Jersey City Renames Library For 1st African-American Director

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Longtime Jersey City library Director Priscilla Gardner started her career in the city library's system in 1969.

In honor of her five decades of service to Jersey City, the city's library was renamed the Priscilla Gardner Main Library at a ceremony Tuesday.

"What I am beyond grateful the mayor has chosen to recognize me, I simply worked to serve as the best library director for our community and never imagined being recognized in this way," Gardner said. "It is my hope that the work I started lives on, and the Jersey City community continues to have endless access to free resources through the Jersey City Free Public Library."

Mayor Steven Fulop said the impact that Gardner made on the city will last a lifetime.

"The Jersey City Free Public Library is a valuable resource in our community, and Priscilla created a community that opened doors for people who may not otherwise have had access to books and other educational resources," Fulop said in a statement.

Gardner became the library's first African-American director in 2002. She began as a junior library assistant in 1969. She spent 30 years working at the Miller Branch Library and was head of it from 1987 to 1999.

She established the Jersey City Free Public Library Foundation in 2004, which helps support library services and programs, and raise funds for capital improvements.

The number of library cardholders has increased by more than seven times since Gardner became director, from 30,000 to more than 246,000.

A nationwide search for a new director has begun, Jersey City officials said. That person will oversee the main library branch, six regional branches, three neighborhood branches, and a bookmobile.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com