Tucked between the Technology Center and the Quiet Study Rooms, visitors to the Burlington County Library will find a sign welcoming them to the New Jersey Room. Stop by and you’ll discover a space dedicated to the history of the area and its people, with books covering every conceivable subject of life in the Garden State.
Want to learn more about our earliest inhabitants, or the waves of immigrants who have made New Jersey into the melting pot it is today? We’ve got you covered. Care to read about the flora and fauna that gives New Jersey its Garden State moniker? Pay us a visit! We have histories covering the notable citizens and important events of communities across the county, from Beverly to Willingboro, and everywhere in between. The New Jersey collection holds a number of genealogies for families whose roots can be traced back generations to colonial Burlington County and beyond. This includes both published histories and our loose-leaf “Family Files,” a compilation of community-submitted notes and clippings on various families. Search your last name in our online catalog as a first step towards learning more about your ancestors.
Although books make up the bulk of the New Jersey Room’s 9,000-plus item collection, you can also find DVDs, maps, oral histories, photographs, and unique archival items, such as the Nathaniel R. Ewan scrapbooks. But the most heavily used and widely requested items come from our microfilm. Stretching back more than 200 years, patrons can comb through crucial primary source documents, including business records, court dockets, censuses, and most importantly several dozen local newspapers. And in conjunction with our ever-growing Indexes of Historical Burlington County Newspapers, users can quickly track down the paper, date, and even page number of printed notices. We have four microfilm readers available for public use and knowledgeable staff to get you started.
Not sure where to begin? Not a problem! Use the Contact Us form on our website to reach out to our local history and genealogy librarian with your question. We’ll try to find a solution or suggest other resources and organizations to aid in your search. The library also offers limited Research Request services; please call us at (609) 267-9660 or via the Contact Us form to submit your request and learn more.
Make sure to check out the New Jersey Room on your next visit to start exploring the past!
