Home > Attractions > Libraries The Elizabeth Public Library is a modern library system meeting the needs of Elizabeth residents, businesses, and students for both traditional and innovative library services. The library provides services both on the Internet and at its four locations. By accessing the library’s web page at www.elizpl.org persons with valid library cards have access to an almost limitless amount of books, articles and data. By clicking on the online catalog, a user will have access to information on over three hundred thousand books, videos, compact disks, and audiotapes from the Elizabeth and Hillside Public Libraries. Users entering the library card (barcode) number on the back of their card, and entering a four-digit personal identification (PIN) number are able to reserve books in the collections for delivery to their nearest library branch, renew books and check the status of their accounts. A notice is mailed home to indicate that a book is available for pick-up. Users are asked to visit any library branch to request and be assigned a unique PIN number. For security reasons, a PIN number may not be assigned over the phone or via email. By clicking on databases, users have access to a vast universe of valuable information. In addition to the full text articles from over two thousand magazines and over seven hundred newspapers, there is the Grolier and Worldbook Encyclopedias Online, pictures, maps and television scripts through Elibrary, and consumer health information. One service alone, Facts on File, provides science experiments online, curriculum resources for teachers, career guidance, and sample forms for personal and business use including Social Security and financial aid forms. A lot of this is available remotely by entering the library card (barcode) number on the back of your library card when prompted. Some databases are available only at the main library. The Reference Department’s skilled professional librarians specialize in helping library users make sense of the Internet, and locating needed information. The library maintains an updated collection of reference books and documents covering all subject areas. The library offers over one hundred and fifty networked computers offering users free and high-speed access to the Internet. The importance of free access to the Internet cannot be overrated. The library bridges the “digital Dive” for low-income persons who otherwise would not have any access to the Internet. Of interest is the library’s audiovisual collection housing over ten thousand videotapes, DVDs, CDs and audiotapes providing entertainment and education. The DVD movie collection is new, and offers the additional benefit of offering a number of movies that are subtitled in Spanish and in some cases French. The library provides traditional library services as well. There are ample numbers of best-selling books and retrospective book collections of great depth. The library has over seven hundred magazines in stock, as well as over fifty newspapers from around the world. The library offers extensive collections of books, magazines, newspapers, videos and audiotapes in Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, and other languages in addition to English. The library produces several hundred programs a year for children and adults. There are magic, craft and storytelling programs for children, as well as classical, Jazz and rock music. In recent years, the library has specialized in hosting cultural and ethnic programming that reflects the many heritages of the residents of Elizabeth. This has included programs reflecting the cultures of Central and South America and the Caribbean. African-American and Haitian cultures are also included along with countries as diverse as Portugal, Russia and Ireland. Many staff members are fluent in Spanish and some in Portuguese and Creole. The locations, hours of operations, and phone numbers of the library branches are as follows: Main Library 11 South Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202-3486 Phone: 908-354-6060 Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm Saturday 9am to 5pm LaCorte Branch Library 408 Palmer Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202-3710 Hone: 908-820-4298 Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm Tuesday, and Thursday Noon to 8pm Elmora Branch Library 730 W. Grand Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202-1102 Phone: 908-353-4820 Monday and Wednesday 9am to 9pm Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday 9am to 5pm Elizabethport Branch Library 102-110 Third Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202-1717 Phone: 908-289-9032 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm Monday and Wednesday Noon to 8pm