Essex County College Renovates MLK Library, Learning Center

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County College recently celebrated the grand reopening of its renovated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library and Learning Center.

According to school administrators, the reimagined 16,000-square-foot space – nearly two years in the making – now features “open sightlines, sustainable elements and flexible spaces enhanced by new technology.”

The updated library also incorporates AI-powered tools, virtual tours and expanded access to digital and print materials.

Funding for the renovation was made possible through the state of New Jersey’s Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act Grant and the County of Essex. The upgrades were designed by DMR Architects.

Students, faculty and local dignitaries attended an unveiling event on April 24. Several people offered remarks, including Beth Robinson of the Essex County College Board of Trustees, Tyshammie Cooper of the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.

“This facility stands as a tribute to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., a man who believed deeply in the power of education to lift communities and change lives,” ECC president Augustine Boakye said.

“Today marks a powerful milestone in the life of our college,” Boakye said.

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