Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The Perth Amboy Public Library is recently listed individually on the State Register of Historic Places. It is a Neoclassical style Carnegie Library constructed in 1903 with a 1914 addition. The 1903 section was designed by New York City architect Howard Greely and the 1914 portion was designed by the Perth Amboy architectural firm of Jensen and Brooks. Both sections were funded by the Carnegie Foundation. The first section consisted of five bays with a semicircular reading room on the rear elevation. The seven bay 1914 portion was constructed across the front of the earlier five bay section and nearly doubled the size of the library. The building typifies Carnegie Library design with Neoclassical details, a tall basement story and raised steps leading to a pedimented entrance. The interior has open floor plans and a prominent semicircular reading room. The Perth Amboy Library Association was established in 1888 by Perth Amboy citizens, which advocated for the library to be incorporated under state law. In 1896 the Perth Amboy Free Public Library was established under Municipal support. Today the library is owned by the City of Perth Amboy and run by the Perth Amboy Public Library. 

The 2025 Trust grant will help fund the exterior and interior restoration and rehabilitation work at the main level, as well as exterior drainage improvements at the east plaza.