Vicinity Magazine: “Local Heroes: Champion For Change” (pg. 9)

When the doors of the new Maplewood Memorial Library opened this July, more than 4,000 people poured inside, drawn by curiosity, pride, and a sense of homecoming. Among them stood Library Director Sarah Lester, the woman who spent more than a decade transforming Maplewood’s once-aging library into a vibrant 21st-century hub of learning, collaboration, and sustainability…

ArticleRobert Nealon
SOMA Living: “The Maplewood Memorial Library is ‘Open To All’”

On July 5, the community celebrated the grand opening of the newly rebuilt Maplewood Memorial Library. This expansive facility, now a third larger, showcases inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation. More than 1,100 residents attended the ribbon cutting, and nearly 4,000 visited throughout the day to explore the light-filled space…

ArticleRobert Nealon
AIA New York/Oculus: “A Renovated Maplewood Memorial Library Opens in New Jersey”

The newly expanded and renovated 32,000-square-foot Maplewood Memorial Library, designed by Sage & Coombe Architects, meets the programming needs of the community, honors the site’s historic footprint, and infuses the space with a sustainable, contemporary design…

ArticleRobert Nealon
The Lee & Ian Show: “Episode 17 (w/ Sarah Lester)”

The New Maplewood Memorial Library, a $24 Million state of the art, LEED Gold certified thing of beauty will be the pride of the community for decades to come. Meet library director, Sarah Lester, whose hard work and dedication led the way in making this dream a reality…

MediaRobert Nealon
Essex News Daily: “Maplewood Memorial Library is Officially ‘Open for All’"

Patrons had to walk several blocks to attend.  They sat or stood in the shade where they could but so many people were present that the majority were under the hot sun, covering the lawn of the Maplewood Middle School across the street. More than 1,000 people turned out for the re-opening of Maplewood’s library after a renovation…

ArticleRobert Nealon
On New Jersey: “First LEED Gold-Certified Library in NJ”

This summer marks a bold new chapter for one of New Jersey’s most beloved public institutions. After more than a decade of planning, design, and community input, the Maplewood Memorial Library has reopened its doors–now as the first LEED Gold-certified library in New Jersey. Director of the Maplewood Memorial Library, Sarah Lester joins the show to talk about the vision behind the rebuild, the sustainability features, and what this space now means for the community…

MediaRobert Nealon
ROI-NJ: “Maplewood library reopens after $24 million rebuild”

Founded in 1913 and considered a cornerstone of civic life in Maplewood, the library is 33% larger, and the 32,000-square-foot building includes an additional floor and reflects the community’s commitment to investing in civic infrastructure. The library said It will be the first in New Jersey to be awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council…

ArticleRobert Nealon