LIBRARY COMPANY OF BURLINGTON

Open today until 6:00pm

Monday

11:00AM - 8:00PM

Tuesday

11:00AM - 8:00PM

Wednesday

11:00AM - 8:00PM

Thursday

11:00AM - 8:00PM

Friday

1:00PM - 6:00PM

Saturday

11:00AM - 3:00PM

Sunday

Closed

23 West Union Street

Burlington, NJ 08016

Get Directions

Phone: (609) 386-1273

Chartered by King George II of England for its founder Thomas Rodman and chief Officer John Reading in 1758, The Library Company of Burlington is the oldest, continuously-operated library in New Jersey. The founding members paid… Chartered by King George II of England for its founder Thomas Rodman and chief Officer John Reading in 1758, The Library Company of Burlington is the oldest, continuously-operated library in New Jersey. The founding members paid subscription fees and annual dues to join the library. Many members donated books to the library from their own personal collections. Of note for the time, the Library Company of Burlington extended borrowing privileges to non-members provided they gave security and paid a rental fee for the books. The library was originally housed in a rented room in the home of Thomas Rodman on High Street. The library moved several times, always renting rooms in local houses. Recognizing the need for dedicated space, prominent resident Joseph Bloomfield donated land near the southeast corner of High and East Broad Streets in 1789. The first permanent library building in New Jersey was built on this property to house the Library Company’s collections. As a director of the library for many decades and the head of its Building Committee, James Sterling saw the need for a new facility to replace the crowded, older building. Through his vision and generosity, a new library building was constructed on West Union Street in 1864. He bequeathed $5,000 to the library on the provision that a new building be obtained within two years of his death. The citizens of Burlington, including Mrs. Julia Grant, wife of General Ulysses S. Grant, rallied around the institution. A suitable property was purchased, plans were drawn, and subscriptions and fundraisers were organized to help pay for construction of the beautiful, Greek-Revival brownstone library that still houses the library’s collections today. In 1958, the Library Company once again felt the need to expand. A light and airy room was added onto the back of the building, effectively doubling the size of the library. This room, known as the Weston-Hall Room, was dedicated in honor of the beloved former librarian, Lydia Weston, and library benefactor, Willis Hall. The Weston-Hall Room houses all of our children’s collections, public computers and programming space. Today, the Library Company of Burlington is a charming library that offers a perfect balance of the old and the new. Visitors can use free public WiFi and computers, browse the shelves for the latest bestsellers, attend dynamic programming and marvel at the library’s historical treasures: Audubon’s Mammals of North America, the 1758 Charter, original incorporation documents, and books dating back to the 1500’s from the original collection.