Library Opens at the Historic Train Station

THE FANWOOD LIBRARY IS MOVING, FOR A WHILE

After years of planning and hard work, Mayor Colleen Mahr, the Fanwood Borough Council and the Board of Trustees of the Fanwood Memorial Public Library announce the construction of the new Fanwood Memorial Public Library. The new library will be bigger, brighter, modern, ADA-compliant and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It will feature a Community Room, meeting spaces, dedicated areas for children and teens, a computer center, free WIFI, a business center and all the services you’ve come to expect from the library.

Artist rendering

During the construction of the new library, we will operate out of the Fanwood Museum inside our historic train station on North Avenue. This entails a significant operation to shut down the old building, move to the temporary building, then construct the new building.

Thursday, October 27: The current building closed permanently to the public
Wednesday, November 9: The library reopens to the public at our temporary home which we will call The Fanwood Library and Museum at the Historic Train Station
Early 2024: The new library is scheduled for completion

LIBRARY SERVICES AND EXPANDED HOURS AT THE TEMPORARY LOCATION

Services will be available during daytime, evening and weekend hours. We are grateful to the Fanwood Historic Preservation Commission for working with us to utilize the space inside the Fanwood Museum to offer a selection of books that will change from time to time—seasonal, historic, new books and special interest books for adults, teens and children. Other services will include:

Storytimes and early literacy programs
Family, teen and adult programs
Newly released books and DVDs for children, teens and adults
Computer station with printer, free to the public
Copy machine at a nominal cost
Remote printing–email documents to our printer, then pick them up whenever we’re open
Full access for cardholders to all digital resources including the NY Times, e-books, audiobooks, Consumer Reports and others
Telescope lending
Mobile WiFi hot-spot lending
Museum Passes
School visits and special displays

TRAILERS

There are two office trailers currently parked outside the train station. One will contain books available through online reservations. The other will be for staff and supplies.

EXPANDED BORROWING OPTIONS

Beginning November 2, the Fanwood Library joins a regional consortium of libraries called the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium (LMxAC). This will afford access to the collections of all 35 member libraries—that’s over a million titles. Books and other materials from these libraries can be put on hold, delivered and returned to the Fanwood library. Fanwood cardholders may also visit these libraries in person and check out materials. There’s an app for it called LMxEXPRESS PLUS.

Fanwood patrons will continue to be able to place holds and check out materials from the Scotch Plains Library, which is also a member of LMxAC.

THE FANWOOD MUSEUM REMAINS

Many of the museum displays will remain in place, affording a peek at Fanwood history for all library visitors. The museum’s regular schedule of programming will continue as detailed on their web page, https://fanwoodnj.org/departments/historic-preservation/. A few larger items will be held in storage. Rest assured that all our historic artifacts will remain safe and intact. We consider it a privilege to share the space with our town’s colorful history!

FINALLY…

The current completion date of the new library is estimated to be sometime in early 2024. Unexpected circumstances may accompany demolishing a 72-year-old building followed by new construction within that footprint.

This is an exciting time for our entire community as we embark on a new era of literary services. We ask our patrons for a little patience during this time.

We look forward to having you visit us in our new temporary home at the Historic Fanwood Train Station beginning November 9th.