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History History of the Warren County Library Headquarters In 1970 the Warren County Library Commission received a study from consultant, Kenneth McPherson recommending that the County build a 15,000-21,000 square foot library near the county garage on Route 519, giving the library at least 12 times the space it currently had in the Court House. At first it seemed that the Freeholders would consider this plan, but by April of 1971 they decided to move the library into the Presbyterian Home (now referred to as the Court House Annex). The Library Commission and some members of the public objected to this move because the space allotted to the library was insufficient and the building itself was not suitable for that purpose. The county persisted and the library moved into the building in 1973. The Freeholders assured the Library Commission that this building would only be a temporary home for the library. However, as of this date the library still resides in the Blair Estate.
The Warren County Library was established by a vote of county residents on November 4, 1930 . The library began with a strong service orientation that it maintains today. In 1932, the library was serving the county through 60 community bookmobile stations, 45 elementary school libraries and one high school. Although the methods of service delivery have changed, the library continues to provide free public library service to any county residents of the county's 17 townships: Allamuchy, Blairstown, Franklin , Frelinghuysen, Greenwich , Hardwick, Harmony, Hope, Independence , Knowlton, Liberty , Lopatcong, Mansfield , Oxford , Pohatcong , Washington and White Townships . Residents of Alpha, Belvidere , Hackettstown, Phillipsburg and Washington Borough, whose municipalities have established their own libraries, and any other individuals living outside of Warren County Library's service area may purchase a nonresident library card to gain borrowing privileges. Currently, the Warren County Library System has its Headquarters at 199 Hardwick Street , Belvidere , and branches in Franklin Township , Independence Township and Blairstown Township . The Headquarters facility has been located in the Court House Annex in Belvidere since 1973. The Headquarters provides service to all eligible residents of the county, operates a bookmobile service, provides backup collections, reference service and professional assistance to the branches, and houses the library's administrative and business offices. In October 1989, Warren County opened the Franklin Branch, located in the east wing of Warren County Technical School on Route 57 in Franklin Township . The branch serves as a public library and serves the needs of students and the residents of the 17 townships, drawing most heavily from the central portion of the county. In 1990, a federation between the Warren County Library and the Phillipsburg Free Public Library was formed to improve library services to residents in townships adjacent to Phillipsburg . In effect, the federation opens free library service at the Phillipsburg Library to residents of the 17 townships that belong to the Warren County Library System. In February 1993, the Warren County Library opened the Northeast Branch in a renovated building on Route 46 in Independence Township . This branch serves all residents but focuses particularly on the surrounding townships in the northeastern part of the county. In January 1995, the formerly private Catherine Dickson Hofman Library became a branch of the Warren County Library. While open to all residents of the county's 17 townships, this branch primarily serves residents of the northwestern part of the county. In this page, the term Warren County Library refers to the system which includes the Library Headquarters and its three branches. |
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Warren County Library Headquarters -199 Hardwick Street, Belvidere, NJ 07823- 908.475.6322 |