It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between things that look or sound alike. That shirt may be brown, but is it coffee, or cocoa, or maybe mocha? Here in Hoboken, there are several organizations that use the term library, but surely they don’t all mean that nice old building on Church Square Park.
It can get confusing. I hope the following explanation will clarify some of that confusion. Aside from the actual library staff, all of the work of these groups is carried out by volunteers from the Hoboken community.
First there is the Hoboken Public Library, the beautiful landmark building on Fifth Street. That is where the books, CDs, DVDs and all sorts of new and wonderful materials and activities, including the new Makerspace project, are housed.
The library Board of Trustees is the body that sets the policies under which the library operates. Its members are appointed by the city and its policies are carried out by the library staff under the leadership of the library director.
The Friends of the Hoboken Public Library support the activities of the library. This is largely done through fund raising activities like Novel Night, Novella Night and used book sales. They provide for extras like First Saturday programs for families and a program of free museum passes which recently added the Museum of the City of New York and the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. These funds will provide a new door for what will be the renovated library building.
Founded in 2012, newest of these groups is the Hoboken Library Foundation.
The above mentioned renovation is a large and long term undertaking. The Foundation is charged with seeking major contributions to aid in the funding of this project. The mission of the Foundation, like that of the Friends, is to supplement the funds provided by the city and the state. They are used for special projects, not operating expenses.
Here’s hope that this explanation will inspire you to support those groups that support your public library.