Caldwell Public Library Newsletter — June 3, 2026

We are moving!

It's all happening!

THIS IS (FINALLY) IT: Saturday, June 6 is our last day in the trailer! So, what happens next?

Your library at 24 Smull Avenue will be closed while we move to the new building. We hope to reopen in our new building at 80 Bloomfield Avenue by the end of June. Here's what you need to know in the meantime:

Book returns: You have two choices:

You can hold onto your books during our transition. We are fine-free, so no worries if they are overdue. Or...
You can return them to any of our partner libraries. Here is a list.

Holds: You can make holds as usual, but these will be automatically routed to Verona for pickup while we are closed unless you select a different library. We will call you when the hold is ready for pickup.

Visiting privileges: Your library card allows you to visit any of our partner libraries. To name a few closer ones: Verona, Cedar Grove, Little Falls, and Wayne (check here for a full list).

Additionally, your ReBL sticker allows you walk-in privileges at participating Essex county libraries such as Montclair, Roseland, and West Orange; please note that books taken from these libraries must be returned there. (See below for more information about ReBL)

Our digital collections are open 24/7! Check out the Libby, Hoopla and Kanopy apps, which offer books, audiobooks, music, movies and magazines. Click here for more information.

We thank you for your patience and anticipation as we prepare your NEW Caldwell Public Library. We are here for you!

Register now for our Summer Reading Kickoff!

Don't miss Summer Reading Kickoff 2026!

The theme: Unearth a story.

Picture: Dinosaurs, prehistoric locations, archaeological digs, fossils and...discovery!

Discovering new books, discovering stories, discovering the joy of reading this summer—it all starts here, at our annual Summer Reading kickoff event.

The fun happens at the Irene Gibbons Health and Human Services building, 24 Park Avenue, in Caldwell.

Our Summer Reading program will feature activities, prizes, a town-wide scavenger hunt, and lots of reading! But first, the kickoff event details:

Monday, June 15 at 6:30pm
An amazing Magic Show, with Steve Woyce!
Summer Reading program signups
A scavenger hunt and coloring
Snacks and refreshments
Registration is required; please click below.

This event is generously funded by Kiwanis Club of Caldwell-West Essex.

Spotlight on...ReBL Libraries

Experience new libraries with ReBL

ReBL stands for Reciprocal Borrowing and Lending, and is an additional library resource for you.

Each year, we update your card with a ReBL sticker, which allows you access to 22 Essex County libraries, including 5 academic libraries. ReBL libraries that are close by are Roseland, Montclair, West Orange and Livingston. Make sure your sticker is updated to reflect this year, 2026.

With ReBL, you get walk-in privileges; this means that materials you take out must be returned there. During our temporary closing, give it a try! Each library has so much to offer; you can discover some new ones!

Adult Programs

"Mark Twain, writer and father" will be the focus of this month's Zoom with Marisa Merrigan-Robertazzi.

Of course you know him as the writer of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, an essayist and public speaker. He was also a dedicated father. This Zoom will delve into these roles—just in time for Father's Day!

Wednesday, June 10 at 7pm

Email librarian@caldwellpl.org for Zoom link.

Celebrate Juneteenth by celebrating the right to vote!

Join Dr. Valerie Lewis-Mosley for a special Zoom dedicated to the legacy of the 15th amendment and the freedom it gave.

Wednesday, June 17 at 7pm

Email librarian@caldwellpl.org for Zoom link.

Virtual adult programs from NJ State Library!

While our programming is limited in preparation for our upcoming move, you can check out what the NJ State Library has to offer!

Their virtual program offerings span topics that are cultural, informative, legal, and personal.

Featured in the coming weeks:

Webinar: Genealogy of a Patriot: The Stories of Benjamin Flynn and Oliver Cromwell

Tuesday, June 9, 12pm-1pm

Webinar: Leading Across the Generations: Building Effective Multi-Generational Team

Friday, June 12, 12pm-1pm

Webinar: Retirement Planning for PERS and TPAF Members: State Employees

Tuesday, June 16, 9am-11:30am

Virtual Author Talk – The Princeton Fugitive Slave: The Trials of James Collins Johnson

Wednesday, June 24, 12pm-1pm

Webinar: The Battle of Monmouth Courthouse: The Last Great Revolutionary War Battle in the North

Tuesday, June 30, 12pm-1pm

Click here for more programs, info, and to register!

Youth Programs

No registration required

Thank You!

The Caldwell Public Library is grateful for the support and funding from the following organizations:

Caldwell Public Library Foundation

Carnegie Corporation of New York

Kiwanis of Caldwell-West Essex

Rotary Club of the Caldwells

From sponsoring services like Hoopla and free learning-based programs for the community, our library depends on the ongoing generosity from organizations and individuals. With your donations, we can weather all storms and continue to grow and provide the Caldwell community with learning and literacy resources in a supporting and welcoming environment. Thank you!

Help Build a Library for the Future

Be a Part of Your Library's New Chapter!

The move is imminent! After welcoming Caldwell residents for over 100 years, your new library will be fully outfitted to welcome you for the next hundred. New features include a re-imagined Children's Corner, a spacious Community Hall to accommodate larger programs, the Hub patron business center with an enclosed Study, and a dedicated Teen Lounge. We will be thrilled to open our new doors to you very soon.

Invest in your future library. Your donation will go toward current technology and a warm and welcoming space to make the NEW Caldwell Public Library the place where you can find what you are looking for. Please be a part of your community's future and make a generous donation today.