A few weeks ago, I went to study at the Livingston Public Library on a Sunday. I needed a quiet…read moreplace to work. I found a spot in the reference section and was able to get a few hours of study there. Plus, the Livingston Public Library is also part of BCCLS (sounds like "buckles"), which stands for the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. Within the BCCLS network, you can borrow books, media, and other lendable materials from any of the libraries in the system as long as you're a resident from one of the participating libraries' municipalities. This is a nice library with lots of natural light pouring into the rooms. It's a great resource for the nearby community, plus there are some interesting displays about local town history (Rikers Art Hill and hometown, Nobel Laureate Roger Yonchien Tsien (錢永健).

I wanna add to my previous review. This library is only getting worse. It's not even five minutes…read morefrom my house but yet I travel 15 to go to Verona library, which is fabulous. Now side from all the noise, they have a man who comes there sits and tries to talk to everyone. The one day he sat on one chair, put his legs over another chair and he had shorts on. The other day I went in just to return books he's sitting there, legs, crisscross, shoes, and socks off, and he's picking at his feet which whatever he was picking landed on the chair. The day he had his legs over the chairs, the director and other staff members happen to be there, and I told him of how he was sitting. The director said she would go and look one of the other staff members thought there was nothing wrong with it. Go to Verona library they have an upstairs room that's quiet that the children even at 3 o'clock are not allowed upstairs. They have their own rooms downstairs. They even have coffee maker there, pleasant comfortable seat, seats, and tables.

Clean, quiet and nicely stocked. The library is just under the Millburn train tracks from Essex &…read moreLackawanna. There's a beautiful art exhibition in the front, an orchid and plant garden by the spiral staircase and plenty of seating. Especially if you need to wait for a train. I was surprised and entertained by a glass box full of surprise poetry. I read a few and they were lovely. The paper flowers above the poetry display were very creative.

Airy , high ceilings , bright lighting , strong WI-FI & lots of outlets…read more.. separate rooms for teens after school & small children Mini art gallery at the front foyer The largest dvd/Blu-ray collection I've seen at a library yet , so cancel that streaming service Steps away from the mill burn hip strip if you're feeling for a quick bite or coffee

An amazing community library in the heart of downtown Chatham. The great things about this library…read moreor that they have various events for children as well as adults. In addition they have a great library of DVDs that you can take out and even have a current releases which can be rented for one dollar for overnight. The staff is wonderful and the library is an inviting area with free Wi-Fi

It's great for kids program! I like the staff both adult and kids section except the person named…read more"Nolan" in the kids section (blond hair lady who works at kids section during the weekday). She shouldn't be at the kids section since she isn't friendly and yelled at the kids all the time or she doesn't understand the kids. She should move from this kids section to other dept.

A really big spacious library to study in with plenty of comfy seating and natural light. Also has…read moreeasily accessible water fountains and bathrooms and lots of parking.

Indeed, the Florham Park Library is a modern facility with plenty of parking, and a good selection…read moreof books from which to borrow or simly sit back and read while there. They also have regularly scheduled interesting events for a variety of ages. One thing more that adds to the experience is the helpful, friendly staff - from the front desk to the tech support.

I'm gonna update my previous "kinda ambivalent/ kinda negative" review. They're still functioning…read morein what is clearly a "dead mall." And I've been re-thinking my ideas when it comes to malls overall-- relatively thriving malls (Willowbrook), "ghost malls," "dead malls." Phillipsburg Mall was a "ghost mall" when I reviewed it some years ago, and I haven't been back since. As I've also mentioned (ad nauseum, in fact), my review of the former Morris County Mall in Cedar Knolls was pulled due to the interference of Planet Fitness, I'm sure, but I'm re-thinking my negativity towards Planet Fitness because of that. Whether out of desperation or just plain balls, Planet Fitness planted its flag in "ghost mall" country, eliminated all crotchety negativity (from yours truly), and declared that many "excited' Morristown shoppers would transform their improbable vision into a capitalistic success story. I actually don't know how that Planet Fitness in Cedar Knolls is doing, but I hope they're doing well and continue to do even better as time goes on. If you travel to the Cedar Knolls Plaza (former Morris County Mall), you're going to find a deserted, empty mall bracketed on 1 side by a seemingly successful Walmart, and on the other by the aforementioned Planet Fitness. Hence, it's not really a "dead mall" (although, in my subsequently removed review, I only described it as a "ghost mall," which it was, and presumably still is, although maybe that has changed in the years since I last visited. I hope so.). As I wandered about the deserted, decaying Livingston Mall recently, I couldn't really conceive of what was going to be done with this property. Are they going to tear down these structures and build office buildings? Maybe a condo/townhouse development that no one will be able to afford? Or will they be open to other stores, other commercially viable businesses, like Walmart or Planet Fitness or maybe something else entirely? I don't know. I'm not a businessman, experienced in the ways of commerce and economics. I'm an aging wage slave of average intelligence. But, as I noted in my review of the Livingston Mall, I was somewhat heartened that the Barnes & Noble is still hanging on. For good? I'd like to think so, but its shrinking interior and diminishing inventory filled me with an ominous foreboding. My oldest friend, who IS a businessman, experienced in the ways of commerce and economics, of better than average intelligence, told me he thought they'd hold on until the lease or their contract expires. After that, he thinks they'll abandon ship. But what if another business DID decide to do what Planet Fitness did and open a location in the now gigantic empty space that was once a bustling commercial center? How about a Walmart (not that the world really needs ANOTHER one). Maybe even something better and more impressive than Walmart, or Planet Fitness. I don't know if that's realistically feasible or even possible, but wouldn't it be great to see a "dead mall" transformed into a "Back From the Dead" mall? (By the way, I recommend the documentary "Jasper Mall" about a dying mall in Alabama. I found it fascinating.) I haven't been to the Willowbrook Mall in years, but when I pass it on Rt. 46 or Rt. 23, it still seems to be going pretty strong, attracting to me what looks like a high volume of shoppers with money to spend. If shopping malls have truly gone the way of drive-in movie theatres...well, it looks like someone forgot to give the Willowbrook Mall that particular memo. (As I said, I haven't been there in years; I find its confusing snarl of heavy traffic intimidating, but obviously other shoppers don't feel that way.) American Dream seems to be doing OK with its "new and improved" vision of mall shopping. i admire the tenacity of Barnes & Noble in Livingston, a lone outpost in the middle of desolate, forgotten, pot-holed emptiness, doggedly still selling books and magazines, still providing jobs, still giving shoppers a brick-and-mortar place to go when they grow tired and maybe even repulsed at the smug expression on the smirking face of billionaire Jeff Bezos. God knows I've had my problems for years with Barnes & Noble as a chain (all branches are susceptible to that "hard sell" of getting your contact information so they can send you a never-ending stream of ads to your already overloaded email), but I guess this is what hard-pressed businesses and smaller-scale capitalists than Bezos do to keep themselves afloat. My favorite Barnes & Noble in Paramus has closed its doors and that doesn't bode well for those stores that still remain. God knows I'm as guilty as anyone else of pushing that button for Amazon and having something delivered to my door. But when there's an actual brick-and-mortar store not far away that actually does sell something essential and positive, like books, it's almost one's civic duty to try and patronize them. I wish them all the luck in the world.

