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Please see the right side of the page (or above on mobile) for NJ State Library (NJSL) and Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC) topics arranged by subject area, along with contacts for our various offices and programs.

Ask a Librarian

The New Jersey State Library building, in Trenton, New Jersey.
The NJ State Library building, in Trenton, New Jersey.

2025 State Holiday Closing Schedule

NJSL and TBBC are CLOSED Saturdays and Sundays, along with the following dates observed:

Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
Monday, January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, February 17 – Presidents Day
Friday, April 18 – Good Friday
Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day
Friday, June 20 – Juneteenth Day (Observed)*
Friday, July 4 – Independence Day
Monday, September 1 – Labor Day
Monday, October 13 – Columbus Day / Indigenous People’s Day
Tuesday, November 4 – Election Day
Tuesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day

*Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (S19), which designates the third Friday in June as a State and public holiday, known as Juneteenth Day.

NJ State Library

  • Phone: 609-278-2640
  • Fax: 609-278-2652
  • Street Address: 185 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608
  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 520, Trenton, NJ 08625

On-Site Hours

NJSL is open to walk-in visitors Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
While not required, appointments are recommended to ensure availability of work space.

  • 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. by appointment only.
  • Closed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as state holidays.

To schedule an appointment

Law Library

Libraries are vital community hubs, offering knowledge and lifelong learning through their collections, services, and partnerships. Our goal is to strengthen this foundation, empowering libraries to enhance New Jersey’s well-being and regional resilience.

Reference Desk

NJSL offers a comprehensive suite of many resources to support your research needs.

All visitors to NJSL, including the Talking Book and Braille Center, who are 17 years or older are required to present a photo ID to security upon entrance. This is a security protocol that will not be waived for any reason or any visitor.

Visitor Conduct Policies regarding library use.

Please note

  • Masks are not required but recommended.
  • Children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Entrance to the Library is through the doors facing the State House Annex and fountain (East side).
  • Sign in at the guard’s station.
  • Staff and patrons will maintain a 6-foot distance from each other.
  • Levels 3 and 4 of the Library are open to the public. Items needed from other locations within the library will be paged upon request.
  • Visitors with a defined end time to their research session will leave promptly at that time.

Check out our Research Library page for additional information about online library collections and resources.

Guides and Schedules

Talking Book and Braille Center

Ask a Talking Book and Braille question

TBBC is open to walk-in visitors Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and State Holidays.

  • While not required, appointments are recommended to ensure the availability of machines, books, and other resources.
  • While not required, it is recommended that any machines or books you want to pick up are ordered ahead of time so that they are available for you when you arrive.

All visitors to NJSL, including TBBC, who are 17 years or older are required to present a photo ID to security upon entrance. This is a security protocol that will not be waived for any reason or any visitor.

Schedule an appointment, request a machine or books

Please note

  • Masks are not required but recommended.
  • Children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Sign in at the guard’s station.
  • TBBC is not a browsing library. There are no shelves of audiobooks. Braille is stored in a warehouse, and patrons cannot access it.
  • Books and machines are available to pick up, and it is recommended that you call in your request before coming to the library to ensure that the materials you want are available.

Adult Services

  • Email: tbbc@njstatelib.org
  • Fax: 609-406-7181
  • Phone: 800-792-8322 (Please hold the line to speak with a reader’s advisor.)

Children and Teen Services

Email or Call Us

Phone: 609-278-2640

Interlibrary Loan (State Employees and TESU)

​NJSL offers a variety of resources to assist users in accessing and requesting items from its collections. By utilizing tools such as the Library Catalog, databases, NJSL Discovery, NJSL Digital Collections, and Electronic Journals, patrons can efficiently locate and request materials to support their research and informational needs.​

Library Administration

Office of the State Librarian

Phone: 609-278-2640

Jennifer R. Nelson, State Librarian Headshot
Jennifer R. Nelson,
State Librarian

As New Jersey’s State Librarian, Jen Nelson offers thoughtful guidance, strong leadership, and clear direction to the NJ State Library and the state’s libraries. In her role, she oversees all operations of NJSL: staff who offer reference and digitization services to state government employees and residents with disabilities; those who provide sophisticated integrated technology infrastructure to more than 350 public libraries through JerseyConnect; and those who support the delivery of critical statewide services and programs to libraries through the Library Development Bureau. Jen also develops partnerships with state agencies that position local libraries as key drivers for the well-being and health of communities throughout the state.

The NJSL administers state and federal grant and aid programs, ensuring fidelity in the use of funds and equity in the distribution of scarce resources. Special projects often involve the use of grant funds to further resident skills in and access to the internet that promote digital inclusion. Projects may improve library facilities, strengthen local library staff skills and knowledge, and contribute to high quality library services.

With the combined strength of the local libraries and NJSL’s talented staff, libraries are recognized as essential community anchors that change lives daily.

Administrative Support

Finance and Facilities

JerseyConnect

Free services offered to all NJ libraries

JerseyConnect is the state-wide technology services program with state-of-the-art infrastructure and applications provided by NJSL.

Email hosting, spam and virus email filtering, website hosting with statistics, managed WiFi, website SSL certificates, domain name hosting, ILS hosting, cloud storage for library data, remote PC access with remote assistance and support chat, virtual meeting and webinar hosting, and consultation on technology projects.

For more information about JerseyConnect contact:

Library Development and Marketing

Administrative Support

NJSL provides support for the growth and evolution of services, and expertise, for libraries across the state. Designed to meet the needs of customers across public libraries. For the now and into the future.

Support for these services range from providing statewide resources and continuing education activities to offering leadership models with opportunities for innovation.

Communications and Marketing

NJSL is committed to educating the public about the value of libraries through public awareness campaigns, community outreach and media relations.

New Jersey’s public libraries are encouraged to use statewide campaigns and publicity guidelines established by the State Library, to educate their communities about library resources and the opportunities they create.

Diversity and Literacy Project Initiatives

NJSL has launched innovative initiatives to enhance community support through libraries. Click here for more information about them.

JerseyCat (Interlibrary Loan – Public Libraries)

JerseyCat is the free statewide interlibrary loan program. Member libraries can borrow books and other materials, and obtain photocopies from participating New Jersey libraries. An agreement with OCLC also allows JerseyCat members to request items from out-of-state libraries if what they need is not available in New Jersey.

JerseyClicks

JerseyClicks is a statewide electronic resources program offered by NJSL, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the New Jersey Library Network.

The program offers a selection of eminent databases for college and K-12 students, public libraries, state government and New Jersey residents, free of cost. JerseyClicks provides access to over 20 databases, which cover a host of topics and academic pursuits.

The Palace Project

Through the Palace app, users have access to over 20,000 items curated by the Digital Public Library of America and NJSL.

Click here to learn more.
The Palace Project
NJSL Digital Collections New Jersey Outdoors

NJSL Digital Collections:

New Jersey Outdoors

NJSL is pleased to provide free online access to its entire archive of New Jersey Outdoors.

Click here to learn more.
Institute of Museum and Library Logo

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this website do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

NJ State Library offers a variety of newsletters to keep you informed about library events, resources, and services.
Click here to learn more
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