I recently visited WOPL at the new location off Rooney Circle by Essex Green. If you're driving…read morethere, the entrance to the library lot is near the Cambria Hotel. It's possible to take the bus to Essex Green and then walk there, but it's far from the stop. It's a nice building. It seems larger than the old Mt. Pleasant location (definitely larger than the temporary annex on Main Street). When you enter the building, the library door will be to your left. From what I remember of the old location, I think the new location given more dedicated space to the kids and teens areas. There are also quiet rooms for private study, and a quiet area on the lower level. There are various self-checkout kiosks, too. Outside, there is also a nice outside area with benches where you can sit and read. If you visit around the time when the sun sets, you'll see some nice sky views. One thing my husband noted was he thought they should have a clearer walkway to the building entrance. If you drive and park in the general parking area (not the designated spots reserved for municipality gov't or library personnel), you're walking up a hill where cars will be driving down. So you can walk on the grass to avoid being clipped by a car either backing out of the premium parking spots across the building entrance, or a car whizzing down the hill towards the gen pop lot. In short, please just be careful and keep your eyes peeled - as both a pedestrian and driver. Overall, the new library looks great and the librarians are friendly.

Newly renovated office building at 10 Rooney Circle next to ShopRite is the new library…read more Large main parking lot with very limited parking next to main door. Roomy inside with so many bare shelves. Only one staff personnel working upstairs. Downstairs staff workers talking so loud to each other was ridiculous. There was no signage whatsoever throughout the property. NO isles were marked to find sections or selections. Plenty of tables and computers. Rack with a large display of current magazines and newspapers near windows.

It looks like a decent selection of items here, but I usually put items on hold online and pick…read morethem up here. The staff is always great--they are quick and helpful. If you like browsing around, there are probably better, more well stocked, newer libraries (like Montclair) but since the libraries are so interconnected, it's really easy to request what you want and come to receive when notified. I do think the parking can be annoying because it's either meter or wait until after 6 when the meters are free. This is unusual in my experience to not have free parking at a library, so it is a knock against it, but overall I like this place so I lean more towards a 4.

The library itself seems very old and in need of some cleaning. Also, the crowd that hangs out here…read moreis very odd, so I wouldn't recommend going here to study or to use the computers. Just grab what you need and get out. The staff is always helpful and fast. The non-fiction selection and new releases are limited, so I'm usually just here to pick up an order I placed through the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. There's also usually plenty of street parking out front.

Tanisha is a excellent hard working professional worker She…read morewent above behond her duties by helping me today. I highly recomend her for a raise, and promotion. She has such a warm welcoming and is higly intelligent . What a pleasure to have her serve me.

My childhood library. It was within walking distance of my home and school in Illtown (see:…read morehttp://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Illtown ) - EO. Maybe this is why I think my next home must be near a public library ??? Maybe not in EO... Libraries, even in the worst of neighborhoods, are beacons of hope and places of refuge. I'm glad the ol' hood still has this library. Time to breakout the checkbook and donate to a valuable public service: http://www.eopl.org/download/membershipform.pdf and become a "friend of the library"... The EOPL!!! #262

Can't believe this is the 1st review! The library is housed in a very nice building with lots of…read morehistory & character. There are so many interesting aspects of this library that would've possibly gone unnoticed if Helen didn't provide the background details. It's cool to be able to see what the "old" wall looked like before the expansion and the oak staircase that leads upstairs with the various archways is pretty nifty too. Enjoyed the various decorations that are displayed in the differed areas. What a wonderful, friendly and helpful staff. Parking seems limited to the street.

From the owner: We have a collection of 40,000 with access to 5 million through our BCCLS membership…read more Our services include: Copier Fax Document scanning Laminating Color/b&w printing Wireless access and wireless printing Public computers and public use laptops Programming for children, teens & adults Notary public (residents only) Newspapers & magazines Downloadable eBooks & audiobooks Visit nearby museums for free (residents only) Electronic research databases

This community library on Alexander Street is the Vailsburg Branch of the Newark Public Library…read more Vailsburg is a residential neighborhood in the West Ward, which is closer to South Orange. The library is off of South Orange Ave and by Alexander Street Elementary School. The outside of the library fits in with the look of the historic neighborhood with its white trimmed, red brick, Georgian façade (a popular architectural style in the area in the 18th century). While three of the four outer walls have been preserved, the inside has been practically gutted, modernized, and expanded. The expansion is in the back of the building, where the children's room is located. Like the other NPL branches, it serves the needs of the immediate community and provides library resources for adults and children. Because there are a couple of K-8 schools in the neighborhood, there is a focus on being a resource for students, parents, and teachers. There are story and craft time activities, as well as early educational materials, resources, and other media. Children have access to computers, too. Adults also have access to computers with Internet browsing, basic word processing, and the library's electronic resources. A distinguishing highlight of this branch is its collection of new African-American novels and videos. Newark Public Library is a wonderful library. Its branches are essential in supporting the NPL's noteworthy vision and mission. For that, I give the branches 4-stars for the work that its employees and volunteers do to enrich the lives of the people in the community.

The Springfield Branch is the community library for this section of Newark in the Central Ward…read more It's in between the areas of Springfield/Belmont and University Heights. It's towards the corner of 14th and Hayes (across from New Horizon Charter School). Like the other NPL branches, it serves the needs of the immediate community and provides library resources for adults and children. Perhaps due to its close proximity to so many schools and University Heights, there's an emphasis on college prep services for Newark high school students. It offers free SAT prep classes for them and has other standardized testing resources. The branch has computers for Internet browsing, basic word processing, and accessing the library's electronic resources, as well as books and video collections. Newark Public Library is a wonderful library. Its branches are essential in supporting the NPL's noteworthy vision and mission. For that, I give the branches 4-stars for the work that its employees and volunteers do to enrich the lives of the people in the community.

Yes, the Newark Public Library has vaulted ceilings, a grand staircase, marble floors, painted wall…read moremurals, an atrium and various exhibit cases like famous authors that lived or were born in New Jersey but it also has electronic resources. On-line you can access their various data bases which include: genealogy, health and medicine, legal, NJ information and test preparation. You can also access the libraries resources through your mobile phone. They have downloadable audio books and eBooks. Their inter library services allows you to connect to the Library of Congress, Rutger's University libraries and the New York Public Library. They have a Kid's Place on-line which allows you to get homework help and has fun stuff for kids to do.. Older students can get college prep classes. They also have computer classes, internet access, word processing, computer tutorials and wireless access. While the book collection seems to have taken a back seat to their on-line development, the books they do have are older and often rarely found in other libraries in New Jersey.