Mary Jacobs Library: A New Chapter

By Richard J. Novak for The Montgomery News | September 9, 2026

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts.

That principle matters as Rocky Hill turns the page on a long and difficult chapter involving the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library.

Mary Jacobs Library

On March 18, 2026, Superior Court Judge Haekyoung Suh entered final judgment in the litigation over the library and the Mary Jacobs Foundation. The court ordered the former foundation to dissolve, directed that the land, building and fixtures at 64 Washington Street be transferred to the Borough of Rocky Hill, and ordered that the remaining liquid assets, after payment of liabilities, be transferred to the newly formed Harold and Mary Jacobs Library Foundation, Inc.

That outcome matters because it preserves the central purpose of Harold Jacobs’ original gift. His will created a trust in memory of his wife, Mary, and directed that it establish, equip and maintain a library in the Borough of Rocky Hill.

For nearly five decades, that library served Rocky Hill and Montgomery residents and became part of the fabric of our community.

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When the future of the library became uncertain, Rocky Hill did not walk away. Borough officials and residents explored alternatives, developed financial models, studied other small community libraries, surveyed residents, and ultimately helped create a new nonprofit foundation dedicated to sustaining a library in Rocky Hill.

A local library is much more than a place to borrow books. It is a place where children discover the joy of reading, students find resources and quiet space to learn, seniors gain access to information and technology, and residents attend educational and cultural programs.

It can provide meeting space for civic and community organizations, host lectures and workshops, preserve local history, and offer a welcoming place where neighbors simply gather and connect.

In a small, walkable community like Rocky Hill, that role is especially important. The library sits at the heart of our historic village, close to homes, parks, businesses and community spaces. Preserving it preserves more than a building; it preserves an anchor of community life.

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There have been differing accounts of how we arrived here, and reasonable people may continue to disagree about decisions made along the way. But the final judgment gives us clarity about what happens next: the borough will hold the library property, and the Harold and Mary Jacobs Library Foundation will receive the charitable assets that can support its future. The litigation is over. The work of rebuilding the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library begins. Now our task is to create a library that honors Harold and Mary Jacobs’ legacy while serving the needs of Rocky Hill residents for generations to come.