Children's Services - Jersey City Free Public Library

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge

Join this free program to read 1,000 books with your child before they start kindergarten!
For every 100 books read, receive a prize from the library.

Bonetti Children’s Room Volunteer Program with Honor Society at McNair

In collaboration with McNair Academic High School, JCFPL now offer’s a free tutoring program for K-8 grade! Tutoring is flexible based off the need of the student.

Currently at full capacity but accepting students on a waitlist.

Who We Are

Welcome to Children’s Services! The Jersey City Free Public Library’s Children’s Services staff is here to share our passion for children’s literature and to inspire a life-long appreciation for reading and learning among our little learners.

What We Do

In addition to offering a robust children’s book collection, the JCFPL Children’s Services staff also hosts a wide variety of events and educational programs, including storytime, sing-alongs, music lessons, arts and crafts, author visits, and more.

Call us at:

Digital Services

Have you signed up for a library card? Unlock the doors to new worlds of possibility, and sign up for a library card today! Library cardholders can borrow various library materials, including picture books, board books, juvenile books, and much more. Cardholders can also access all the digital collections and research databases JCFPL offers. Use your library card to check out eBooks, audiobooks, and stream music and movies. Click here and sign up for a library card today!

Cognitive & Natural Ability Assessment

Discover your child’s cognitive abilities and natural learning strengths for Grades 8 through 12.

Free With Your Card

Did you also know that the Library offers virtual services that allow patrons to view educational videos and movies and check out books from home? All you need to do to gain access is sign up for a Jersey City Free Public Library card. It’s free!

Featured Library Resources

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Attention: The Five Corners Branch will have a delayed opening at 11 AM on Wed, Jul 10th due to staff development.

Please be informed that the Earl Morgan Branch will be closed for Staff Development from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on Tuesday October 29, 2024. Hours of operation will resume at 1 PM.

📢 Communipaw Branch Hours Now Extended! Check out the new schedule at jclibrary.org/branch/communipaw 📅

The Learning Center will be closed from Wednesday, May 29 through Friday, May 31. Thank you for your understanding.

The Marion Branch will closed from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM on Friday, August 16 due to staff development. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo desde JCFPL! Celebrate with us and explore our Spanish-language collections at Biblioteca Criolla.

Biblioteca Criolla

All library locations will be closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen and resume services on Tuesday, November 12.

Due to unexpected circumstances, the Marion Branch Library will temporarily close Today, 6/4/2024, from 12:00pm-1:00pm. The Marion Branch will reopen at 1:00pm.

Biblioteca Criolla has new operating hours. See the updated schedule here.

Please be advised that the Earl Morgan Branch will be closed for Staff Development from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on September 24, 2024. Hours of operation will resume at 1 PM.

Miller Branch will open at 11:00am on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, due to a delayed opening.

Due to unexpected circumstances, the Biblioteca Criolla at PGML will temporarily close Today, 8/15/2024, from 4:00pm-5:00pm.

The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on August 16, 2024, and will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Please be informed that the Bookmobile will be off the road today, Tuesday, November 19.

Morgan Branch will open at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, July 16 due to staff development. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Bookmobile Services Temporarily Unavailable from May 8th to May 10th. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Due to unexpected circumstances, the Program Room at the Heights Branch will be closed Today, 8/19/2024

Due to unexpected circumstances, the Marion Branch will be closed Today, 8/19/2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Heights Branch will open at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 16 due to staff development. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Biblioteca Criolla will be closed from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Today, Tuesday, August 20, 2024. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Heights Branch will have a delayed opening at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Five Corners Library will open at 11am on Wednesday, June 12th. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.

Due to unexpected circumstances, the Marion Branch will be closed Today, 8/22/2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

All library locations will close at 12:30 PM on 8/23/2024 for the Annual Backpack Giveaway. Please note that only patrons who registered during the specified period will receive a backpack due to high demand.

All Library Locations Will Be Closed on Friday, April 19, for Staff Development. The Library Will Open for Services on Saturday, April 20. We Apologize for Any Inconvenience.

Please be advised that the Bookmobile will be out of service from Monday, August 26th, to Monday, September 9th. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Today for Hudson Gives, there will be a $5k match minute at 2:01 p.m. and later at 5:51 p.m.. All giving will end at 11:59PM on May 17th.

📢 Important Update: The Communipaw Branch Library is closed today. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We are currently experiencing an issue where some patrons with Yahoo email addresses may not receive email notifications from our system, SIRSI. SIRSI is actively working to resolve this problem, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The Cunningham Branch will be closed from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM today November 19. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Please note that the Bonetti Department will be closed from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, June 17, 2024, for the SLP Kickoff Party ,which will take place in the Fourth Floor Multipurpose Room. Thank you for your understanding.

