About Highland Park Public Library

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OUR MISSION: The Highland Park Public Library—an essential and vital community resource—satisfies the varied interests of residents of all ages by providing welcoming space, programs, diverse collections, and up-to-date technology that make Highland Park a better place to learn and work.

Read the 2022 Annual Report here.

Read the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan here.

OUR SHARED VALUES
The Highland Park Public Library staff and trustees will achieve this vision and mission by embracing the following values in our commitment to the community:

  • We promote the literacy, learning, and civic engagement necessary for a healthy democracy.
  • We provide an accessible, appealing, comfortable, and well-maintained library where everyone feels welcome.
  • We invest in our facility so as to provide a modern, uncluttered, and friendly environment.
  • We invest in the technological infrastructure required to create digitally literate citizens.
  • We extend ourselves to offer a great library experience by hiring friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful staff.
  • We build community by creating connections among Highland Park’s diverse populations.
  • We believe we can be more effective together, so we partner and collaborate with other community organizations.
  • We are careful stewards of public assets and resources, including our own facility.

HISTORY: In 1922, G. Wallace Conover established the town’s first lending library, which boasted a circulation of over 20,000 books within the first year. In 1946, a larger library space was rented, and by 1959 the library was moved to its own building on North Sixth Avenue. Improvements were made in 1966 and 1977, followed by a major expansion and refurbishing in 1994. Now more than 3,400 patrons come to the library each week, and the Highland Park Public Library circulates more than 178,000 items annually, hosts more than 3,800 patrons in library programs, and maintains a website with over 47,000 hits, reflecting the continuing and increasing use of library services.

FACILITIES: The library is complete with many attractive features —
  • A large Children’s Room with special areas for pictures books, story telling, Internet stations, game PCs, toy/play area and a picture window seat
  • A Young Adult area for the Teen collection and after school study space
  • A spacious Adult Services area furnished with work tables, comfortable lounge seating, Internet stations and fireplace
  • Special rooms for quiet study, computer use and tutoring
  • A meeting room with 70-person capacity for library and community programs
  • A Gallery area for exhibits of town-wide interest

LIBRARY GOVERNANCE: The Highland Park Public Library is governed by an independent Board of Trustees as described in detail in NJSA Title 40, Chapter 54 (Libraries and Reading Rooms). The Board of Trustees consists of seven members appointed for five-year terms, the Mayor (or their representative), and the Superintendent of Schools (or their representative). Find a listing of Board members, meeting dates, and meeting documents here.

POLICIES: