Browse Items (36 total)

The annual report for the library for 1909. A notable feature of the library's annual reports is that they report the number of books destroyed by the Hoboken Board of Health each year. This was likely due to books being checked out to households in…

HPL's finalized building design, as depicted by Albert Beyer.

Copies of a collection of mockups drawn by architect Albert Beyer and other architects bidding on the library before selecting the final design for the library. The final design can also be seen on this site.

A May 11, 2003 article in the Hoboken Reporter announcing library renovations to bring the building into the 21st century and up to date with ADA requirements, including the beloved elevator. Current director Lina Podles's name is misspelled at least…

Articles of Agreement between the Mayor and Council of Hoboken by the Trustees of the Free Public Library and Heatherton Brothers of Jersey City, the contractors selected to build Albert Beyer's final design. The agreement was signed on January 28,…

Nina Hatfield photographed with the rest of the Board of Trustees of the Library in 1953.
Back row, L-R: Mayor John J. Grogan, Mr. Romano, School Supervisor McFeely
Front row, L-R: Nina Hatfield, Mr. Germano, Mr. Laforgia, Mr. J. Rafter

Nina Hatfield filed this complaint away at some point, and it remains with our collection today. The complaint reads, "To Miss Hatfield, As a member of your library I would appreciate it if you saw to the cleaning of the books. Assuming the matter…

A photocopy of the deed granting the land to the City of Hoboken for the construction of the library at its current location on the corner of 5th and Park. Martha B. Stevens donated the land for the project.

The Library Trustees and the Industrial School Trustees had a debate over who rightfully had permission to utilize a room in the basement of the building. This room was labeled as a classroom but was being used for library storage until the…

An undated but early floor plan of the library building showing the locations of rooms in the library and Industrial School. Note the separate reading room for women and the former use of the Sinatra Room as a kitchen!