The Newburgh Free Library Town Branch at 181 South Plank Road, Suite #2 is officially open. The new location celebrated a grand opening on Monday, April 22 with members of the public, library and district leadership and staff joining together to celebrate.

The Newburgh Free Library has had their main branch location at 124 Grand Street in the City of Newburgh for years before expanding to another branch location at the Newburgh Mall. The mall location celebrated its 10th anniversary in August 2022.

The mall location would eventually close but there was indication that they would be able to move back in the following year. However, the district would rescind an agreement with the mall in September 2023. A new location for the library had a tenant who the district communicated with to help in the process of moving but the tenant did not move out. Since then, the tenant has since left the mall.

The new location for the town branch previously came about through a lease agreement approved by the Newburgh Board of Education in October 2023. The agreement between the library and ICCL LLC began on November 1, 2023 and will go till October 31, 2026.

Newburgh Free Library Executive Director Ben Gocker welcomed all those in attendance and acknowledged several guests for their support.

“This library means so much to our community. Literacy is a really, really important part of what we do as lifelong learners. This library and the opening of this library is another significance of what literacy means to our community,” said Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell, Superintendent of Schools. “It’s not only a place for our younger, but also our entire community. This place is a place of learning, love, literacy and a part of our community.”

The new library location now features new paint, shelves with books ready to be read and new murals added by local artist Rob Mounier, who had the opportunity to design and paint several murals on the walls of the new space for people to look at while visiting.

“I grew up going to Newburgh schools, so this is even more special. We wanted something that can make a statement, something positive. My artwork in general is very colorful, very big and bold and I use a lot of 80s and 90s, kind of vintage vibe with my work,” said Mounier. “This has been an awesome opportunity so I’m super happy for the town. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

The location’s hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This is a thing of beauty, and as the poet John Keats once said, “a thing of beauty is a joy forever” and I hope that’s what this is for the people of the Town of Newburgh,” said Gocker.