Burlington Review

Burlington County has launched a new café, Community Blend at Bestseller’s Café, located in the lobby of the Burlington County Library System's Main Branch in Westampton. This initiative provides library patrons with a variety of beverages and snacks while offering students from the Burlington County Special Services School District’s Transition Program valuable work experience.

The café is staffed by students aged 18 to 21 from the Transition Program, which focuses on life skills and job training. The collaboration between the school district and library was celebrated during a grand opening ceremony attended by local leaders, officials, and students.

“Burlington County is a community that supports inclusion and strives to provide opportunities for all residents to learn and thrive,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel. She emphasized the partnership's role in enhancing the library and providing new opportunities for students.

Commissioner Tom Pullion also highlighted the county's commitment to inclusivity: “Opportunities for all isn’t just something we talk about in Burlington County. We are taking action to make sure residents of all ages and abilities have the tools they need to succeed.”

Dr. Ashanti Holley, superintendent of Burlington County Special Services School District/Burlington County Institute of Technology, described the café as an empowering addition that provides real-world experience for students.

The café operates most weekdays during the school year from 9 AM to 1:30 PM with three students and a supervising teacher managing operations. Prepared foods are available after hours through vending machines.

This marks a return of staffed food service at the Main Branch Library after more than five years. The library had previously ended such services but decided to reintroduce them as part of its revitalization efforts post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Library System Director Ranjna Das noted that reintroducing a full-service café aligns with recent initiatives like ending most library fines: “Bringing back the café is another valuable service that will help encourage more people to visit.”

The restoration was supported by a $1.4 million grant from New Jersey’s Department of Education aimed at expanding programming for BCSSSD’s Transition School. This funding covered equipment expenses necessary for both library operations and educational purposes at nearby facilities.

State Senator Troy Singleton praised this initiative: “The Transitions School program has helped hundreds of students...this new partnership with the library is creating even more opportunities.” Assemblywoman Andrea Katz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing equal opportunity for all New Jersey students regardless of their background or income level.