Hoboken Library Building To Close 4 Weeks For HVAC Upgrades

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Main Building of the Hoboken Public Library at 500 Park Ave. will close for an estimated four weeks starting Saturday, July 10, to facilitate major renovation work to replace its antiquated HVAC system and make other necessary repairs, library officials said.

Customers will continue to be able to order materials via the library’s online catalog and pick them up at the Library’s Curbside Pickup Station, or by using the 24/7 Self-Service Lockers outside the Main Library and the Branch at 124 Grand St.

The library’s programming for adults, teens, and children will be unaffected, as shown on the library’s events calendar at www.HobokenLibrary.org. In-person events will be held in Church Square Park – across Fifth Street from the Library – and at other popular venues throughout Hoboken.

“One of the major challenges of a century-old building is keeping it warm in the winter, and comfortable in the summer,” said Library Interim Director Rosary Van Ingen. “The current air conditioning system, installed many decades ago, was not equal to the task."

She added, "Accordingly, a new, high efficiency HVAC system, featuring HEPA filtering, is being installed. As to heat, we are still using the original – from 1897! — furnace that was converted from coal to gas. It’s massive, and massively inefficient, so we are replacing that, too.”

The library building has been serving Hoboken’s community since it opened on April 5, 1897.

"But a Library built in the 19th Century is not equal to the needs of a 21st Century community," noted officials. "And that is why the Trustees of the Hoboken Public Library have approved a staged renovation of the building to make it safer, more comfortable, and suited to the needs of its users, using the latest, safest materials while retaining the historic nature of the Library building."

The work being done during this current stage is a gut-renovation of the Third Floor to create a safe and welcoming home for the Children’s and Teen/Tween Departments, with energy-efficient lighting and new furnishings.

The building-wide HVAC component involves removing and replacing the furnace and all associated pipes and conduits, installing new ductwork, and repositioning various walls.

The Library has created a dedicated webpage – www.HobokenLibrary.org/renovation — to keep the public updated on the work’s progress. It features photos and updates to service changes.

Founded in 1890, the Library is located in the center of the mile-square city of Hoboken near Church Square Park. Details on the Library, its programs and services, and collections – including a renowned Local History Collection – are available at www.HobokenLibrary.org.

The library building, completed in 1897, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Don't miss Hoboken breaking news alerts when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter at 6 a.m. each morning with Millburn news. Don't miss the stories your neighbors are talking about! Sign up with your preferences here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.