The Newark Public Library—a major force in the intellectual and cultural life of Newark since its founding in 1888—has launched an ambitious three-tier project to create a New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center (NJHRIC).

The NJHRIC will include:

• the continued development of the existing library of popular Spanish-language materials in Sala Hispanoamericana, 
• the creation of a new research-level Hispanic Reference Center aimed at the special needs of students and scholars, 
• the establishment of the Puerto Rican Community Archives, a community archive focusing on the study of Puerto Rican heritage in New Jersey. 

The Puerto Rican Community Archives is the first effort of its kind to create and build a collection of primary resources on the history and culture of New Jersey’s Puerto Rican community. Its mission is to create a single comprehensive resource registering the history, culture and contributions of this previously undocumented community of 20th century immigrants.

For information and images from our 2007 María DeCastro Blake Awards Dinner, please click here.

View a list of NJHRIC Accomplishments to date.

The NJHRIC is being developed under the direction of Ms. Ingrid Betancourt, Coordinator of Multicultural Collections and Services at the Newark Public Library.  Dr. Olga Jiménez-Wagenheim of Rutgers University chairs the project's Organizing Committee.  For more information call (973) 733-3637.

Support the NJHRIC

An account has been established to help raise funds for the New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center. Click here to find out more about supporting us.