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City Celebrates Restorations at the Perth Amboy Free Library

Frank Pallone Grant Ribbon Cutting

 

PERTH AMBOY - For the past 118 years, the Perth Amboy Free Public Library has been an indispensable resource for residents and has evolved to be much more than a repository for books. 

City officials joined together on Friday, Sept. 9 to laud efforts to restore the historical building at 196 Jefferson St. - a hub for community events and education.

"Perth Amboy residents both new and old have fond memories of this historic library and today we are celebrating both current and future renovations to this amazing building," said Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-19th Dist.) "We are celebrating the library’s installation of a handicap accessible lift, an ongoing dream for both past and present members of the library’s Board of Trustees and a much-needed step in making the facility accessible for all residents."

Lopez said renovation projects take cooperation and talent to achieve, recognizing Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba’s leadership in ensuring the project became a priority and Joel Rosa, interim library director, and the entire Library staff for their hard work. 

She also expressed appreciation to Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.), who secured $1.5 million in a federal spending bill to help the city renovate and upgrade the library to better serve the needs of the community. President Biden signed the bill into law earlier this year.

The library was originally built in 1903 as a Carnegie Library and requires extensive repairs and renovations to provide essential services to the community. The funding will help repair and upgrade the building’s exterior, interior rooms, and restroom facilities. The funding will also provide new and expanded workspaces for students and technological infrastructure to support digital learning programs.

“The day is finally here where all patrons, regardless of limitations, can enjoy the array of services our Perth Amboy Public library has to offer," Rosa said. "The $1.5 million funds from Congressman Frank Pallone’s office will help renovate areas of our library that have been shut off to the public for nearly half a century by restoring our history room and creating flexible reading spaces throughout the library."

As a city of historic firsts and historical buildings, these renovations will go towards ensuring the library will continue to serve residents for generations to come, the assemblywoman added, noting funds will go towards improving the library’s historic archives so the city’s history can be placed on full view for the public to enjoy. 

"I am proud to have such an incredible library in my legislative district and cannot wait to see the transformation the library undertakes with these funds," Lopez said.