Orange Public Library

Orange Free Public Library
Location: 348 Main Street
Orange, New Jersey
Area: less than one acre
Built: 1901
Architect: McKim, Mead, and White; Albro & Brower
Architectural style: Classical Revival
Governing body: Local
NRHP Reference#: 81000393[1]
NJRHP #: 1354[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP: September 28, 1981
Designated NJRHP: August 7, 1981

The Orange Public Library is the free public library in Orange, New Jersey. Serving a population of about 33,000, the library collection contains 150,000 volumes and circulates 56,000 annually.[3]

The library began in 1883 as association library, supported by dues, endowments and donations and opened its current main building, designed by McKim, Mead, and White, in 1901. Across its facade is engraved Stickler Memorial in honor of the son, who had died suddenly a year earlier, of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stickler, who donated the $100,000 cost of its construction.[4] It was built during the "free library movement" at the turn of the century.[5] In a 1945 referendum the citizens approved support for a free public library, and took over the operations of the building as municipally operated facility.[6] It was added to the state and federal registers of historic places in 1981. In 2010 it was estimated that refurbishing the building, in need of repairs, would cost $1.5 million.[7]

See also

References