Union will break ground on a new Public Library building in November! The Township along with the Library Board of Trustees recognize the need for a 21st century library that allows our community to connect, explore and discover. Learn more about these plans here. During this period of transition, operations and layouts will be altered. However, library staff will continue to provide the services and resources that patrons have come to expect. What to expect: On October 20 at 6pm the Main Library on Morris Avenue will close for approximately 3-4 weeks while staff relocates material, systems, and furniture. During that time, the Vauxhall Branch will remain open to serve our community. Once the initial move is complete, the Main Library will reopen to the public at 1060 Stuyvesant Avenue. This interim location will include: Children’s and Young Adult collections New books and DVDs Public computers and free Wi-Fi Printing, scanning and copying Newspapers and magazines Reference and Children’s Librarians Holds, pickups and returns All other books and material will be kept off site, but accessible to patrons by placing a hold. To best meet the needs of the community, library staff expect to be able to move material back and forth between locations on a daily basis. Construction on the new Main Library is expected to last for approximately two years. The new facility will include spacious seating and reading areas, bright displays, quiet study and meeting rooms, bathrooms on every floor, a community performance center, and so much more. We ask residents for patience during this transitional time, and encourage everyone to visit the Library website for the most up-to-date information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions. For more information please email unionpl@uplnj.org or call 908-851-5450.

Please check back frequently for updated information on the Library move. What Happens While the Library is closed Q: Will I have access to any library services? A: Yes, the Vauxhall Branch (123 Hilton Ave) will be open with expanded hours for books and materials, computers, Wi-Fi, and copiers. Q: Where can I return my books during the closure? A: Book return boxes will be available at the Vauxhall Branch and at the Main Library for a time until they are moved to the Stuyvesant Avenue location. Also, all due dates will be extended during this time. Q: Can I still place holds on material? A: Holds can be placed on material located at the Vauxhall Branch. Existing holds on Main Library material will be honored once we reopen. Q: How long will the Main Library be closed? A: We expect the Library to reopen 3-4 weeks after we close our doors. Keep checking our website for further updates. Q: Where will the new interim Library be located? A: 1060 Stuyvesant Avenue (previously the Family Dollar store) Q: Will there still be programs at the Library? A: In person, outdoor programs for Children will continue to be held at the Vauxhall Branch. Adult programs will continue on Zoom. Q: How do I renew my library card, or sign up for a new card? A: Card expiration dates will be extended, and new cards can be issued at the Vauxhall Branch. Q: Will curbside service continue at Stuyvesant Ave. A: Curbside service will continue for those that do not wish to come into the building. Q: Will masks still be required in the Stuyvesant location? A: Yes. Q: Will I still have access to digital resources while the Main Library is closed? A: Yes! Find all our digital resources here Q: Can I still check out Museum Passes, Video games, and Chromebooks? A: While the Main Library is closed, museum passes, video games, and Chromebooks will be available for checkout at the Vauxhall Branch. Q: Who can I contact if I have a Reference question or questions in general? A: You can call the Vauxhall Branch (908-851-5451), or email UnionPL@uplnj.org

The library now circulates video games for Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch! Union Public Library cardholders may checkout up to 2 video games at a time for a loan period of 14 days. Due to the limited supplies, video games cannot be renewed. Please return video games on time, so they can be made available for the next patron. Late fees will be charged at $1/day. This collection was started thanks to the generous donation from the Friends of Union Public Library and the Union Township Education Association. Click here to view our catalog, or see below a current list of our circulating video games.  Playstation 5 Demon’s Souls Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sackboy: A Big Adventure (New) Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (New) Playstation 4 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Ghost of Tsushima Gran Turismo Sport The Last of Us Part II NBA 2K21 Ratchet & Clank Spyro Reignited Trilogy Horizon Zero Dawn (New) Grand Theft Auto 5 (New) Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing Kirby Star Allies Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Luigi’s Mansion Mario Kart 8 Deluxe  Minecraft Dungeons: Hero Edition Pikmin 3 Deluxe Pokemon Shield Pokemon Snap Splatoon 2 Super Mario Odyssey Super Smash Bros.  Minecraft (New) Xbox Series X FIFA 21 Forza Horizon 4 Madden NFL 21 Control: Ultimate Edition (New) Red Dead Redemption II (New) Shadow of the Tomb Raider (New) Updated on 10/4/21

Updated 6/18/21 The Staff and Board of Trustees of the Union Public Library are excited to welcome you back to the library! The library will operate on Summer Hours beginning 6/21 and appointments are no longer necessary, our doors are open. Summer Hours Begin Monday June 21 Main Library Summer Hours: Monday 12pm-8pm Tuesday 10am-6pm Wednesday 10am-6pm Thursday 10am-6pm Friday 9am-5pm Vauxhall Branch Summer Hours: Monday 10am-6pm Tuesday 10am-6pm Wednesday 12pm-8pm Thursday 10am-6pm Friday 9am-5pm Patrons may return items inside the library, or drop them in our outside book return boxes, which are open 24/7. We are no longer quarantining returned items. We encourage the continued use of our Contactless Curbside pick up for our Union Public Library cardholders who do not wish to come inside the building. Pick up is by timed appointment. To keep the public and staff safe, we will continue to follow these rules: All patrons MUST wear a mask, including children age 2 and up. Please use our curbside service if you cannot wear a mask. Proper social distance must be maintained. If you are sick, please stay home. All children under 10 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver age 16 and over. For additional information on our mask policy click here Have you tried our mobile app? Available for both iOS and Android, UPL-NJ mobile app for Union Public Library cardholders, lets patrons search the catalog, reserve items, and check them out using their phones or tablets. Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

In January 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) passed a resolution that asserted overdue fines are a barrier to equitable access and encouraged libraries to eliminate them. The ALA is our largest professional organization and we give serious consideration to their resolutions. The Library Board of Trustees and staff desire to remove this barrier to its resources and to provide more equitable library access to everyone in the community. In going fine free, we are joining the ranks of many other public libraries across the nation. In the lead up to this decision, we carefully reviewed studies and articles about eliminating fines. ​Libraries that have adopted fine-free policies found that: ​Library card registrations increased. Borrowing of materials increased. More library items were returned. Students returned to the library to use homework resources. Staff time was redirected from fines-handling to patron-focused services. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  What Is Fine Free?  Fine free means that there will be no late charges on most materials.* The Union Public Library wants to ensure that ALL of our town has access to our resources in the most equitable way possible. Fines tend to penalize the most vulnerable individuals or families who can’t afford them.  *Due to a limited supply, late charges will still accrue on Video Games and Museum Passes Why Eliminate Fines?  Research shows that overdue fines are not effective in encouraging the return of library materials. Instead, fines can quickly become a barrier to using the library. Our hope is that by going fine free we will encourage prior users to come back to the library and attract new users to experience everything our library has to offer.  Won’t This Prevent People from Ever Returning Their Items?  Late fines are not effective. Studies show that small fines have no impact on return rates and that those with late fines are less likely to visit the library again. Libraries who have removed late fees report few adverse effects on material return rates. The public library model is based upon a trusting relationship between borrowers and a valued community resource. Union Public Library trusts that borrowers will return items on time, so that others may use them.  Will There Be Due Dates? Every item checked out will still have a due date. Please remember that someone else may be waiting for an item, so bring it back on time.  What Happens If I Have Overdue Books?  […]