Cliffside Park Free Public Library
🏢 Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) · Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park Free Public Library
Cliffside Park Free Public Library was incorporated in 1919 and traces its first books to 1913, surviving a 2009 fire to reopen in a renovated 9,000-square-foot building on Palisade Avenue high above the Hudson River palisades.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–4:30pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4:30pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 505 Palisade Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Phone: (201) 945-2867
Website: cliffsidepark.bccls.org
Plus Code: 87G8R2C6+7J (Cliffside Park, NJ)
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📖 About Cliffside Park Free Public Library
Cliffside Park's first public library opened June 11, 1913 with 1,435 books in a single room at School No. 3, though the borough can trace library activity back to 1890. The library was formally incorporated into New Jersey's rolls on May 13, 1919. After decades of growth, an early-morning fire on November 30, 2009 destroyed much of the collection, with the Local History Room suffering the heaviest damage. The library operated from a small storefront at 781 Palisade Avenue from March 2010 through August 2011 while 505 Palisade Avenue was renovated and expanded to 9,000 square feet, reopening fully in 2011. Today the library holds over 60,000 physical volumes plus eBook and digital resources, and serves Cliffside Park's diverse population from its perch atop the Bergen County Palisades, just across the Hudson from Manhattan. It is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), giving cardholders access to over three million titles from all Bergen County libraries.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1913 — formally incorporated May 13, 1919; one of Bergen County's historic public libraries
- Rebuilt and expanded to 9,000 sq ft after a 2009 fire, reopening at 505 Palisade Avenue in 2011
- BCCLS member: one free card unlocks borrowing from all Bergen County public libraries and 3+ million shared titles
- Collection of 60,000+ physical volumes plus eBooks and digital resources
- 14 public computers with internet access and free Wi-Fi for community use
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Cliffside Park cardholders access New Jersey's statewide and BCCLS digital collections at no cost:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Cliffside Park residents
- BCCLS shared borrowing — access to 3+ million titles across Bergen County
- 14 public computers with internet access (including 6 from a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant)
- Computer classes on basic Windows and internet skills
- Printing, copying & free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through BCCLS and NJ State Library
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's and family programming for all ages
- Youth storytimes and early literacy activities
- Teen and adult programs and community events
- Summer reading program
- Digital literacy workshops
- Community events managed by the Board of Trustees
📍 Nearby Libraries in Bergen County, NJ
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cliffside Park · Browse all New Jersey libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Cliffside Park library after the 2009 fire?
An early-morning fire on November 30, 2009 destroyed much of the library at 505 Palisade Avenue. The Local History Room suffered the hardest damage, though much of the broader collection was salvaged. From March 2010 through August 2011 the library operated from a temporary storefront at 781 Palisade Avenue while the original building was renovated and expanded to 9,000 square feet. The library reopened fully in 2011 at its original address.
When was Cliffside Park Free Public Library officially founded?
The library opened its first collection of 1,435 books on June 11, 1913 in a room at School No. 3. The official legal founding date is May 13, 1919, when the library was incorporated into New Jersey's state rolls — though the borough traces library activity back as far as 1890.
Can I use my Cliffside Park library card at other Bergen County libraries?
Yes. Cliffside Park Free Public Library is a member of BCCLS (Bergen County Cooperative Library System), so your card provides borrowing privileges at all BCCLS member libraries in Bergen County and access to over three million shared titles across the system.
What digital resources are available with a Cliffside Park library card?
Your free library card gives access to Libby (eBooks and audiobooks via BCCLS), JerseyClicks statewide databases (including HeritageQuest genealogy and EBSCO academic research), and the full BCCLS digital catalog. JerseyClicks is also free to all New Jersey residents regardless of library membership.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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