Books are back in the Heights area of Jersey City since the reopening of its local branch library on Zabriskie Street on April 23.
After being closed for renovations which began in February of 2000, The Heights Library features a new children’s story and play area, an automated circulation desk with electronic resources, and an expanded and updated book collection that includes videos, compact discs and books on tape.
It also has a handicapped-compliant wheelchair lift and a ramp in front of the building, according to Interim Library General Manager Joan Lovero.
While the construction work was being done, the library’s facilities transferred temporarily to 87 Hutton St. “At the request of members of the neighborhood community, the Board of Trustees of the Library agreed to renovate this branch from the ground up,” Lovero said. “The city allocated capital funds to finance the renovation.”
The renovations were made possible by the persistence of the Friends of the Heights Library, a non-profit group, Lovero said.
“The Friends were a real big part in our renovations, they represented the library and brought repeated concern to the attention of city officials,” Lovero said.
President of the Friends Monya McCarty was happy to see the library reopen but admits that even though the physical structure of the building looks great, it still needs to work more on providing bilingual resources, particularly books in Spanish.
She started the Friends because she could not use the antiquated materials her local library had to offer. McCarty, a resident of the Heights herself, was going to Hoboken’s library for books for her children.
“We went to meetings and requested real improvements from officials,” McCarty said. “A lot of people stopped going [to the library]. Now they can come back.”
Since its opening, Lovero said, children coming home after school and retired residents have been the largest group of people visiting the library.
Jersey City resident Evelyn Herbst enjoys going to libraries to research information about the many topics that interest her. Since the reopening, she has been impressed with the facilities and improvements made to the almost century-old building.
“It’s beautiful here. Very nice,” Herbst said.
The Heights Library held a block party celebrating the completion of their second major renovation since the 1940s on April 21. The celebration included a ribbon cutting ceremony with free food, giveaways, live entertainment and tours of the library. The music was provided by Latin group Los Bebes, Dickinson High School’s Jazz Quartet and DJ Jose Alvarez.
The library opened in 1918, and it was the first branch of the Jersey City Free Public Library system. Until the opening of the building, long known as the Hudson City branch, only the main library at 472 Jersey Ave. provided library services to the city’s residents, Lovero said.
The library is located on 14 Zabriskie St. Its hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.