Montclair, NJ – Montclair Public Library’s volunteer support organizations, Montclair Library Friends (MLF) and Friends Of Bellevue Avenue Library (FBAL), will celebrate the reopening of Montclair’s historic Bellevue Avenue Branch Library, closed since March, 2020 due to the pandemic, at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
A public outdoor ceremony with ribbon-cutting on the plaza of Montclair Public Library’s Bellevue Avenue Branch will feature special guests including Montclair municipal officials, community leaders, and MPL staff, a live entertainment program by local performers and a guided tour of the iconic, landmark Carnegie building.
“We are so proud to provide additional support to the Montclair Public Library for reopening the magnificent Bellevue Avenue Branch Library building to students, seniors, parents, toddlers, job seekers, literature lovers, and many others who are very eager to use its resources,” said Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller.
“I’m thrilled we reopened Bellevue Avenue Branch Library, a gem in the crown of the Montclair community” said Deputy Mayor Bill Hurlock. “Residents are so excited to see this historic institution returned to service.”
“We’re grateful to our elected and appointed officials including the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Municipal Council, Library Trustees, and MPL Director Peter Coyl for their continued support and cooperation,” said Montclair Library Friends Steering Committee President Ed Robin. “This reopening is truly a gift for our community.”
“This library building is exactly what Montclair needs right now,” said Friends Of Bellevue Avenue Library President Cordelia Siporin. “It’s a welcoming public space that’s free and open to all, where people of every age and background can come together to learn, share, and discover who they are and what they want to be.”
Iconic Landmark To Reopen Gradually, Safely
The striking and stately Bellevue Avenue Branch Library building is one of Montclair’s most iconic landmarks and has served generations of users since opening over a century ago, on December 7, 2014, but was closed from March 14, 2020 through June 8, 2021 due to the pandemic and resulting shortfall in Montclair’s budget.
Safety protocols and staffing capacity will be in place as MPL works towards gradually expanding operating hours and fully reopening services as soon as circumstances allow. Current hours for the building are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM with additional hours expected to be announced shortly.
>h3>Reopening Celebration Schedule
