About the Plainfield Public Library - About Us

The award-winning Plainfield Public Library serves Plainfield's residential, educational, and business communities through a central 45,000sf facility that is open six days and four evenings a week. Through inter-local agreements, the Library also serves residents of many neighboring towns. The Library houses approximately 310,000 volumes, including 150,000 special collection items, and employs approximately 55 full and part time staff members; 10 of whom hold M.L.S. degrees. Fifteen of the part-time staff are grant funded and work in our Literacy program.

Centrally located with free parking, the Library is heavily used as a community meeting place. Meeting rooms of various-sizes are available to the public for programs, meetings, tutoring, and private study. Special events, such as town-hall meetings and awards programs, are regularly sponsored by community organizations. The Library itself presents a variety of special events, such as exhibits by local artists and photographers, thematic local history exhibits, lectures, candidate forums, computer training, and children's activities. The basic services of the Library are funded by the City of Plainfield. Grants from private and government agencies provide funds for upgrading and enhancing services.

In accordance with the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey, the Library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees. Five community members, who serve five-year rotating terms, are appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council. The Mayor and Superintendent of Schools, or their appointed delegates, also sit as Trustees for the length of their terms.

To be the center of cultural enrichment and information for lifelong learning for the Plainfield community.

The Plainfield Public Library will provide all citizens of Plainfield full and equal access to information resources, technologies, and programs for a lifetime of learning and cultural enrichment, by promoting literacy, preserving the history of the community, and serving as a community center.

Our Key Services

The Plainfield Public Library Adult Literacy Program is a volunteer-based adult literacy program that provides free tutoring in Basic (English) Literacy, GED Study, and ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language).

Children's Services for all ages are conducted in the unique "Reading Rainforest," a magical space for children and parents. Popular programs include storytime, craft day, game day, school class visits, Friday films, the annual Summer Reading Club, and Reading Is Fundamental™.

Special Collections houses one of the finest local history collections in New Jersey, containing rare local, county and statewide resources. Many of its resources, including digitized newspapers, photographs and thumbnail views of the Library's exceptional fine arts collection can be located through the collections index and searched online via the collections database.

Computer Services include free public-access Internet computers, WIFI accessibility, Computer Training, and the Job Search Assistance Center that became available in 2012. The Children's Library provides additional Internet computers for homework assistance, handheld tablets, and a SmartTable.

The Plainfield Public Library is an officially designated Passport Acceptance Facility, where you can apply for a passport and get a photo. Expedited processing is available.

Volunteers are an important resource of the Plainfield Public Library, with approximately 125 volunteers assisting in the delivery of library services. Opportunities are available in nearly every department:
- Adult Literacy trains volunteers to be tutors and/or office assistants.
- Children's Library seeks adults and teens to help with crafts, after-school homework assistance to elementary students and to help with large summer programs.
- Local History trains for a variety of fascinating archival projects from indexing to digitization.

User Services include a variety of services residents find useful: fliers about community events, self-service fax machine, and self-check-out borrowing and return.

Our Award-Winning Library

Year Awarded	Name of Award	Description	Awarded By
2024	NJDAR Volunteer Genealogist of the Year	Library DIrector, Mary Ellen Rogan received this award for her expertise and willingness to assist prospective member and chapters in need.	The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution - New Jersey State Society
2024	Women's History Month Award	Library DIrector, Mary Ellen Rogan received this award for her outstanding contributions to the Plainfield community.	Plainfield Public Schools
2024	Women In NAACP Award	Rosa Nicks from the Library's Adult Literacy Department received this award in recognition for being a Phenomenal Woman and the amazing work she does for the library and throughout the community.	The Plainfield Area NAACP
2021	D.A.R. Americanism Award	Luz (Stella) Segura from the Library's Adult Literacy Department received this award, which recognizes a naturalized United States citizen who has demonstrated the outstanding characteristics of integrity, trustworthiness, and patriotism.	Francis Hopkinson Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
2019	Library Champion Award	Plainfield City Councilman Barry N. Goode Sr. was honored as a Library Champion for his continued support of the Library.	New Jersey Library Association
2019	Puertorriqueño Ilustre	Jailene Betancourt, Childrens Library Assistant, was honored as the 2019 Puertorriqueño Ilustre for her positive impact on the community.	Comite Patriotico Cultural Puertorriqueño
2018	Elected Official of The Year	In October 2018, Plainfield Councilor Barry Goode was honored as the "Elected Official of The Year" for his popular monthly storytimes for young children in the Library's Children's Room.	Libraries of Union County Consortium (LUCC)
2017	Susan G. Swartzburg Preservation Award	Sarah Hull, Head of Local History, Genealogy & Special Collections, for recognition of her statewide leadership and dedication to the preservation of archival, library, and historical materials.	New Jersey Library Association
2015	Award of Recognition	The Local History Department received this Award of Recognition for significant contributions to the history of New Jersey.	New Jersey Historical Commission
2014	Multicultural Program Award	The Plainfield Public Library's "Los Amigos ESL Club" run by Luz Stella Segura received a mention as a Runner-Up.	New Jersey State Library
2014	Your Beautiful Library Photo Contest	Honorable Mention for "The Reading Rainforest" as Coolest Internal Space.	GALE Cengage Learning
2012	Roger McDonough Librarianship Award	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold, for excellence in service to the New Jersey history research community and the general public.	New Jersey Academic Alliance
2011	Trustee Recognition Award	Awardee: Anne E. Robinson, President of the Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees, was recognized for her successful advocacy efforts to restore the library's hours.	New Jersey Library Association
2011	Gail Stern Award	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold, for outstanding achievement in service to New Jersey community history, with an emphasis on cultural diversity.	Advocates for New Jersey History
2010	Librarian of the Year	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold	New Jersey Library Association
2009	RAICES Award	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold, for services to the Hispanic Community of New Jersey	RAICES, Hispanic Cultural Association
2009	Community Change Award	For development of the library's Diversity Studies Collection.	New Jersey Black Issues Convention
2008	Excellence in Leadership Award	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold	The Nubian Union
2008	Alice M. Leppert Award	For outstanding achievement by the Adult Literacy Program of the Plainfield Public Library.	LVNJ - Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey
2008	Library Service Award to a Group	Awarded to the Literacy Advisory Committee of the Literacy Volunteers, Plainfield Public Library.	New Jersey Library Association
2008	Public Relations Award Service Brochure	Awarded to Plainfield Public Library.	New Jersey Library Association
2008	Public Relations Award Program Announcement	Awarded to the Plainfield Public Library & Paul Pinkman for the promotion of the Helen Stummer photography exhibit.	New Jersey Library Association
2008	Journalism Award Coverage of Library Services & Programs	Awarded to Bernice Paglia of the Courier News for her article, “Librarian donates 1,881 books to Plainfield library,” describing a large gift to our diversity collection.	New Jersey Library Association
2007	Susan G. Swartzburg Preservation Award	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold, for leadership and accomplishments in the field of history and preservation.	New Jersey Library Association
2007	19th Annual New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH Book Award Collection)	Thirty-six book titles will be awarded, including non-fiction humanities works by New Jersey authors or on a New Jersey subject.	New Jersey Council for the Humanities
2006	MARAC NJ Caucus Institutional Service Award	For furthering the cause of archives and history in the state, in particular for outstanding progress in acquiring, processing, describing, and preserving local history archives.	Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference - New Jersey Caucus
2006	Award for Achievement by a Community Organization	For fostering human rights and relations among the people of Union County and for promoting and advancing the understanding, acceptance and appreciation of cultural diversity.	Union County Human Relations Commission
2005	Public Relations Award	For best library website.	New Jersey Library Association
2004	Award of Recognition	Awardee: Library Director Joe Da Rold, for outstanding service to public knowledge and preservation of the history of New Jersey.	New Jersey Historical Commission
2004	Community Distinction Award	In recognition for the significant improvements brought to the lives of the citizens of Plainfield.	Plainfield Chamber of Commerce
2003	Best Service Brochure	For development and publication of "A Kid's History of Early Plainfield".	New Jersey Library Association
2001	Alice M. Leppert Award	In recognition of outstanding achievement by the Adult Literacy Program of the Plainfield Public Library.	Literacy Volunteers of America - New Jersey
2000	Access Union County Award	For outstanding commitment to improving access for people with disabilities.	Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders

The Adult Literacy Department has received additional awards for their programs and services.

Overview

Our Key Services