Belleville Public Library
🏢 PALS Plus Consortium · Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville Public Library
For more than 100 years the Belleville Public Library at 221 Washington Avenue has anchored this Essex County township of 36,000. The collection tops 36,000 items, the building hosts ESL classes, chess nights, a Teen Center with weekly guitar sessions, and museum passes to seven major institutions — and it stays open until 8 p.m. three evenings a week.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 221 Washington Avenue, Belleville, NJ 07109
Phone: (973) 450-3434
Website: bellepl.org
Plus Code: 87G7QRQW+CV (Belleville, NJ)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Belleville Public Library
The Belleville Public Library is the public library of Belleville Township, an Essex County community situated less than 10 minutes from Branch Brook Park in northern New Jersey. Founded over a century ago, the library operates at 221 Washington Avenue — between Nutley and Newark — and serves a diverse multilingual community. Its collection of roughly 36,000 books, DVDs, audiobooks and magazines is supplemented by an active roster of programs: Baby Bookworms storytime, Teen Guitars Plus, Belle's Crochet Corner, adult chess, ESL conversation groups and seasonal crafts. The library belongs to the PALS Plus consortium, giving cardholders access to holdings across multiple New Jersey libraries, plus statewide digital resources including Libby, hoopla and JerseyClicks research databases. The Friends of the Library received a $10,000 Carnegie Corporation of New York gift in recognition of the library's community impact.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Century-old community anchor serving all 36,000 Belleville Township residents free of charge
- Open until 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday — accessible for workers and students
- Museum passes to seven institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Newark Museum of Art and Storm King Art Center
- Active multilingual programming: ESL classes, Spanish-language storytimes and Hispanic Heritage Month events
- PALS Plus consortium membership gives cardholders access to holdings across dozens of New Jersey libraries
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Belleville cardholders can stream, download and research free through the PALS Plus consortium and statewide New Jersey collections:
📚 Services
- Museum passes to American Museum of Natural History, 9/11 Memorial, Intrepid, Newark Museum of Art, Storm King Art Center, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Montclair Art Museum
- ESL classes at beginner, intermediate and conversation levels
- Public computers, printing, mobile print & free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through PALS Plus consortium
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Library Chef: live online cooking and wellness programs
🎸 Programs
- Baby Bookworms storytime (Thursdays 10:30–11am, ages 0–2)
- Teen Guitars Plus (Wednesdays 3–4:30pm)
- Belle's Crochet Corner knitting group (Tuesdays 3–4:30pm)
- Adult Chess (Monday evenings)
- Seasonal craft workshops for children and adults
- Summer reading program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Essex County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Belleville · Browse all New Jersey libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long has the Belleville Public Library been open?
The library has served Belleville Township for more than 100 years. Located at 221 Washington Avenue in Essex County, it has grown from its founding to hold roughly 36,000 items and host programs for all ages across its multilingual community of about 36,000 residents.
Does the Belleville Public Library offer museum passes?
Yes. Belleville residents 18 and older with a card in good standing can borrow passes to seven institutions: the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Storm King Art Center, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Montclair Art Museum, Newark Museum of Art and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Passes can be reserved online at bellepl.org.
What evening hours does the Belleville Public Library keep?
The library is open until 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday and Friday hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the library is closed on Sunday. Summer hours (July 4 through Labor Day) are reduced — check bellepl.org for current schedules.
Can I access digital books and research databases with a Belleville library card?
Yes. Cardholders can borrow eBooks, audiobooks and magazines through Libby/OverDrive (eLibrary NJ) and hoopla, read comics and graphic novels on ComicsPlus, stream content on The Palace Project, and use JerseyClicks research databases — all free with a Belleville card.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
🖨 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.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
🎓 This library offers free English (ESL) or citizenship classes. See how library English classes work — free, usually no card needed, with ESL levels, conversation groups and citizenship prep — and find other libraries with classes free English classes by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
