Summit Free Public Library
🏢 City of Summit · Summit, New Jersey
Summit Free Public Library
Summit Free Public Library is a Carnegie-heritage institution serving 21,000 Union County residents from its Maple Street home — open seven days a week and offering museum passes to the Intrepid, Morris Museum, Princeton Art Museum, and Grounds for Sculpture.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 75 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: (908) 273-0350
Website: summitlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87G7PJ8R+23 (Summit, NJ)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Summit Free Public Library
Summit's first library opened in 1891, though it was neither public nor free; the present institution was formally established in 1911 on land donated by the Bonnel family's Summit Home Land Company, and built with funds from Andrew Carnegie's estate, placing it among the 36 Carnegie libraries of New Jersey. The original Carnegie building was replaced in 1964 by an adjacent structure, which itself was renovated in 1999 after a landmark $1.3 million capital campaign — famously boosted by a community production of "The Music Man." A 2007 dedication added "The Joy of Reading," a bronze sculpture created pro bono by artist Robert Hill in memory of beloved staff member Sherrie Murphy. Today the library employs 49 staff and serves the 21,000 residents of Summit, offering museum passes, JerseyClicks statewide databases, a teen program (CATSS), art exhibits, and film screenings alongside its circulating collection.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Museum Pass program: Intrepid, Grounds for Sculpture, Morris Museum, Princeton Art Museum
- Carnegie library heritage — among NJ's 36 Carnegie buildings (founded 1911)
- "The Joy of Reading" bronze sculpture by Robert Hill, dedicated 2007
- Open 7 days a week including Sunday afternoons
- JerseyClicks statewide databases — free to all NJ residents
- CATSS teen program, art exhibits, and film screenings year-round
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Free digital resources for all Summit library cardholders:
📚 Services
- Museum Pass program (Intrepid, Grounds for Sculpture, Morris Museum, Princeton Art Museum)
- JerseyClicks statewide research databases
- Copying, printing, scanning
- Internet access and wireless
- Meeting and program room spaces
- Interlibrary loan
- Art exhibitions
🎸 Programs
- CATSS teen programs and events
- Adult lectures and author talks
- Film screenings
- Art exhibitions
- Children's storytimes and reading programs
- Summer reading program (all ages)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Union County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What museums can I visit with a Summit Free Public Library museum pass?
The library's Museum Pass program (managed through the Friends of the Summit Free Public Library) offers passes to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City, Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ, Morris Museum in Morristown, and Princeton University Art Museum (two memberships available). Liberty Science Center offers a library-card discount. Reserve a pass online at the Friends website or check one out at the circulation desk.
Is Summit Free Public Library really a Carnegie library?
Yes — the library was established in 1911 with Carnegie estate funding and is one of 36 Carnegie libraries in New Jersey. The original building was replaced in 1964 by the current structure next door, which was substantially renovated in 1999. The Carnegie legacy and the famous Music Man fundraising campaign are proud chapters of Summit's civic history.
What is the "Joy of Reading" sculpture at the library?
"The Joy of Reading" is a bronze sculpture created pro bono by artist Robert Hill and dedicated in 2007 in memory of Sherrie Murphy, a beloved library staff member. It stands as a welcoming symbol of the library's commitment to its community.
Are JerseyClicks databases available from home?
Yes. JerseyClicks provides free remote access to dozens of research databases for all New Jersey residents — no library card required for most resources. Visit njstatelib.org to browse available databases including academic, genealogy, health, and news collections.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
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