About PALS Plus
PALS Plus is a library consortium comprised of 29 public and academic libraries in 21 communities across Passaic, Essex, and Hudson counties. Library card holders from PALS Plus libraries have access to over 1.2 million books, 100,000 movies, 27,000 audiobooks, 26,000 CDs, and over 1,000,000 digital titles including ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and television shows.
Additionally, residents of PALS Plus libraries have in-person borrowing privileges at over 75 other libraries throughout New Jersey through Open Borrowing.
Our History
Representatives from the Clifton Public Library, the Totowa Public Library, and the Wanaque Public Library are the first Passaic County libraries to agree to participate in a shared resource model that would eventually become PALS Plus.
With five members, the group decides to make it official. In April of 1992, PALS Plus, the Passaic Area Library System, is officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 in the state of New Jersey. The consortium is established with five original members: Clifton, Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Wanaque, and West Milford.
In April of 1992, the Pompton Lakes Public Library, quickly followed in May of 1992 by the West Milford Public Library sign on.
In November of 1993, PALS Plus is officially live on a shared integrated library system and expanding access to library collections across the 5 members.
In February of 1996, the North Haledon Public Library becomes the 6th member of PALS Plus.
In June of 1999, PALS Plus welcomes the libraries of the Passaic County Community College as its 7th member and first (and currently only) academic library.
In October, the Paterson Public Library and its multiple branches become the 8th member of the consortium.
The new century brings the Little Falls Public Library as the consortium’s 9th member in June of 2000.
Just over one year later, in June of 2001, the Ringwood Public Library is welcomed as the 10th member. Finally, double digits!
The Bloomingdale Public Library joins in February of 2002, becoming the consortium’s 11th member.
The Alfred H. Baumann Public Library of Woodland Park quickly follows Bloomindale’s lead and becomes the 12th member in March of 2002.
A little over one year passes before the Wayne Public Library joins PALS Plus in April 2003, becoming its 13th member.
Quickly followed in October of 2004 by the addition of the Caldwell Public Library as the 16th member.
Half a decade passes before the membership of the Passaic Public Library in January of 2007 as the 17th member.
A half decade passes before the Verona Public Library is added as the 18th member in November 2015.
The decade ends with two members, the first being the Belleville Public Library and Information Center as the 19th member, but due to some delays Belleville doesn’t go live until the summer of 2021.
The Union City Public Library becomes the 20th member in July of 2019. Union City is the first library from Hudson County to be represented in PALS Plus, joining Passaic and Essex counties.
The 2020s begin with the membership of the 21st member.
PALS Plus partnered with the Passaic County Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs for the inaugural Passaic County Book Festival.
The book festival was held at Weasel Brook Park in Clifton, NJ and over 600 attendees enjoyed meeting over 50 authors and listening to panels and discussions on a variety of topics.