Belmar Public Library
Encyclopedia
The Belmar Public Library is the public library
of Belmar, New Jersey
located at 517 10th Avenue.
The library circulates about 15,000 items annually from its collection of 32,000 volumes. The Jersey Shore
town in 2010 had year-round population of about 6,000. The library, one of New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, is in need of repairs and may be consolidated into the town's borough hall, and possibly join the Monmouth County Library
system. The building may be demolished or possibly relocated from the intersection made famous by the E Street Band
.
It current building is one of New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, constructed with a grant of $13,000 made the Carnegie Corporation
, still in use. It's design and layout by Edward Lippincott Tilton, who had also done Ellis Island
, so impressed Andrew Carnegie
, that he suggested it be used a model for and many other Carnegie libraries constructions. The current library building occupies 1,800 square feet in the upstairs portion, and about 900 square feet in the lower level media room In 1935, the centenniel of his Carnegie's birth, a copy of the portrait of him originally painted by F. Luis Mora
was given to the library.
The library is in need of repairs, and there have proposals to consolidate the collection into a smaller space at town's borough hall, to re-locate the budiling to another site in town, or to demolish it. The proposed space is approximately 1,700 square feet. Various funding-formulas are reviewed to determine the course of action. In July 2011 an eight-foot high replica of Bruce Springsteen
's legendary Fender Esquire
guitar was placed on the library grounds at E Street and 10th Avenue, not far from where band member David Sancious
lived in the 1970s.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
of Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,794. The Borough of Belmar is governed under the Faulkner Act system of municipal government....
located at 517 10th Avenue.
The library circulates about 15,000 items annually from its collection of 32,000 volumes. The Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
town in 2010 had year-round population of about 6,000. The library, one of New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, is in need of repairs and may be consolidated into the town's borough hall, and possibly join the Monmouth County Library
Monmouth County Library
Monmouth County Library is the county library system located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The headquarters is located in Manalapan, New Jersey.Branch locations are:...
system. The building may be demolished or possibly relocated from the intersection made famous by the E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
.
Carnegie library
Founding
Started by a women's group, the first Belmar Library opened on Sept. 23, 1911, and saw several different locations as it expanded. It has stood at 10th Avenue and E Street since Dec. 4, 1914.It current building is one of New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries, constructed with a grant of $13,000 made the Carnegie Corporation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, still in use. It's design and layout by Edward Lippincott Tilton, who had also done Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
, so impressed Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
, that he suggested it be used a model for and many other Carnegie libraries constructions. The current library building occupies 1,800 square feet in the upstairs portion, and about 900 square feet in the lower level media room In 1935, the centenniel of his Carnegie's birth, a copy of the portrait of him originally painted by F. Luis Mora
F. Luis Mora
F. Luis Mora, also known as Francis Luis Mora , was an Hispanic American figural painter. Mora worked in watercolor, oils and tempera. He produced drawings in pen and ink, and graphite; and etchings and monotypes...
was given to the library.
Possible consolidation and relocation or demolition
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's legendary Fender Esquire
Fender Esquire
The Fender Esquire is a solid body electric guitar manufactured by Fender, and was the first guitar sold by Fender in 1950. Shortly after its introduction a two-pickup version named the Broadcaster was introduced while the single pickup version retained the Esquire name...
guitar was placed on the library grounds at E Street and 10th Avenue, not far from where band member David Sancious
David Sancious
David Sancious is an American musician. He was an early member of Bruce Springsteen's backing group, the E Street Band, and contributed to the first three Springsteen albums, and again on the 1992 album Human Touch. Sancious is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known as a keyboard player and...
lived in the 1970s.
See also
- Freehold Public LibraryFreehold Public LibraryThe Freehold Public Library the free public library of Borough of Freehold, New Jersey located at 28 1/2 East Main Street.Serving a population of 11,000 residents and with a collection of approximately 26,000 volumes the library has a yearly circulation of circa 28,000 items...
- List of Carnegie libraries in New Jersey
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Monmouth County, New Jersey