Bayonne Celebrates Official Reopening of Historic Public Library

BAYONNE, NJ - Almost 120 years after its first grand opening, the Bayonne Public Library held a grand reopening ceremony last week after more than a year of renovations.

For some residents, the ceremony, which follows the May 1 soft reopening , provided an opportunity to renew or get a new library card, as well as to discover things they did not know existed prior to the upgrade.

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“Did you know they have comic books here,” one excited visitor proclaimed. “They’re called graphic novels, and I can’t wait to check some out.”

The most visible renovation work took place in the main lobby which was taken down to the studs according to the Library Director Melody Scagnelli-Townley. A new handicap accessible ramp was built between the lobby floor and the dais.The circulation area was relocated to the center of the lobby.

The new circulation desk which incorporates a circulation desk from the 1950s was custom-built and installed. New tile flooring was covers the floors in the library as well, as well as rewiring in various areas of the library to accommodate contemporary needs.

Areas of the library were also repainted.

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Charging stations were installed at tables in the study area, and the children’s section was largely completely renovated with new light, a new ceiling, new flooring and a new paint job.

The opening was originally scheduled for the end of November 2023 but delays beyond involving furniture delivery, floor tiling, and elevator inspections pushed that out a few months.

Although Bayonne had private libraries prior, including one located at St John's Church on Broadway, the city decided to open a public library in 1890 in Old City Hall located then at Broadway and 22nd Street with 4,000 volumes. The city later added books from a private library to help working people learn to read and write.

Population increases from 19,000 in 1890 to 33,000 in 1900 caused the library in Old City Hall to become overcrowded.

Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie gave Bayonne $83,000 to build a library in 1903 when the city hired contractor Joseph Williams to erect this building on Avenue C and West 31st.

In 1905 the Illiteracy rate in Bayonne was four times the national average with 40% of the residents being unable to read nor write making the library a critical component in the assimilation of immigrants into the community.

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