Perth Amboy Public Library facts for kids
The Perth Amboy Public Library is a free public library located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. You can find it at 196 Jefferson Street. It's a great place for everyone in the city to read, learn, and explore!
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What You Can Find at the Library
The Perth Amboy Public Library serves a community of about 47,000 people. It has a huge collection of over 177,000 books and other items. Each year, people borrow more than 110,000 items from the library! It's also part of the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium, which means it works with other libraries to share resources.
A Look Back: The Library's History
The idea for a library in Perth Amboy started a long time ago.
- Early Attempts: In 1825, some citizens tried to create the Perth Amboy Library Company. But it closed down in 1835, and the books were spread out.
- A New Beginning: Later, in 1888, another group of local citizens formed the Perth Amboy Library Association. By 1891, this library officially became a legal organization under state law.
- Becoming a Public Library: In 1896, it became the Perth Amboy Free Public Library. This meant it received support from the city, making it free for everyone to use.
Over the years, the library has moved five times before finding its current home.
The Carnegie Building: A Special Home
The building where the library is now is very special. It's one of the first 36 Carnegie libraries built in New Jersey.
- Funding from Andrew Carnegie: This building was constructed in 1901 with money from Andrew Carnegie. He was a famous businessman who helped fund many libraries across the country.
- Donations and Support: The land for the library was given by J. C. Mc Coy. Another person, Adolph Lewisohn, donated $1,000 to buy new books. The city agreed to take care of the new library.
- Opening Day: The library officially opened on December 3, 1903. It's one of only three Carnegie libraries opened that year that are still being used today!
- Adding More Space: In 1914, the Carnegie Corporation gave another $30,000. This money was used to create two new reading rooms.
- Children's Library: A special Children's Library was added in 1925. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in 1977 and was not rebuilt. This children's area was in the basement, which used to be a meeting room and theater.
- Branch Library: In 1925, a small branch library was opened at the Shull School. However, it later closed to make space for more classrooms.
- Modern Updates: In 2010, the original building got some important renovations. This included replacing windows and repairing the roof to help restore the building.
Future Plans for the Library
The current library building is about 12,351 square feet. However, the state recommends that a library for a city of 51,000 residents should be around 27,214 square feet. This means the Perth Amboy library is considered too small for the city's needs.
- Study for Expansion: A study in 2010 suggested adding 22,500 square feet to the library. This new section would be built on the east side of the property.
- Improvements: The study also recommended uncovering hidden skylights and making the children's library bigger. New restrooms, stairs, and elevators would make the building easier for everyone to use, including those in wheelchairs.
- New Features: Other ideas included an outdoor garden, a new meeting room, a local history room, a magazine-reading room, and air-conditioning.
- Historic Recognition: In August 2010, the library was recognized as eligible for the state and national registers of historic places. This means it's a very important historical building!
