Somerset County Library System Joining Main Library Alliance, Collection Up to 3.2M Items
The Somerset County Library System will add millions of books and materials by joining the Main Library Alliance. Their current collection will jump from 850,000 items to 3.2 million.
Next month marks a big shift for local readers. The Somerset County Library System will add millions of books and materials by joining the Main Library Alliance. Their current collection will jump from 850,000 items to 3.2 million through links to 57 libraries across New Jersey.
"This collaboration is about maximizing value and convenience for our patrons, granting them unprecedented access to exponentially more books and materials across New Jersey," Somerset County Library System Director Peter Bromberg said, according to a press release.
Since 1979, the Main Library Alliance has served nearly 800,000 readers in over 100 towns. The network spans six counties: Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren.
Changes start Nov. 14. Staff will pause checkouts that day to update the catalog system. Any books brought back on Nov. 14 will stay listed on accounts until Nov. 17.
All branches will close their doors Nov. 15-16. During this brief pause, readers can still grab eBooks and listen to eAudiobooks through the Libby app.
By Nov. 17, services will be back in full swing. Members can check out items at any branch in the network. Starting in early 2026, a new system will let readers pick up books from any Main Library Alliance spot at their closest branch.
The expanded service will reach 16 towns: Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Green Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, Millstone, Montgomery, North Plainfield, Peapack, Gladstone, Rocky Hill, Somerville, South Bound Brook, Warren Township, and Watchung.
