National Friends of Libraries Week takes place October 17 to October 23, 2021.
To celebrate, we wish to thank Montclair Public Library’s Board of Trustees, Library Director
Peter Coyl, as well as our wonderful librarians and maintenance and support staff.
With limited resources, they restored evening and weekend hours at the Main Library and the
Bellevue Avenue Branch Library with all Main Library floors and Bellevue Branch levels open
to patrons for visiting.
The Montclair Library Friends and the Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library are supporting
the Library and enhancing its effectiveness through community advocacy. Our volunteer members
donate their time and talents by raising public awareness, organizing community events and
stimulating use of Library facilities.
We are committed to maintaining a high quality Library for our community and sustaining the
concept of free access to ideas and information for everyone because many Montclair residents
could not otherwise afford the publications, databases and software that the Library provides
free to all.
Montclair’s Public Library offers new technologies, innovative programs, and essential services
to all age groups from children and teens to adults and seniors, such as “Senior Center in a Box,”
featuring kits focusing on specific activities and themes.
While substantial progress has been made in restoring the Library’s budget to pre-pandemic levels,
much more needs to be done. We ask for the community’s support in obtaining funds to fully restore
the Montclair Public Library’s services.
Edward Robin
Montclair Library Friends Steering Committee
Cordelia Siporin
Friends Of The Bellevue Avenue Library
Readers poll: which MPL building has aged better?
Whoa! The Council’s audit results of the MPL and the very serious budgeting shortcomings revealed deficiencies that went well beyond my previous callouts. I give much credit to this Council for taking this deep dive into library finances and being the catalyst for the MPL Board to step up its fiduciary responsibility. Another lesson of the benefits of financial transparency where significant taxpayer dollars are involved.