Belleville Public Library and Information Center
Encyclopedia
The Belleville Public Library and Information Center is the free public library
of Belleville, New Jersey
located at 221 Washington Avenue. Serving a population of approximatley 36,000 the library in 2011 included a collection of 105,452 volumes. As member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System
, a consortium of municipal libraries in the northeastern New Jersey
counties of Bergen
, Hudson
, Passaic
, and Essex
, it has a circulation of about 39,000 items per year.
, still in use. In 1981, an addtion was a attached to the original building thus obscuring the pediment and columns at the library's entrance.
Much of the Carnegie Room's original details were hidden by 1970s modernizations that also concealed severe water damge. In the early 1990s, new systems were installed and the Carnegie Room was redecorated under the guidance of James J. Cozzarelli, Jr, a library trustee for whom the Children's Room is named. Taking inspiration from it's original architectural details, Cozzarelli choose to apply new surfaces and commissioned a series of paintings for the ceiling that tells the "dramatic tale of a young man's search for wisdom" Evaluated by the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office in 1976 the building was not listed on the state
or the national
registers of historic places
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
of Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
located at 221 Washington Avenue. Serving a population of approximatley 36,000 the library in 2011 included a collection of 105,452 volumes. As member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System
Bergen County Cooperative Library System
The Bergen County Cooperative Library System is an consortium of public libraries in the four northeastern New Jersey Gateway Region counties of Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Essex. Founded in 1984, the organization allows for reciprocal borrwing among its members so that books, audiobooks, CDs,...
, a consortium of municipal libraries in the northeastern New Jersey
Gateway Region
The Gateway Region is located in the northeastern part of State of New Jersey in the United States of America. The area encompasses Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties...
counties of Bergen
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, Hudson
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
, Passaic
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
, and Essex
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, it has a circulation of about 39,000 items per year.
History and architecture
Belleville's library was started in storefront by volunteer organization known as the Tuesday Afternoon Reading Club. By 1909, a site at Academy and Washington Streets was acquired from the muncipality and Charles Granville Jones, a local architect who also designed the town hall, Methodist church, First National Bank, and old high school, was hired. Opened in 1911, with an additonal stacks area added in 1929, it is one of New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, constructed with a grant of $20,000 made on April 28, 1909 by the Carnegie CorporationCarnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, still in use. In 1981, an addtion was a attached to the original building thus obscuring the pediment and columns at the library's entrance.
Much of the Carnegie Room's original details were hidden by 1970s modernizations that also concealed severe water damge. In the early 1990s, new systems were installed and the Carnegie Room was redecorated under the guidance of James J. Cozzarelli, Jr, a library trustee for whom the Children's Room is named. Taking inspiration from it's original architectural details, Cozzarelli choose to apply new surfaces and commissioned a series of paintings for the ceiling that tells the "dramatic tale of a young man's search for wisdom" Evaluated by the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office in 1976 the building was not listed on the state
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Office of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.The register was...
or the national
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
registers of historic places
See also
- List of Carnegie libraries in New Jersey
- Reformed Dutch Church of Second RiverReformed Dutch Church of Second RiverReformed Dutch Church of Second River, also known as the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church was founded in 1697 as a Dutch Reformed Church, located in present day Belleville, New Jersey. The church is named after the Second River which is a tributary of the Passaic River. The church was rebuilt in...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey