For the latest news about Services for Libraries, please visit our News section. Receive news and monthly updates, directly to your inbox, with our NJSL Newsletter.
Statewide Services for Public, Academic, School, and Special Libraries
The State Library provides support for the growth and evolution of services, and expertise, for libraries across the state. Designed to meet the needs of customers across the diverse, multi-type New Jersey library community which includes public, academic, school, and special libraries. For the public 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.
Grant Opportunities
The New Jersey library community strives to fulfill the information needs of a vast and varied customer group. As always, the New Jersey State Library supports the state’s public libraries in serving all New Jerseyans—from pre-Kindergartners on the brink of emergent literacy, to students on the path to graduation and early careers, to disconnected individuals of all ages on the far side of the digital divide.
Through state and federal funds, the State Library periodically offers competitive grant opportunities for NJ libraries statewide. For more information, visit our Grants Opportunities page.
Library Development Bureau
The Library Development Bureau coordinates programs for libraries to help them increase capacity to serve their local communities. These sections facilitate the administration of state and federal grants, and provide statewide services such as: continuing education and training for library directors, staff and trustees, interpretation of library law and legislation, interlibrary loan, statewide online electronic resources, statistics and surveys, and the development of statewide programs, pilot projects and special initiatives that support key areas of continuing need.
Connect with Library Development Bureau contacts!
Business & Technology Services
The Office of Business and Technology Services provides development outreach to local businesses and entrepreneurs, and workforce development assistance to their community members. The Office also makes presentations and offers training in the latest technologies to libraries, business groups and organizations.
In addition, this section seeks out new and unique strategies for libraries to better position themselves as hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Click here to learn more about the Office of Business and Technology Services.
Directories of NJ Libraries
The State Library has compiled and maintains a comprehensive list of New Jersey libraries.
Click here to view the Directories of NJ Libraries.
Disaster Preparedness & Recovery
Disasters come in all shapes and sizes, from natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, fires, and earthquakes to man-made emergencies such as chemical spills, train wrecks, and terrorist attacks. You and your staff must be prepared to respond to protect your building and collections, and to reopen the library as quickly as possible to help your community.
Click here to find out more information on Disaster Preparedness & Recovery.
Diversity and Literacy Projects & Initiatives
E-rate
The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund (commonly known as the E-rate Program), which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), helps ensure that schools and libraries can obtain high-speed Internet access and telecommunications at affordable rates.
Click here to learn more about The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund.
Health Literacy
Health literacy affects people’s ability to successfully navigate the health care system (including filling out complex forms and finding service care providers), engage in self-care and management of chronic diseases, and understand the mathematical concepts of risk and probability. Low health literacy leads to poor health outcomes, which are associated with higher health care costs.
Click here to learn more about Health Literacy.
JerseyCat
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.
Click here to learn more about the JerseyCat program.
JerseyClicks
JerseyClicks is New Jersey’s statewide, full-text database portal. These high quality databases cover subjects such as health, history, business, education, science, current events, literature, and popular fiction. The suite also includes Informe, our Spanish language full-text database. If you have Internet access you can search for high quality information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by visiting your local public library or by entering your New Jersey public library card number.
Go to www.jerseyclicks.org to learn more.
Librarian Certification
Although more than half of the 50 states offer or require certificates or certification for public library workers, the standards for certification are not universal and the requirements vary from state to state.
Click here to learn more about Librarian Certification.
Library Law
The establishment and operation of libraries in New Jersey is provided for in the state statutes. Because public libraries are supported by public tax dollars, they are subject to numerous laws and regulations. Library directors and trustees are responsible for being aware of these laws.
View official rules and statutes, as well as library law materials and training.
Click here to learn more about Library Law.
Library Network Review Board (LNRB)
The Library Network Review Board (LNRB) meets at least annually and advises the State Librarian on matters pertaining to necessary or desirable statewide and inter-regional programs or services; and types of interaction and linkage of the New Jersey Library Network with interstate and national library networks.
Click here to learn more about the Library Network Review Board (LNRB).
Local Library Support Fund State Income Tax Check-off
Help support New Jersey’s public libraries by donating to the Local Library Support Fund on your New Jersey tax form.
Click here to learn more about the Local Library Support Fund.
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Council
The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Council is an optional advisory group for each State Librarian, per the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grants to States Program.
Click here to learn more about the LSTA Advisory Council.
Library Trustees
Being a Library Trustee means that you have been entrusted with the welfare of an important community institution capable of serving everyone in your community. A trustee’s first loyalty is to the library and the community it serves.
Click here to learn more about Library Trustees.
Per Capita State Aid (PCSA)
The Per Capita State Aid (PCSA) program is the largest public library grant program administered by the State Library and is the foundation of state support for public libraries.
The program is authorized pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:74-3 et seq. The first State Per Capita Aid Act was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in 1959. It established the principle of a partnership between local libraries and the State of New Jersey for the provision of quality library service through direct state financial support for public libraries. Its passage set a precedent that the State of New Jersey had a critical partnership role in providing quality library service for the residents of New Jersey.
Click here to learn more about Per Capita State Aid.
Statewide Resources for Libraries
The New Jersey State Library is grateful for the many years of support that Newark Public Library and Rutgers University Libraries have played in statewide library network services. By providing reference services and access to collections, respectively, these partners have helped numerous New Jersey libraries better serve their patrons.
With the proposed reduction in library network aid for fiscal year 2025, the New Jersey State Library allowed these statewide grants to expire in June 2024. While the library network appropriation was ultimately not reduced, NJSL is pausing to review the role of statewide grants as part of statewide library network services. Library network services include supplemental reference services from the New Jersey State Law Library, access to databases and digital content, maintenance of the statewide interlibrary loan system and support for interlibrary delivery through funding for LibraryLinkNJ as well as JerseyConnect.
Click here to learn more about Statewide Resources for Libraries.
Statistics
The annual New Jersey Public Library Survey collects statistics for the IMLS Public Libraries Survey and for determination of eligibility for Per Capita State Aid.
Review New Jersey public library data and analyses, as well as national statistics.
Click here to learn more about Statistics.
Training for Librarians
Programs and webinars of interest to the New Jersey library community. Continuing Education opportunities for librarians, trustees, and support staff.
Click here to find out more information on Training for Librarians.
Youth Services
Youth Services, a part of the State Library’s Lifelong Learning Section, provides assistance to certified librarians and library staff members who work with youth ages 0 – 18 on a wide range of topics including grant opportunities, resource sharing, best practices and readers advisory.
The unit administers award programs, coordinates the annual Statewide Summer Reading Program, the annual Youth Services Forum, offers continuing education opportunities and acts as a liaison to other local, regional and statewide organizations working with youth through collaborative partnerships.
Click here to learn more about Youth Services.
Communications, Marketing and Outreach
The New Jersey State Library 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.
There are several ways to connect with NJSL’s Office of Communications, Marketing & Outreach.
JerseyConnect
JerseyConnect is the state-wide technology services program with state-of-the-art infrastructure and applications provided by the New Jersey State Library.
Free services offered to all NJ libraries:
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.
Additional free services for libraries connected to the JerseyConnect network:
Premium internet access with guaranteed bandwidth, free router with full-service management, bandwidth reporting, QoS guarantees, and e-rate filing assistance.
For more information about JerseyConnect contact: (866)-468-7043 or visit www.jerseyconnect.net.
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.
