maywood Public library

The James and Pauline Hackbarth Foundation - James Hackbarth, who lived in the town of Maywood for over fifty years, was a retired builder who constructed homes in Maywood and the surrounding Bergen County communities primarily in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He and his wife Pauline thoroughly enjoyed the small town atmosphere of Maywood and were thrilled that they could participate in its expansion and transition during those years. Having often talked of ways to give back to the community, the Hackbarths decided their personal desires could best be served by the establishment of The James and Pauline Foundation through the Last Will and Testament of Mr. Hackbarth. Founded in 2006, The James and Pauline Hackbarth Foundation’s directive is to partner with the Maywood Library by investing in capital projects and equipment in order for the library to serve as both a community and cultural center for the town.

The New Jersey Construction Bond Act Grant - the Library Construction Bond Act (LCBA) allocated $37 million to 36 library projects from 13 counties across New Jersey in its second round of awards. The Maywood Public Library will receive $700,088 through this grant program for this project. The Library Bond Act was approved by voters in 2017 and authorizes a total of $125 million in state bonds for technology updates, building improvements, and other library projects across the state.

Hal Bloom - Hal Bloom was the much beloved President of the Maywood Library Board of Trustees for many years. He was also the former Principal of Hackensack High School. Mr. Bloom contributed greatly to the community in many ways, but he was particularly well known for his dedication to the library and to the young adults in the community. The Maywood Library Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the Hackbarth Foundation, are pleased to dedicate this newly renovated area of the library to his memory.

The project entails renovation of the Young Adult section to incorporate unused space on the Library’s lower level and upgrades to the children’s area to make it a more accessible and welcoming space. Middle school children comprise a significant portion of the Library’s traffic, but the current space is inadequate to serve them efficiently and without disruption to adult patrons who are concurrently using the Library’s resources.

The project also includes the creation of innovative spaces such as an amphitheater for performances and lectures and a Makerspace for hands-on programming and classes. These improvements will help create an inclusive environment that enhances the Library’s ability to perform its mission of enriching the community and promoting lifelong learning for patrons of all ages.