By Jaimie Julia Winters
Over 100 years ago, the Kearny Library expanded its services to better serve the community by purchasing a building at 759 Kearny Ave., near Roosevelt School. This addition was meant to supplement the services already offered in the town center. Now, library officials are planning to renovate the building, which resembles a house from the outside, in order to expand its program offerings.
“Nearly 100 years ago, in 1927, the town decided that it needed to expand the library system to two locations due to overwhelming demand from both sides of town,” Josh Humphrey, library director, said. “Within the last few years, the library board of trustees, the wonderful group of local volunteers who oversee the KPL under the leadership of Elizabeth Kubowicz, formed the idea of building an addition onto our branch space to make the building more versatile.”
Currently open three days every week, it houses a satellite collection of juvenile and adult materials and a Toddler Room. The second floor of the building houses offices and classroom spaces for the ESL program, run by long-time partner Literacy NJ.
After undergoing a planning and bidding process in 2024, the work began on the addition this year, with a planned completion set for next spring, Humphrey said.
The 30-by-15-foot addition, along with a large outdoor deck, will provide multifunctional programming space, something the site has lacked.
“With the new large space, complete with a gas fireplace and cathedral ceilings, we will be able to offer workshops and classes, and shows and performances,” Humphrey said, adding that the expansion would add accommodations for 80 more people.
The cost of the $600,000 addition is being covered by surplus funds, Humphrey said.
“The future has truly never been brighter for the Kearny Library,” Humphrey said.
