FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edison, NJ — STELLA, a regional consortium of libraries committed to expanding access to shared resources and services, is pleased to announce that the Asbury Park Public Library has officially joined the consortium. Service will begin on June 18, further expanding STELLA’s network of resources and services for library patrons in Monmouth County.
The addition of Asbury Park Public Library strengthens STELLA’s growing network of member libraries, enhancing its ability to serve communities across the region through collaboration, innovation, and resource sharing.
“We are excited to welcome Asbury Park Public Library as the 44th member of our consortium,” said Eric Lozauskas, Executive Director of STELLA.
Asbury Park Public Library serves a community of more than 15,000 residents and maintains a collection of approximately 70,000 items. As part of the transition, the library’s data is being migrated into STELLA’s shared system, allowing existing patrons to access expanded resources without needing to replace their current library cards.
Through membership in STELLA, Asbury Park patrons will gain access to a significantly larger shared collection, seamless interlibrary borrowing, and an expanded range of programs and digital services available across the consortium.
“With their membership in STELLA, access expands to more than 3.5 million items, all discoverable through a new online catalog and mobile app,” Lozauskas added. “We’re excited for their patrons to take full advantage of everything our consortium has to offer.”
STELLA utilizes the Polaris integrated library system along with a suite of Vega products from Innovative, introducing a new online catalog, events management platform, email campaign system, and mobile app for patrons.
STELLA continues to grow as a collaborative library network spanning multiple counties, working together to maximize resources, reduce costs, and expand access for the diverse populations served by its member libraries.
STELLA is a nonprofit membership organization providing a wide range of services to its member libraries. The Consortium was established in 1986, and currently consists of 43 public libraries in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union counties plus 1 academic library at Middlesex College. The primary purpose of the consortium is to operate a shared automation system for its members and to promote all aspects of cooperative automated projects and resource sharing so that a higher quality of library services will be provided to residents within our service area. STELLA develops, maintains and provides technological expertise; offers affordable, cost effective services to its member libraries; supports additional value-added services in the areas of collection development, continuing education for staff and trustees, marketing, consulting, and state and national library advocacy. For more information, please visit stellanj.org.