Community Corner

Bridgewater Library to be Closed Monday

The work to install solar panels on the roof will be done throughout the entire day.

The will be closed Monday while solar panels are installed on the roof, according to a release.

During the process, which will take the whole day, electricity to the building will be turned off.

The on the roof of the library is being paid for by Somerset County, at no cost to the township.

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And once the installation is complete, the release said, about 30 percent of the electrical energy usage in the library will be supplied through the solar panels.

“We are gaining a more environmentally friendly energy source at no cost to local taxpayers while reducing utility costs,” said branch director Marna Elliott in the release. “It is unfortunate that we have to close the library for one day, but we believe the benefits gained will far outweigh the short term inconvenience.”

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Although the other eight branches of the Somerset County Library System will be open Monday, network computer functions will not be accessible most of the day, the release said, because the Bridgewater branch is the headquarters of the entire system.

System-wide services—which include network routers connecting and providing Internet access, the server for the online catalog and other functions—are housed in the Bridgewater Township Library.

“We will be running the routers and servers off of the UPS during this time period,” said SCLS director Brian Auger in the release. “However, the ability to keep the computers cool and therefore up and running will be severely compromised.  The expected warm temperatures typical of this time of year will most likely heat up the building pretty quickly and we will probably have to shut the equipment down.”

The library is expected to reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

In the case of inclement weather Monday, the work will be done on Wednesday, and the library will be closed then.

For more information, visit the library’s website at sclsnj.org.


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