A Look Back at The History of The NBPL
June 5, 1935: A preliminary meeting of the North
Bergen Library Association was held at Robert Fulton School for the purpose of discussing
the establishment of a public library. On June 10 th , officers were elected for
a two-year term of office and a constitution adopted. P.T.A. groups held meetings
and fundraising events, and had conferences with State Library officials. Finally
a Board of Trustees was elected and a store rented at 432 – 33 rd Street (now 77
th Street) for the sum of $300 a year.
The Library officially opened on February 25, 1936 with 2,630 volumes to serve a
population of 40,000 persons. On April 1st, Mrs. Rose Cowler was appointed the librarian.
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July 20, 1940: The Library was moved to new quarters,
to the west side of Bergenline Avenue and 76 th Street.
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1948: Mrs. Margaret Northrup was put on salary as
s full-time employee. She later became the library's first Reference Librarian.
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July 15, 1949: The Library moved to new quarters
at 7827 Bergenline Avenue.
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November 8, 1950: A referendum was placed before
the voting population of North Bergen as to whether or not a public library was
to be established. YES vote was: 4,761. NO vote was: 1,947. At this time the library
was at 79 th Street and Bergenline Avenue. It had a budget of $5,000.00 and 19,900
books to serve a population of 41,000. The librarian Mrs. John A. Cowler, stressed
that new facilities were needed; 1.) To fight juvenile delinquency, and 2.) As a
cultural center for the town. Her motto was, “Through good books, great men talk
to us.”
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April 18, 1951: The first meeting of the Library
Board of Trustees was held at the Municipal building. Mayor Harry Buesser appointed
Mr. Sol Schulman as President of the Board, for a five-year term of office. The
“Certificate of Incorporation” was signed on May 24 th . The first Librarian in
charge was Mrs. Rose Cowler at a salary of $2,200.00 per year. The library had approximately,
20,000 volumes, and the Board of Commissioners appropriated $20,000.00 for the library
for the year.
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April 21, 1952: The new library headquarters at 8107-08
Bergenline Avenue was dedicated. Furniture and equipment were installed for $6,373.00,
and the township's appropriation for the library was $22,700.00. The John B. Simeone
Memorial Collection of books and pamphlets on Civil Rights was presented to the
library.
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1954: Mr. Robert Purrington became Director at $4,000.00
per year.
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December 1956: The first inventory was taken at the
Main and the Branch Library (1112 – 14 th Street).
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1957: There were 2,075 registered borrowers. Two
permanent and separate collections were established, the Adult Collection and the
Juvenile Reference Department. The voucher system of paying bills was put into effect
and the first annual report was submitted o the Board of Trustees.
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January 1958: The Rules & Regulations of the
Library were adopted.
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November 5, 1958: Mayor Sarubbi presented the first
bookmobile to the Board of Trustees. It cost $8,500.00; carried 1,800 - 2,000 volumes
and had Mrs. May Turse as the person-in-charge.
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1959: An agreement to provide Guttenberg with library
service for one year for $1,000.00 was signed. The branch at 1112 - 14 th Street
was closed. The lease on the Main Library was renewed.
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December 6, 1960: Theodore Doll, Director of Revenue
and Finance asked the Hudson County Park Commission if the town could either lease
of purchase vacant land adjacent to Bergenline Avenue and 82 nd Street for the construction
of a modern library and garage.
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1964: Docustat coin-operated photocopy machine was
installed to enable borrowers to duplicate personal and library material. The Oregon
Company installed a heating and air-conditioning unit on October 31.
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1965: A five-year lease for four stores at 8107-8113
Bergenline Avenue was executed between the Board and Universal Holding Company,
at $8,400.00 per year. An "Open House" celebration was held from December 30, 1965
– January 15, 1996.
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September 26, 1966: The New Durham Branch (at 4315
Durham Avenue) opened. Manned at first by P.T.A volunteers, it was later manned
by a paid attendant on Monday -- Friday 3:00PM to 6:00PM.
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1969: A collection of Spanish language books was
initiated with 100 titles.
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1970: The Lincoln Library Branch was opened with
Mrs. Katherine Vallillo as the attendant in charge. In June 1970, the New Durham
Branch moved to 4305 Bergen Turnpike.
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1971: Mrs. Dorothy Karmiller was appointed Library
Director. The Guttenberg contract was renewed for 2 years. A Story Hour Program
started at the Lincoln Branch.
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1972: The first staff meeting was held in the library.
Summer story hours were conducted in Hudson County Park, across the street from
the library.
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1974: Mr. Edmund A. Savoie was appointed Library
Director.
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1975: the card catalog was divided into 3 sections:
author, title and subject.
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1976: The library hosted a Bi-Centennial Exhibit.
Bi-lingual books for children were purchased. An office was constructed for the
Director. The Italian Language Collection was increased.
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1977: The first electric typewriter was purchased
for use by the clerical staff.
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1978: Both reference and children's librarians were
hired. The New Durham Branch was closed due to lack of use. Negotiations for the
expansion of the present quarters were begun.
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1979: A new bookmobile was purchased. A 16mm projector
and screen were purchased to conduct film programs for children.
*The above was obtained from the,
"North Bergen Free Public Library Building Program" (6/15/79).
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1985: The main library was relocated to 8411 Bergenline
Avenue. Branches were no longer needed.
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