About
The Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library of the Township of Washington will be the community’s primary resource for knowledge, information, and enjoyment, with emphasis on convenient accessibility and customer-oriented service.
Library Hours
Monday – Thursday: 10am to 9pm
Friday – Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 1pm to 5pm
Dates Closed in 2026
- New Year’s Day – Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 19
- Presidents’ Day – Monday, February 16
- Good Friday – Friday, April 3
- Easter – Sunday, April 5
- Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 10
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth – Friday, June 19
- Father’s Day – Sunday, June 21
- Independence Day – Saturday, July 4
- Labor Day – Monday, September 7
- Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day – Wednesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Eve – Wednesday, November 25 (open 10 AM – 5 PM; closed 5 PM – 9 PM)
- Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 26
- Day after Thanksgiving – Friday, November 27
- Christmas Eve – Thursday, December 24
- Christmas Day – Friday, December 25
- New Year’s Eve – Thursday, December 31 (open 10 AM to 1 PM; closed 1 PM – 9 PM)
606 Delsea Drive,
Sewell, NJ 08080
Phone: (856) 589-3334
Email: info@hegganlibrary.org
Staff
Sheila Mikkelson – Library Director
(856) 589-3334 ext 210
smikkelson@hegganlibrary.org
Chrissy Sirianni – Adult Services Supervisor
(856) 589-3334 ext 226
csirianni@hegganlibrary.org
Laurie Porsia – Circulation Supervisor
(856) 589-3334 ext 201
lporsia@hegganlibrary.org
Sara Figueroa – Youth Services Supervisor
(856) 589-3334 ext 216
sfigueroa@hegganlibrary.org
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the library, including library services, policies, technology, borrowing, programs, and more. Use the search or category filters to quickly find the information you need.
The Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library of the Township of Washington will be the community’s primary resource for knowledge, information, and enjoyment, with emphasis on convenient accessibility and customer-oriented service. The Library will strive to:
- Provide materials which are of most interest to users of all ages; especially preschool and adult age groups who have no other library at their disposal;
- Instill a love of reading and learning, and a familiarity with the Library, in all residents but especially in preschool children from infancy through the kindergarten age;
- Provide prompt and accurate information to individuals, groups, businesses, and government in our community;
- Assist elementary and secondary students with information, materials, and services which support their formal education assignments and interests;
- Be a place where our community can gather, learn, and connect with each other.
See how the library plans to fulfill its mission statement by reading our Strategic Plan for 2024-2028.
Voting Members
- Lisa Bertolini, President
- Vicky Binetti
- Salvatore Coppola, Alternate for Mayor
- Jane Crocker, Treasurer
- Mayor Anthony DellaPia
- Alisa Palazzi, Alternate for Superintendent
- Gina Gurcsik
- Eric Hibbs
- Dr. Whitney Huston, Secretary
- Frank Indriso
- Catherine J. Matos
Other
- Donald Brown Jr., Township Liaison
- Sheila Mikkelson, Library Director
Trustees are appointed to the library board by the township mayor per NJ state law. In compliance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, advance notice of the Board Meetings of the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library of the Township of Washington has been published in the South Jersey Times and The Sentinel. All board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM, with some exceptions due to holidays. Meetings are held in the adult meeting room at the library. Meeting dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Meeting notices are posted on the library website and social media. An Executive Session, which is closed to the public, may be called at any meeting. There are nine trustees and a quorum of five is needed for a meeting to be convened.
Public comment will be accepted at the conclusion of regular board business in accordance with the board meeting agenda. Members of the public intending to make comment to the board must first identify themselves by stating their full name and home address. All speakers participating in the public comment section agree to adhere to a five-minute time limit. If any member of the public is determined to be disruptive, the board reserves the right to terminate their public comment prior to the end of the time allotment. This will include audio being placed on mute if meeting attendance is virtual.
Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule
The Board of Trustees of the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library meets every third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM in the adult meeting room at the library, located at 606 Delsea Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080. All meetings are open to the public.
