Libraries and the professionals who bring them to life play a critical role in the New Jersey Center for the Book’s efforts to celebrate books, reading, and the diverse literary heritage of New Jersey. Libraries of all types (public, school, academic and special) have a long and distinguished history of protecting and promoting intellectual freedom as a hallmark of our culture. As educators and trained professionals, librarians, school media specialists and teachers champion the important role of reading and love of books through creative programming and the development of recommended resources guides for further study and teaching.

Miss Rumphius Award

Do you know a creative librarian, media specialist or teacher? If so, please nominate him or her for the Miss Rumphius Award!

Based upon the title character of the 1983 National Book Award winner by Barbara Cooney, this prize honors librarians, school media specialists,and educators who are stellar in spreading ideas and literacy. More about eligibility, requirements and deadline for submission of nominations

Selected New Jersey Resource on Books Arts

Established in 1979, with the support of the Rutgers Advisory Council for Children's Books and an initial grant from the New Jersey State Council for the Arts, the holdings of the Rutgers Collection span more than seventy years of American children's book illustration and have grown to include over four thousand works by more than one hundred artists. Works in the collection date from the late 1920s to the present...

Beta Phi Mu Annual Lecture

As part of its commitment to recognizing academic excellence in the field of librarianship, the New Jersey Center for the Book co-sponsors an annual lecture and reception with the Rutgers University School of Communication and Information’s Omicron Chapter of the Beta Phi Mu International Honor Society.

Special Programs and Events

New Jersey Center for the Book mounts special programs over the course of the year to celebrate state-wide or national anniversaries or events, or on topics of general interest that are opportunities to engage the broader community in literacy-related activities in a variety of disciplines.