Newark Library Permanently Closes Branch: ‘Hazardous Conditions’

NEWARK, NJ — The Clinton Branch of the Newark Public Library has been permanently closed due to “hazardous conditions,” administrators say.

On Wednesday, the Newark Public Library shared the following message on social media:

“Due to hazardous building conditions which have escalated beyond sustainable remediation and in the interest of the health and safety of our staff and patrons, the Newark Public Library has permanently closed the Clinton Branch at 739 Bergen Street. NPL is working diligently to identify a temporary location for the branch so that we can continue to offer needed services to the Clinton Hill community.”

In the meanwhile, seven other Newark Public Library locations are open for regular fall and winter hours, and are ready to serve people in the Clinton Hill neighborhood, administrators said. They include:

• Weequahic Branch – 355 Osborne Terrace (nearest location)
• Branch Brook Branch – 235 Clifton Avenue
• Main Library – 5 Washington Street
• North End Branch – 722 Summer Avenue
• Springfield Branch – 50 Hayes Street
• Vailsburg Branch – 75 Alexander Street
• Van Buren Branch – 140 Van Buren Street

“We have resumed our fall/winter hours at each of our fully reopened locations, and our virtual programming options remain, in addition to our recently expanded e-book collection,” library staff said.

“We look forward to working with the community to reimagine a new Clinton Branch on this site,” staff continued. “Details about the planning process, which will include community input, will be shared within the next several weeks on the library’s website and on our social media platforms.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.