- 1.1 Eligibility for a Library Card
- 1.2 Acceptable forms of Identification to obtain a library card
- 1.3 Library Card Usage
- 1.4 Custodial Library Card
- 1.5 Homebound/Disabled Library Card
- 1.6 Digital eLibrary Cards
- 2.1 Borrowing Policy
- 2.2 Special Collections Policies
- 2.3 Patron Requests (Holds)
- 2.4 Extended Loans
- 2.5 Bulk Loans
- 2.6 Inter-Library Loans (ILL)
- 2.7 Lost/Damaged Materials
- 2.8 Overdue Notices and Collections
- 3.1 Internet Usage
- 3.2 Internet Access
- 3.3 Wireless (Wi-Fi) Use and Access
- 3.4 Time Limit on Library Computers
- 3.5 Restrictions to Library Computer Usage
- 3.6 Printing and Faxing
- 3.7 Staff Assistance With Computers
- 4.1 Reservation of Meeting Room
- 4.2 Small Study Room
- 4.3 Test Proctoring
- 5.1 Rules of Conduct
- 5.2 Unattended Children
- 6.1 Patron Privacy
- 6.2 Open Public Records Act N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 et seq. (OPRA)
- 6.3 Parental Access to Children’s Library Records
- 7.1 Memorial and Honor Books
- 7.2 Discarded Books
- 7.3 Reconsideration of Materials
- 7.4 Donations
- 7.5 Collection Development Plan
- 8.* Public Comment Policy
- 8.1 ADA (American Disabilities Act)
- 8.2 Bulletin Boards, Brochures and Pamphlets
- 8.3 Display Cases/Exhibits
- 8.4 Phone Usage
- 8.5 Library Programs
- 8.6 Photograph Release Form
- 8.7 Library Website and Social Media
- 8.8 Emergency Closings
- 8.9 Strategic Plan
Funded with Our Mission
To support the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library, the Friends of the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library of Washington Township is a private non-profit corporation founded in 2005 whose purposes include stimulating interest in and use of the library and engendering good will toward the library.
If you are interested in making sure that the written word is made available to all residents, in promoting reading for knowledge, information and pleasure, and in joining together with other like-minded residents, be a true Friend of the Library. We invite you to become an active member and join us at our meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the library. Membership fees and all monies earned by the Friends are donated to the library in the form of library materials, building needs, and programs.
Please join us in this effort and enjoy the good feeling that comes with helping the Library to continue to enrich the lives of all residents of our community.
There are currently no openings at this time.
The History of the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library
In 1965, a group of nine civic-minded women, known as the Whitman Square Women’s Club, felt there was a need for a public library in the fast growing community of Washington Township. At the time, Washington Township was a community of 2,100 homes with a population of 10,000.
The original idea for a library was suggested by Margaret Coupland, a teacher. Karen Witt and Charlotte Crank volunteered to head the project. They consulted Frances Smith, a state librarian, to outline the steps involved in started a library. An invitation was sent to all township residents announcing the first meeting of the association. Forty people attended the first meeting on February 10, 1965, and the needs, objectives and governing structure of the association were announced. On April 6, 1965, the Washington Township Public Library Association was formed.
A campaign was started to collect books and donations during National Library Week, April 26 through 30, 1965. During this week long, door-to-door book drive, over 400 books and $100 in cash were collected. Concerts, fashion shows, films for children, and bake sales were held to raise funds.
A location and a building to house the library was still needed. The Solar Building Company, one of the developers of Whitman Square, offered the use of the Russian House, a 24 x 26 foot sample home, as a temporary facility. A site on Ganttown Road was chosen and the association was able to lease the land for $1.00. Building Chairman Gerald DeWitz began the task of moving the building and converting it into a library. The Library Association members held quite a few work parties to paint, clean and fix cracks in the building.
Many individuals, businesses and organizations also helped make the library possible. The Lions Club donated and installed shelves; the Girl Scouts distributed flyers; the Boy Scouts carried books; a local electrician volunteered his services and another professional laid floors; Phil Seltzer, Harry Katz and Joe Esposito, developers of the Birches, donated a paved parking lot, grading, curbing and a sidewalk; the Goodwins, developers of Wedgewood, expanded the parking lot; and many others contributed to the library’s success.
One year after the initial idea, the Washington Township Public Library held a Dedication and Open House on February 27, 1966. The library officially opened for patrons on March 2, 1966. The collection consisted of 3,500 books, some of which had been lent to the library by the state. The library hours were Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 3-5 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m.-12.noon and 7-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 noon. It was staffed by 25 volunteers. There was no plumbing in the building. In the summer of 1967 the building was expanded to 865 square feet.
In 1971, the need for further expansion became apparent. The shelves were overcrowded and the State Library Committee informed the library that they would lose their state aid of $2,500 because of failure to meet state requirements.
The first librarian, Linda Snyder, was hired in 1973.
In early 1973, Joseph Esposito announced plans to construct a new building for the Library Association. He donated a one-acre site on Chapel Heights Road and began construction. The David Iervollino Memorial Library was dedicated on August 3, 1973. It was named for Mr. Esposito’s ten year old nephew who had been killed in a car accident in 1970.
It took over a month to catalog and move all the books to the new library. On October 8, 1973, the new 1,500 square foot library was opened to the residents of Washington Township. Moving into a larger facility allowed for the start of story times for children.
