A look at the Jersey City Public Library
Since opening its doors, Jersey City's Public Library has remained the surrounding community's heart and soul. A true Jersey City gem.
Jersey City Library History
Jersey City Main Library History
The first public library in present-day Jersey City began in 1866 as a private venture in the town of Bergen. It was located in Library Hall at Ivy Place, on the corners of Summit Avenue and Grand Street. Members supported the library with subscriptions. In 1873, the Jersey City Board of Education established a public school free library, initially located in Jersey City High School (now Dickinson High School), and supported it with a $1,000 yearly maintenance expense.
Finally, in 1889, after two failed attempts at creating a sustainable public library for the city, a board of trustees was appointed. The board consisted of community leaders: a physician, who was elected president, and William C. Heppenheimer, who was elected treasurer, as well as Michael Murray, Nelson J. H. Edge, and Charles S. Haskell.
Almost immediately, a temporary library was created at The Old Beehive Building on the ground floor at 239 Washington Street. Additional space for a reading room was rented from the adjoining building, which was the Hudson County National Bank Building. In their efforts to procure a location to house the permanent library, the trustees purchased the adjoining plots at 484 Jersey Avenue and 286 and 288 Montgomery streets for $47,250. A.D.F. Hamlin of Columbia University acted as the supervising architect for a new building, and on July 6, 1891, the permanent home of the Main Library opened to the public. In its collection were 15,515 books and approximately 300 magazines and newspapers. The construction of the building cost roughly $208,000.
The Architecture of the Main Library Building on Jersey Avenue
The distinctive corner building boasts large brick and large windows. Carved on the keystone over the front entrance is the carving of Minerva by Philip Martiny. The windows alongside the door are engraved with Jersey City's seal on the right and Hudson County on the left. Upon entering the building, you'll find yourself in a beautiful lobby and a broad marble stairway with a black wrought iron railing. In 1907, a memorial window dedicated to Dr. Gordon was donated by residents and installed on the first landing of the library's staircase. In 2019, it was named for retiring director Priscilla Gardner, its first African-American director.
Greenville Branch
One of the largest branch libraries is the Greenville Branch (1841 Kennedy Boulevard), at the corner of Boulevard and Stevens Avenue. Opened in October 1926, the branch was designed by famous architect Albert S. Gottlieb at a cost of $256,000 to construct. The location is home to the infamous Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society Museum housed on the second floor and renamed in 2018 to honor the memory of deceased Jersey Journal columnist Earl A. Morgan.
Additional Locations
Along with the Greenville Branch, the Jersey City Free Public Library system features three other large regional centers: Five Corners (678 Newark Avenue), The Heights (14 Zabriskie Street), and Miller (489 Bergen Avenue). There are also several smaller neighborhood branches. In 2004, the first new public library built in Jersey City since 1962 opened. The new Branch Library and Community Center is located on Martin Luther King Drive and named for former Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham.
New Jersey Room
The New Jersey Room is a collection of materials about New Jersey with an emphasis on Jersey City and Hudson County. The collection, numbering about 20,000 volumes, includes both current and historical information. In addition to books, the New Jersey Room has a complete collection of all published Jersey City/Hoboken city directories dating from 1849 to 1925; an index for the Jersey Journal for the years 1912-1954 and 1969 to the present, a picture collection of over 13,000 images; hundreds of historic and contemporary maps; over 150 periodicals; manuscript collections; and several thousand topical files.
Jersey City's local Libraries are a vital resource supplying families in need of digital media and internet access, a place to connect, ESL programs to those looking to develop further their English speaking skills, classes, storytime, and various educational programs for children. An epicenter of information for those looking to discover history or current best selling books and a fantastic resource for community and culture.
“The beauty of Jersey City’s Public Library is evident in every historic detail. Make the time to see it’s grandeur in person and fall a little bit more in love with Jersey City.”
-Finally Home
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