The NJ General Library Act of 1884 allowed for the establishment of the Hoboken Free Library.
In addition to the libraries in Paterson and Newark, it was the third Library to be founded under this law.
Brief timeline:
Edward Stanton introduced a resolution to the City Council on September 5, 1888, requesting a charter election for a library.
April 9, 1889: The Library Charter, funded a tax of 0.3 mills on each dollar of assessed value, is overwhelmingly approved by the electorate in the November election. August Grassman, the mayor, appointed the board.
On June 14, 1889, the Trustees’ first meeting was held.
At the board meeting on October 15, 1889, the certificate of incorporation was approved.
On October 2, 1890, a library with 3500 books on the shelves was established in the basement of the Second National Bank Building. A later survey will determine how many of those volumes are still available. in the collection.) The books are currently $3,247.76 in price. The accommodations in the basement of the Second National Bank quickly proved insufficient. Architectural designs are submitted and evaluated via a contest. Albert Beyer won the contract for the company. Mowbray & Effinger and George M. Pollard were further rival businesses.
November 26, 1895: Accepting and adopting the final construction specifications and blueprints. The Observer published a warning to builders.
On December 23, 1895, they sent sealed proposals to the Board of Trustees, which accepted them at the Librarian’s Office. The plans could be viewed at the librarian’s office or the architect’s office in the 2nd National Bank Building.
Separate bids they’re needed for the following:
(Bids Received) Masonry Work
(12) Carpentry
(8) Painting
(5) Plumbing
(4) Heating
(9) Electric Light
Mrs. Martha B. Stevens presented the deed transferring the property to James Minturn,
corporate attorney for the city, in January 1896.
Contracts they awarded on February 25, 1896. The mayor and council asked to publish bonds (by 1893 law) for $50,000 to pay for the building’s expenses.
There A cornerstone was laid on April 14, 1896. It was supposed to include every piece of paper, printed form, and document used in the Library.
A. Beyer informs the Trustees that the Plastic Roofing manufacturer retired on June 30, 1896. Beyer asked that the original plan’s proposed roof design be modified. (This explains why the building currently has a tar paper roof.)
The trustees vacated their positions in the Second National Bank Building on March 31, 1897.
The Old Library closed on April 1, 1897.
Lighting After the contract was rebid, they rejected the bids.
Opening of a new building on April 5, 1897.
On September 20, 1912, the Library’s second floor welcomed the Edward Russ Law Library. At the Time, it housed one of the state’s most extensive collections of law books. Additionally unveiled was a ten-inch shell from the battleship Maine.
1926: A Story for ChildrenTime was initially presented by Nina Hatfield, who had made history a year before by being the first female filmmaker. More than 75 youngsters between the ages of 3 and 10 would assemble when she read tales.
The Library celebrated its 50th anniversary on October 2, 1940. It included 125,074 books at the Time. Nina Hatfield organized a display of catalogs and news articles on the opening from 50 years before in observance of the event.
1977: The late mayor Steve Cappiello gifted a unique painting of Frank Sinatra and his mother, Dolly. On the second level, the image is still proudly on display. A few years later, Terry Sasso, acting director, established the Frank Sinatra Memorabilia Collection.
Friends of the Hoboken Public Library was founded in 1986.
The structure got air conditioning in 1989.
Hoboken Public Library joined BCCLS in 1999.
It opened in 2002, the Library’s computer center. The first section of the Library is devoted to young adults.
On March 13, 2007, the Library debuted a new elevator and first-floor restrooms that had undergone renovations.
The Hoboken Public Library Foundation was founded in 2012.
2012: Superstorm Sandy causes significant damage to the Library’s basement. Action is taken right away to repair the damage.
On June 8, 2013, Church Square Park and the Hoboken Public Library each hosted the inaugural book festival.
2014: The Library received a Certificate of Eligibility on June 23, 2008, which led to its inclusion on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
2015 saw the National Register of Historic Places add the Hoboken Free Public Library and Manual School (The Hoboken Library) to its list of notable buildings.
2016: The Library establishes a “Pop-Up Library” in collaboration with the City of Hoboken on the second floor of the facility’s Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand Street. The Grand Street
Branch is the facility’s unofficial name starting in 2019.
January 11, 2018: The public can now visit the renovated basement after years of work: Opening the used book sale area run by the Friends of the Library, Reading Garden, Large
Programming Room, Multipurpose Room, and Small Programming Room on the lower level.
2019: The Library opens The Learning Center at HHA, a facility to support the neighborhood, in collaboration with the Hoboken Housing Authority.
The third-oldest Library in New Jersey is the Hoboken Public Library, which was founded in 1890.
The 500 Park Avenue library building was built in 1897 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Although its purpose hasn’t changed, how it serves the community has.
What began as a lending library for books has evolved into a high-tech hub of innovation and service.
The Hoboken Community Library’s trustees and staff see themselves as stewards of a center of learning and are dedicated to strengthening that role.
Programs for All
Historically, the Hoboken Public Library has served as a hub for community gatherings because of its many diverse activities. HPL is a resource for everyone thanks to its classes, concerts, conversations, outreach initiatives, and other events that inform and amuse.
Children: from a TOYBARRIER and Story Times
The Children’s Department offers a space for free educational play, with its only goal being to aid and inspire beginning readers. While the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative emphasizes early literacy, the yearly summer reading program assists young pupils in maintaining their learning achievements.
For teenagers, Teens may hang out in the Young Adult Section and its Teen Zone, which is located in the Annex close to the Main Library.
Along with 30 cutting-edge printers in its Hi-Tech Maker Space, the zone offers a current selection of YA literature, periodicals, audiobooks, and special activities for teenagers.
For adults: The lessons provided by the Adult department provide public platforms for exchanging ideas. These forums range from seminars, concerts, and free-ranging debates confronting today’s most difficult subjects to movie screenings and book discussion groups.
Additionally, they provide private computer instruction. Students from all over the globe can increase their vocabulary by taking their English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, which the Friends of the Library supports.
For more information, visit their website or call them at (201)420-2346