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Your Library

The New Brunswick Free Public Library traces its roots back to the 1796 Union Library Company. The present library, incorporated in 1890, has been serving the community for over a century from its Carnegie building (completed in 1903) on Livingston Avenue. To delve a little deeper into the library's history, download this Centennial Tribute pamphlet.

The library expanded in 1990 with the addition of a larger Reference Room and a Community Meeting Room. In 1994, the Children’s Room was expanded and a Storytime Room was added. A new elevator was added in 2002 to provide handicapped access to most of the library and is a convenience for others discouraged by stairs.

The library staff includes more than ten professional librarians, under the direction of a Board of Trustees. Library users can visit during open hours, telephone or email the library with questions, and/or utilize online resources from home.

The library is an electronic doorway while still having a multitude of books, periodicals, and audio/video materials. In addition to online databases, the library has microfilms of New Brunswick newspapers including the Home News from 1783 until today. A digitization project has made many of these newspapers available online. An extensive New Brunswick collection includes maps, reproducible pictures, slides, and pamphlets from New Brunswick and the surrounding communities. Visit the Library Materials page for more information.

The library staff strives to give patrons friendly and professional service so each person leaves the library with what they were looking for, and eager to visit us again. If you would like to make a suggestion or other comment, please fill out a comment form and either mail it in or drop it by the library in person.

Your Youth Services Department

The library stresses service to all but especially to children and teenagers. The Children’s Room offers a variety of programs including story-times and a summer reading program. The Teen Room contains a collection of Young Adult books and magazines, as well as computers for use by students working on homework or just wanting to get online. Visits to the Library by classes, day cares, scout troops, or other groups can be arranged by calling either the Children’s or Young Adult Librarians.

Your Meeting Room

A frequently used service of the library is its meeting rooms, where non-profit organizations can hold public meetings. Demand requires that interested organizations request the room as early as possible. To learn more about our booking process and our policies, please see the Meeting Room page.

Your Libraries

The NBFPL is a member of the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium. Using the catalog terminal in the library, or by accessing the catalog online, you can locate books and other items in our library as well as in most surrounding public libraries. Almost all of these materials can be sent to this library within days. If speed is essential, you can go to one of the reciprocal libraries, including LMxAC, MURAL, and the Raritan Valley Federation libraries. For a list of these libraries, please click here.

Our Mission

The mission of the New Brunswick Free Public Library is providing educational, informational, cultural and recreational resources and services to all the diverse people in New Brunswick. The library provides access to the universe of information, and especially that which is of immediate relevance and interest to the community. This access is provided through print, video, audio, and electronic materials selected, organized, and maintained so as to be accessible and relevant to the present and future needs of the community it serves. In this effort, the New Brunswick Free Public Library cooperates with other libraries, and with other educational, and governmental institutions. Special emphasis is placed on service to youth.