Final chapter? Under budget cuts, Camden library system prepares to shut down permanently

Camden preparing to close down its library system

CAMDEN, N.J. — New Jersey’s most impoverished city will close all three branches of its public library at year’s end unless a rescue can be pulled off.

Camden’s library board says the libraries won’t be able to afford to stay open past Dec. 31 because of budget cuts from the city government. The drastic measure comes after the state cut the city’s subsidy.

The library board president says the library system, which opened in 1904, is preparing to donate, sell or destroy its collections, including 187,000 books.

Board president Martin McKernan says keeping the books around would pose a fire hazard.