date. She discussed the draft regulations, the grant application package, forthcoming letter of intent, the resource lists and FAQS that we have provided to the library community and the guidance we have offered through many phone calls and emails. She also discussed meetings that have been held with the past and present Presidents of Thomas Edison State University.
Other topics included requirements for financing of the program, the status of the grant application package, and the potential program timeline.
Questions regarding the draft regulations which require answers from key agencies were also presented. A discussion of what specifically has to be done to move the library construction grant program forward was held with the responsible agencies discussing their specific role and general timeline.
As a result of this meeting, the State Library has sent copies of the draft regulations and corresponding questions to appropriate parties for review. A working group for the advancement of the program will be established.
State Librarian Mary Chute commented, “The meeting was very productive. It was a major step forward to have everyone involved engage in the conversations and activities necessary to advance this program.”
PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO HELP APPLICANTS PLAN. HOWEVER, UNTIL THE DRAFT REGULATIONS ARE APPROVED BY STATE GOVERNMENT AND ARE IN FINAL FORM, THIS INFORMATION COULD BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.