Ridgewood Public Library
🏢 Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) · Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood Public Library
Ridgewood Public Library has served Bergen County's largest village since 1890, anchoring North Maple Avenue with five evenings of extended hours, a dedicated Passport Center, and the Bolger Heritage Center for local history and genealogy.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 125 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: (201) 670-5600
Website: ridgewoodlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G7XVJP+JX (Ridgewood, NJ)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Ridgewood Public Library
Ridgewood Public Library traces its roots to 1890, when a small collection of donated books gave rise to the village's first reading room. Today the library occupies a landmark building on North Maple Avenue, holding tens of thousands of volumes alongside digital resources, streaming media, and an extensive microfilm archive of the Ridgewood News dating back to 1891. As a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), a single free Ridgewood card unlocks borrowing from every public library in Bergen County and connects patrons to over three million shared titles. The Bolger Heritage Center for Local History and Genealogy, housed within the library, preserves maps, photographs, pamphlets, and ephemera found nowhere else — a magnet for researchers tracing Bergen County families and northern New Jersey history. Designated as a U.S. passport acceptance facility, the library also offers passport photo services and free museum-pass lending so residents can visit area cultural institutions at no cost.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Bolger Heritage Center for Local History and Genealogy — Bergen County maps, photos and the Ridgewood News on microfilm from 1891
- Official U.S. passport acceptance facility with photo services, open Mon–Thu 3–8pm and Fri–Sat 9:30am–4pm
- Free museum-pass lending for area cultural institutions, reservable with an RPL card online
- BCCLS member: one free card gives borrowing rights at all Bergen County public libraries and access to 3+ million titles
- Extended evening hours Monday through Thursday until 9pm
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
RPL cardholders access New Jersey's statewide and BCCLS digital collections at no cost:
📚 Services
- U.S. passport acceptance facility with passport photo services
- Free museum-pass lending (reservable online)
- Bolger Heritage Center for Local History and Genealogy
- Public computers, printing, scanning & free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through BCCLS and NJ State Library
- Meeting room reservations for community groups
- Reader's advisory and reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes, craft programs and summer reading
- Teen events and YA book clubs
- Adult lectures, author talks and genealogy workshops
- Explore the Hidden Archive — guided tours of the Bolger Heritage Center collections
- Community events in partnership with the Friends of the Ridgewood Public Library
📍 Nearby Libraries in Bergen County, NJ
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Ridgewood · Browse all New Jersey libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bolger Heritage Center at Ridgewood Public Library?
The Bolger Heritage Center for Local History and Genealogy is a specialized collection within the library holding Bergen County maps, photographs, pamphlets, and ephemera — much of it found nowhere else. It also includes the Ridgewood News on microfilm from 1891 to the present, making it a key resource for family and local history research in northern New Jersey.
Does Ridgewood Public Library offer passport services?
Yes — the library is an officially designated U.S. passport application acceptance facility. The Passport Center is open Monday through Thursday 3–8pm and Friday and Saturday 9:30am–4pm, with passport photo services available on-site. Appointments are recommended; check ridgewoodlibrary.org/library-services/passport-center/ for current booking details.
How do museum passes work at RPL, and which museums participate?
Cardholders can reserve free museum passes through the library's online account portal. Passes are available to Ridgewood Public Library cardholders and may be booked in advance. Visit ridgewoodlibrary.org/library-services/museum-passes/ to see the current list of participating institutions and to make a reservation.
Can I use my Ridgewood library card at other Bergen County libraries?
Yes. Ridgewood is a member of BCCLS (Bergen County Cooperative Library System), so your RPL card gives you borrowing rights at all BCCLS member libraries and access to over three million shared titles. Residents of towns without a BCCLS library can purchase a non-resident card for in-person borrowing privileges at Ridgewood and other member libraries.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🛂 This library offers U.S. passport services. See how library passport acceptance works — requirements, fees and appointments — and find other passport acceptance libraries by state.
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