Somerville Public Library is a
public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants.
There are ...
of the
Somerset County Library System of New Jersey and is located at 35 West End Avenue in
. It is centered at the end of Somerville’s downtown Main Street and is in the same building as the town’s Borough Hall. The library offers
books,
movies,
CDs
The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in Octo ...
, and
periodicals. It also hosts special events, such as programs and lectures for each age group, as well as providing free
WiFi access.
History
When the area's first established public library started to outgrow its structure around 1900, plans were drafted to create a more permanent building for the
library. However, as the town began to expand in
population, the region focused on building
churches,
business
Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or Trade, buying and selling Product (business), products (such as goods and Service (economics), services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for pr ...
es, and a
hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
. The idea of a larger building for the library was delayed until the Library’s Board of Trustees could raise enough funds and gather support among the town's residents. Through funds collected from the public, the Trustees purchased a
property lot on Maple Ave. Their idea of the perfect building would have large windows to let in the natural light from the sun and hired
George B. Post
George Browne Post (December 15, 1837 – November 28, 1913) was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition. He was recognized as a master of modern American architecture as well as being instrumental in the birth of the skyscra ...
to accomplish this dream. On April 14, 1902, the Library on Maple Ave opened its doors to the public.
Just like knowledge grows, the Maple Ave location had to expand in 1924 in order to hold the growing number of books it housed. About four years later, the Library had to seek another building and was moved to the corner of Bridge and High Streets. While the Board of Trustees knew this was a temporary residence, it stayed in the Schwed building until 1958. Many plans were drawn up to find a more permanent place for the Library but the funding stalled many opportunities. It was not until 1956 when the Borough Council purchased the
Elks Club building, located on West End Avenue, that the library found its permanent home. After much debate over the planned building, the Board of Trustees approved the new home in 1958. The Elks Club building is located at the end of Downtown Somerville and also houses the Borough Hall offices. More than fifty years later, the Library is still located in the Elks Club Building with no plans to move it.
Services and programs
In addition to more than 50,000 books, the Somerville Public Library has many other services and programs for town residents. It holds subscriptions to more than 100
magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
s and
newspapers, covering a spectrum of popular to niche categories. It also has a full selection of
DVD movies and music, ranging from new releases to the classics. The library has
photocopiers, offers
Public Notary services, and provides free WiFi internet throughout the building.
They also host special events throughout the year for ages ranging from
toddlers to
senior citizens. They host Friday game nights for
middle and
high school students to interact and play
video games in a safe environment and for younger children, they have story time and arts and craft hours. The library also has film showings,
talent shows,
book signing
Book signing is the affixing of a signature to the title page or flyleaf of a book by its author. Book signings are events, usually at a bookstore or library, where an author sits and signs books for a period.
Book signing
Book signing is popu ...
s,
concerts and community outreach activities throughout the year. For the adults, the Somerville Public Library offers classes in
chess,
knitting
Knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile, or fabric. It is used to create many types of garments. Knitting may be done by hand or by machine.
Knitting creates stitches: loops of yarn in a row, either flat or i ...
, and other
leisure activities, as well as workshops on a variety of topics and an adult literacy program. Everyone can find one activity that interests them at the Somerville Public Library.
Membership
Membership, needed to borrow library items, requires a
Somerset County Library System of New Jersey card, provided for free to those who own property, live, work, or attend school in one of 15 member municipalities: Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Green Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, Millstone, Montgomery, North Plainfield, Peapack-Gladstone, Rocky Hill, Somerville, South Bound Brook, Warren Township, and Watchung. Those who do not meet these conditions can instead purchase an annual pass to borrow library materials.
Friends of the Somerville Public Library
Founded around 25 years ago, the Friends of the Somerville Public Library is composed of people from various age groups. They work together on different projects throughout the year to raise funds and awareness for the library. The members volunteer their time to help operate the library and run library events.
References
Somerset County Library System Branches and HoursPrograms and EventsSomerville Public Library YouTube Video
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Education in Somerset County, New Jersey
Public libraries in New Jersey