In observance of Labor Day, all JCFPL locations will be closed on Saturday, August 31, and Monday, September 2. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 3 during regular hours.

Please be informed: the Cunningham Branch will open at 1:00 PM on June 26th; we appreciate your understanding.

Today’s (Nov 21) scheduled Bookmobile stop at Newport Apartments (River Dr. South near Duane Reade) has been cancelled.

The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on June 28, 2024, and will be open at 10:00 am.

The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on July 19, 2024, and will be open at 10:00 am.

The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on September 20, 2024, and will be open at 10:00 am.

All library locations will be open from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Wednesday, November 27.

All library locations will be closed from Thursday, November 28, through Sunday, December 1, in celebration of Thanksgiving. The library will reopen for regular hours on Monday, December 2.

CORRECTION, NO DELAYED OPENING: The Pavonia Branch will be open during its regular hours, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Correction: The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on Friday, November 22, 2024, and will open at 10:00 am.

The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on December 20, 2024, and will be open at 10:00 am.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Earl Morgan Branch will be closed Today 6/17 from 2 PM to 3 PM. The branch will reopen at 3 PM. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Biblioteca Criolla Will Be Closed for Services Today 6/17 From 2 PM Onward Due to the SLP Kick Off Party in the 4th floor Multi-Purpose Room.

📢 Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's "World Animal Day" craft event on October 4, 2024 has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Please be advised the Heights Branch will be closed for staff development on Wednesday, June 26, from 10 AM to 11 AM. The branch will open at 11 AM following the session.

Please be informed that the West Bergen Branch will open at 2:00 PM today, September 3, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Registration for the Jersey City Free Public Library Annual Backpack Giveaway has been extended until August 12. Visit this page to register while supplies last.

The Priscilla Gardner Main Library will open at 12:00 pm on 05/24/2024 due to a delayed opening.

Please be informed that the Marion Branch will be closed for Staff Development from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on October 11, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Five Corners Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 05/30/2024 due to a delayed opening.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the West Bergen Branch will be closed today 8/1. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

CORRECTION: The Marion Branch will be open for regular hours on Friday, November 15, 2024.

The West Bergen Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 06/05/2024 due to a delayed opening.

Please be informed that the Marion Branch will be closed for Staff Development from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on December 13, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Cunningham Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 06/06/2024 due to a delayed opening.

Please be informed that the Five Corners branch will be closed to the public for Staff Development on September 11, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Morgan Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 06/13/2024 due to a delayed opening.

The Miller Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 06/18/2024 due to a delayed opening.

Please be advised that the Bookmobile will be off the road for the remainder of the week and will return on Monday, August 5th. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Marion Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 06/20/2024 due to a delayed opening.

📅 Find out when the Bookmobile will be in your neighborhood! See Bookmobile Schedule

The Heights Branch will open at 12:00 pm on 06/21/2024 due to a delayed opening.

All library locations will be closed on Monday, October 14, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. We will reopen for services on Tuesday, October 15.

The Bookmobile is out of service until Thursday, June 27, 2024.

The Pavonia branch will have a delayed opening for Staff Development on August 30, 2024, and will be open at 10:00 am.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the bookmobile will be off the road from Tuesday, Oct.15 through Thursday, Oct. 17.

Our holiday schedule has been updated for each of our branches. We encourage you to visit your branch's page to view important information regarding closures, limited hours, and alternate hours. Thank you.

In observance of Memorial Day, all branches of the library will be closed on Monday, May 27th, 2024. The library will be open for service on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024. Thank you for your understanding.

The Heights branch will be closed to the public for Staff Development on September 18, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The bookmobile will be off the road today, Oct 4, 2024. Thank you for your understanding.

West Bergen Branch Is Temporarily Closed Today 5/23/2024 due to flooding. We Anticipate Reopening on or Before Fri., May 24.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Pavonia Branch will be closed today 8/9/2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The Cunningham Branch will be closed from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM today, July 6. It will reopen at 2:00 PM. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The Communipaw Branch will be expanding it's hours of operation starting on November 1st. For more details, visit the Communipaw Branch Page.

Please be advised that Priscilla Gardner Main Library will be closing at 5pm today, April 11th, 2024.

All library locations will be closed on Friday, October 25, for staff development, and the Bookmobile will not be making trips. Regular services will resume on Saturday, October 26.

Please note that all library branch locations will be closed in observance of Independence Day on July 4th, 2024.