Main Library

About the Main Library

Facing Washington Park, the historic Newark Public Library traces its beginnings to the Newark Library Association, which was formed in 1847. Forty years later, the people of Newark approved the founding of a Free Public Library. Learn More about the Main Library’s Architectural History.

Parking

The Main Library does not have patron parking. Several parking options exist on the surrounding surface streets as well as privately operated lots. Parking on Washington St.: No parking 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Metered parking Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 25 cents for 20 minutes, one hour maximum. Click here for more information on parking.

Public Transportation

#13, #27, Go Bus 28, #30, #76, #78 stop on Broad St. at Lombardy St. (heading north along Broad St.)
Go Bus 28, #59, #66 stop on Broad St. at Washington Park
#11, #13, #27, #28, #29, #30, #41 stop on Broad St. across from Lombardy St. (heading south along Broad St.)
#59, #66 stop on Washington St. & Washington Pl.
#11, #28, #29, #72 stop at Washington St. & James St.

Did you know?

The cornerstone of the Newark Public Library, although dated 1898 (the year excavation began), was laid at 5 Washington Street on January 26, 1899

Collections and Services

Departments/Services by Floor

First Floor

Check out & return
Children’s Room
Friends of NPL Everyday Book Sale
Gallery
Information Desk
Library card sign-up
New books (Lobby)
Restrooms
Sala Hispanoamericana
LGBTQ+ Center
Security
Stacks (entrance to Stack 1)
MakerSpace
Special Services Room

Second Floor

Centennial Hall
James Brown African American Room
Philip Roth Personal Library
Fiction
Gallery
Large Print Books
Magazines & Newspapers
Paperbacks
Periodicals
Reference
Stacks (entrance to Stack 3)
Test Prep Books
U.S. gov’t documents (Reference)
U.S. patents & trademarks (Reference)

Third Floor

Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center (NJ Reference)
Director’s Office
Gallery
Graphic novels
Stacks (entrance to Stack 6)
Technology Training Center (computer classes)
Victoria Technology Center (public computers)
Teen Room

Fourth Floor

Auditorium
Conference Room
DevelopmentFinance
Human Resources

About the Stacks

The Stacks are six floors of adult nonfiction, located at the back end of the Main Library. See a graphic diagram of the Stacks.

Call Number	Location
000 – 327.73Un34	Stack 1 (equivalent to First Floor)
327.73Un35 – 530.1	Stack 2
530.1 – 736R	Stack 3 (equivalent to Second Floor)
736S – 813St3	Stack 4
813St3 – 940.531	Stack 5
940.531 – 999	Stack 6 (equivalent to Third Floor)

Fiction

The adult fiction (except new fiction) and the paperbacks are located on the Second Floor, opposite the Reference Desk. Please ask at the Reference Desk if you need assistance in locating these collections.