Orange Public Library
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Orange Free Public Library
| nrhp_type =
| image = ORANGE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, ORANGE, ESSEX COUNTY, NJ.jpg
| caption =
| location = 348 Main Street
Orange, New Jersey
| coordinates = {{coord|40|46|21|N|74|13|53|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = USA New Jersey Essex County
| built = 1901
| architect = McKim, Mead, and White; Albro & Brower
| architecture = Classical Revival
| added = September 28, 1981
| area = less than one acre
| refnum = 81000393{{NRISref|2009a}}
| designated_other1_name = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
| designated_other1_abbr = NJRHP
| designated_other1_link = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
| designated_other1_date = August 7, 1981
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| designated_other1_color = #ffc94b
}}
The Orange Public Library is the free public library in Orange, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Serving a population of about 33,000, the library collection contains 150,000 volumes and circulates 56,000 annually.{{Cite web | title = Orange Public Library | publisher = librarytechnology.org | date = September 2011 | url = http://www.librarytechnology.org/lwc-displaylibrary.pl?RC=21692 | access-date = 2011-10-06}}
History
The library began in 1883 as association library, supported by dues, endowments and donations and opened its current main building, designed by McKim, Mead, and White, in 1901. Across its facade is engraved Stickler Memorial in honor of the son, who had died suddenly a year earlier, of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stickler, who donated the $100,000 cost of its construction.{{Citation | title = STICKLER MEMORIAL LIBRARY.; Ground Broken for Structure to Cost $100,000 at Orange, | newspaper = The New York Times | date = May 14, 1900 | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60E1FFD3F5911738DDDAD0994DD405B808CF1D3 | access-date = 2011-10-06 }} It was built during the "free library movement" at the turn of the 20th century.{{Citation
| title = Libraries in New Jersey Growth of the Movement for the Free Circulation of Books
| newspaper = The New York Times
| date = December 16, 1900
| url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1900/12/16/102428486.pdf
}} In a 1945 referendum the citizens approved support for a free public library, and took over the operations of the building as municipally operated facility.{{Cite web | title = History of the Orange Public Library | publisher = Orange Public Library | url = http://www.orangepl.org/ | access-date = 2011-10-06 }} It was added to the state and federal registers of historic places in 1981. In 2010 it was estimated that refurbishing the building, in need of repairs, would cost $1.5 million.{{Citation | last = Bondy | first = Halley | title = Lead paint leads to complaint against Orange library | newspaper = The Star-Ledger | date = March 11, 2010 | url = http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/03/lead_paint_leads_to_complaint.html | access-date = 2011-10-16 }} Dennis Kowal Architects, historic preservation and library design specialists, developed Preservation Plans to restore the building and update the library services resulting in a Historic Trust Grant. In phase one, the rotunda was opened and phase two is under study.
See also
References
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{{National Register of Historic Places}}
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Category:Library buildings completed in 1901
Category:Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey
Category:Neoclassical architecture in New Jersey
Category:Buildings and structures in Essex County, New Jersey
Category:Public libraries in New Jersey