By 1975, the library was again feeling growing pains. The population of Washington Township had climbed to 22,000 residents and it was decided that an addition to the library was needed. In 1976, 1,500 square feet were added to the little blue library.
In 1978, the library became a part of the county library system.
At a Chamber of Commerce dinner in November of 1983, Margaret (Peg) Heggan was honored as “Person of the Year.” She was also informed that because of her dedication and support of the library, the library was renamed the Margaret E. Heggan Library.
As a result of a public referendum, the library left the county system in 1988, and in 1991, became a municipal library and the Board of Trustees was formed. The library then became the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library.
Once again, the library was out-growing its space. The School Board swapped property it held on Greentree Road for the property the library occupied on Chapel Heights Road. The library then moved to what was supposed to be a temporary location on East Holly Avenue in 1992. The library occupied this location until 2011.
The Friends of the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library was formed in 2005. The Friends is a non-profit organization which supports the library through fundraising and advocacy. The library has benefitted greatly from the generosity of the Friends.
With the population of the township approaching 50,000, the need for a larger library was evident. New locations were scouted including a vacant grocery store, a county owned building, and a skating rink, among others.
Eventually, the Library Board of Trustees commissioned the purchase and renovation of the former Educational Information and Resource Center (EIRC) building and on June 18th, 2011, the library opened in its present 20,000 square foot location on Delsea Drive.
Who was Margaret Heggan?
Margaret Elizabeth Elvins Heggan, better known as Peg, was born on June 16, 1912, in Hammonton, NJ.
Peg Heggan grew up in Hammonton with her four brothers, one sister, and her parents Lilla P. Ruby and Thomas C. Elvins. Her father served as mayor of Hammonton for three terms, and later as Postmaster. He also served in the NJ State Assembly. Peg attended Hammonton High School, where she was a member of the debating team, and was named valedictorian.
Peg married her high school sweetheart, Oscar K. Heggan, in 1931. They had three children; Jon, Elizabeth and Colleen. Her children continue to support the library.
The family first moved to Washington Township in 1933. They operated a gas station on the Black Horse Pike. In 1938, they moved to Monroeville in Salem County.
Around 1942, the Heggans returned to Washington Township, purchasing the Wesley Brown farm, consisting of 220 acres, on the corner of Pitman-Downer and Glassboro-Cross Keys Roads, and extending to Fries Mill Road. They later purchased 120 acres across Glassboro-Cross Keys Road in Monroe Township. The family home still stands on the corner of Pitman-Downer and Glassboro-Cross Keys Roads, although it has been added on to. Also standing is the processing plant (now a pipe company) where they made applesauce, apple-raspberry sauce and apple butter which was sold up and down the east coast under the brand name Betty-Jon. Other buildings on the farm included homes for the workers, a fruit processing area, and an 80,000 bushel capacity cold storage facility, where growers from surrounding towns stored their apples. Campbell Soup was their largest client – storing thousands of bags/bushels of carrots each season.
Margaret Heggan was very active in the community. She was involved with the first Girl Scout troop in the township, Troop 88, for 20 years. Heggan Orchards sponsored one of the first Little League teams in Washington Township. Peg was also an active member of the PTA and the Band Parents, the Historical Society, and volunteered at Kennedy Memorial Hospital when it first opened. In 1961, Peg was elected to the Township Committee of Washington Township. She was appointed mayor to fill an unexpired term, becoming the first female mayor of the township.
All of her community involvement led to her dream of a public library in Washington Township. She became involved with a group of women who were also interested in establishing a library in the township, attending some of the first meetings and making up book cards. Her involvement grew when the library moved into the “little building” on Ganttown Road.
Over the following years, Peg volunteered over 20,000 hours for the library, either in the library or on the road picking up books, taking books to Millville for processing, driving to Trenton to borrow books from the library there, and picking up supplies. She quietly labored behind the scenes to promote and support he various expansion projects of the library and the construction of a larger facility, also on Ganttown Road.
In appreciation of all of her hours of service to the library and community, Margaret Heggan was named Washington Township’s Person of the Year in 1984. On January 21, 1985, the library was renamed the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library. Peg continued to volunteer at the library for many years.
Margaret “Peg” Heggan passed away on January 18, 2005.
The Mountain Man
The family of James John Ponter has donated one of his paintings, The Mountain Man, to the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library.
James John Ponter, Jim, was a life-long resident of Gloucester County. He resided in Washington Township from 1985 until his passing in 2007. To make his western artworks historically accurate, Jim spent many hours doing research at the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library.
Jim also illustrated many children’s books, including “Henny Penny.”
The painting is on display in the library.
Last Rev. 3/2/2022
