|
A library, as much a part of
our cultural life as our educational process, is one of the
vital community assets of which we are proud. Our first
library was established in the school by the Borough
Improvement Association, but was wiped out in the first fire
that destroyed the school in January 1924.
It took six years for a
library to emerge from those bitter ashes. This time, the
efforts of Mrs. Thomas Young, the chairman of the Civic
Committee of the Woman’s Club, helped to crystallize the
clamor for a new library. Mrs. Young called a mass meeting in
the Municipal Building on April 9, 1930 to promote the cause
of the library. The principal speaker was Miss Sarah Askew,
the New Jersey State Librarian, who gave an inspiring talk on
the need of a library.
By that fall, a library was
established in a classroom of the Highland Avenue School. Miss
Hulda Block of the school faculty was the librarian, a post
that was taken over by Mrs. Young soon after the library
opened.
A free public library was
established by the municipal government in November 1937.
Operated in part by public funds, the library was governed by
a board of trustees headed by Mrs. Hooker I. Coggeshall. A
vacant store at 220 Godwin Avenue was selected to house the
library, which was incorporated in 1938. The growing demands
for library services and the growing number of books ordained
the moving of the library to more adequate quarters and the
cornerstone for a library building was laid on September 23,
1950 on the site of the old school.
The library building was a
tribute to the unflagging devotion to the community of such
persons as Mrs. Coggeshall and Mrs. Young, who died in
November 1958. Mrs. F. Leslie Strickland was appointed
librarian to succeed Mrs. Young.
In the Midland Park tradition
of service, many organizations have donated books to the
library on frequent occasions. The Garden Club has helped to
keep the grounds of the library landscaped neatly and supplied
with plantings. The club also has provided floral decorations
for the interior on special days. An auxiliary group, the
Library Guild (known as the Friends of the Library today), has
worked closely with the trustees and has provided physical and
financial assistance to carry out many of the library
projects. Due to increased needs, expansion was inevitable and
in January 1963, ground was broken for an addition to be used
as a children’s room. This new wing was opened on May 20th,
1963.
Now almost 50 years later, our
library continues to grow, evolve and thrive. Through the
enthusiastic support of it’s patrons, our library is freely
recognized as an important cultural center in our community. |
