Prom gown giveaway visited by 2 celebrities Friday afternoon

Miss Ocean County Kyra Seeley, 18, of Middlesex looks over the prom dress rack at Mancini Hall at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.

Kyra Seeley, Miss Ocean County, and Fox News reporter Tamara Laine stopped by Mancini Hall Friday afternoon to look over the prom gowns Ocean County Library was distributing for free to area teens.

Laine also interviewed Toms River branch manager Zarita Mattox and Erin DeLucia. Erin began the distribution program six years ago when she was a Young Adult librarian in Lakewood. That first year she distributed 25 gowns. This year more than 700 gowns were distributed in five branches.

Many thanks to the local residents who donated the gently used gowns, shoes and accessories to help fulfill the dreams of area teens.

Berkeley Branch Manager Erin Delucia, left, joins Toms River Branch Manager and Chief Librarian Zarita Mattox, center during an interview with Fox News reporter Tamara Laine of Chasing New Jersey.

Fox News reporter Tamara Laine tries on one of three prom dresses during her segment that will appear on Chasing New Jersey on My 9 and Fox 29 at 10 pm on Monday or Tuesday.

Ocean County Library appoints 2 new branch managers

The Ocean County Library Commission filled two branch manager positions Wednesday by appointing Erin DeLucia and Pamela Dong during November’s commission meeting Tuesday Nov. 19.

Erin DeLucia, who received her master’s degree in Library Science from Clarion University, Pennsylvania, will lead the Waretown branch.

She began her Ocean County Library career in October 2009 as a Teen Services Librarian at the Lakewood branch and created the “Prom Dress Giveaway” project, “Teen Success Camp,” and the “Man to Man: Face to Face” series of programs.

She held the same position at the Jackson branch and cultivated the teen volunteer program, provided outreach to both of Jackson’s middle schools and both high schools.

She also instituted a College Night program, bringing local colleges to the library to talk with teens and their parents about what their schools offer.

Pamela Dong earned her master’s degree in Library Science from C. W. Post, New York, and began her professional career at Queens Public Library. She then worked in four colleges or universities including Ramapo College as an Electronic Services Librarian; Georgian Court University as the Information Technology Librarian; Ocean County College as Technical Services Librarian; and Florida Gulf Coast University as the head of customer services.

Dong will manage the Jackson branch.