It's still open!! Despite the demise of the Livingston Mall, the B&N is still thriving. Why? How?…read moreIt's the staffers running the store who make this a good location that still brings in the people. They've kept and continue to keep the store in good condition, and are always helpful and friendly to all visitors. This week I dropped by to pick up a REAL SIMPLE magazine. While checking out, I asked the cashier what's going to happen to the store. She said, at some point this year (2026), the store will move from the mall to another location in Livingston. Hopefully, only the location will be the only thing to change about this Barnes and Noble.

Another main stay of South Orange. I've spent plenty of time here in all my years of learning. To…read morethis day it is well maintained, well ran and just welcoming for any literary information you need. The library takes part in the 'Rebl' program which allows you check out books etc. From another participating library. So if a book is out the librian will find out if another library a part of the program has it and have it held for you. The bottom floor has a very inviting children and young reader room full of things to check out and upstairs in the main library are everything else. Beyond books - editorials, magazines, newspapers and computers to use. What is great is the DVD wall. Hundreds of alphabetically ordered DVD movies are in the library ready to be checked out, so if Netflix and Redbox let you down for a movie a decade or so old you want to watch, you may find it here, for FREE! Just don't forget your library card.

The library is a fantastic resource for the community. In addition to the obvious books, music,…read moremovies, magazines, etc., they have so many programs for the community, especially kids. You need to check the monthly calendar to see what they have planned each week. The staff, as well as outside groups such as Seton Hall students, do story time several times throughout the week for various age groups. They bring in animal specialists, musical guests, and a host of other special activities. I've also asked the reference librarians for help going research on the history of the town and local community, and they were so helpful. They even contacted me when they uncovered some information days after I left. I am so impressed with their dedication, resourcefulness, and commitment to help patrons. Great Job South Orange Library!!

Great little library which I would like to go to for some quiet time. Unfortunately, the staff are…read moreconstantly talking to each other so it's not a quiet spot.

This library is convenient, has plenty of off-street parking, and the staff are polite and…read moreknowledgeable. The front desk has informational hand-outs available. They have a variety of interesting programs for all ages.

Summit Library is very nice. Many things in Summit are expensive. Library is not. It is in fact…read morecompletely free. It is filled with books. Also many cds and dvds. You can also get seeds. You don't borrow the seeds. You get to keep them. Well, I suppose if you plant them they cease to be seeds and then become plants. They have these weird digital audiobooks you borrow. And for some reason you need to plug your headphones into them. The. You can listen to a book. They also have a library of things. You can borrow a microscope or a telescope and plenty of things not scope related. Also, museum and zoo passes. Those will get you into a museum or zoo for free. And thy have computers. Library is really pretty cool. Parking is not free. Which seems odd. But you could probably find free parking somewhere nearby and then walk to the library. Library doesn't charge late fees any more. I guess they felt it wasn't worth it. Go to the library and read something. Your brain is not full. That's what I would say to my students when I taught 7th grade math and sometimes I would sneak in some science or some other interesting thing. And when the kids would complain that I had added additional knowledge I would say, it's okay, your brain is not full.

This library repeatedly gives up its prime work and reading space for shopping. No other places to…read morework that have power. No place to read quietly. Can we please make the library a place where there is no financial transaction? Seriously. Why does this keep happening here. This is a library not a mall.

The newly renovated library was well worth the wait! The outdoor spaces, community spaces and teen…read moreroom are three of my favorite areas. It is a welcomed addition to our community that will be utilized for many years to come!

The new Maplewood Memorial Library main branch is an absolute stunner of a building with gorgeous…read morespaces for browsing, reading, doing homework, meeting with your book club or community organization and more. The events they are putting on are wonderful and geared to so many different people and groups within Maplewood and the event spaces are gorgeous. There truly is a space for everyone and an event for everyone. It is such a wonderful community space for the town and the way the redesign has incorporated the park next door is truly inspiring. Every time I have gone since the reopening I've found it bustling with energy while still having that library-escape feel. If you haven't visited it yet, do yourself a favor and go!