Services
The Chester Library serves the residents of Chester Borough and Chester Township, New Jersey.
The library houses a collection of over 70,000 books, DVDs, CDs, video games, audiobooks and e-books. In addition, it offers a wide array of adult, teen and children’s programs, public computers, online research services, and community meeting rooms.
Call 908-879-7612 for further information, or come out to the library today!
Chester Library cards are available free of charge to anyone who resides or owns property or a business in either Chester Township or Chester Borough. In addition, courtesy privileges are extended to those who work or attend school in Chester. We honor cards from other libraries in the Main Library Alliance and we also honor cards from libraries participating in Open Borrowing.
Need to print at the library from your laptop or device?
Go here to upload or email your document. Go to the Circulation Desk to pay for your print-outs and staff will release the print job. This feature is only for documents that can be e-mailed. No print screen feature available. Ask staff for assistance. We are happy to help!
The Chester Library offers Notary Public Services for the benefit of the residents of our community. The following guidelines will be followed in the provision of Notary Service:
- Walk-ins will be accommodated when a notary is working. However, notaries are not necessarily scheduled during all open hours.
- It is recommended that patrons seeking Notary Service call the Library prior to their visit to ensure that a Notary is available at that time. (908) 879-7612
- Valid photo identification—e.g., driver’s license or passport—is required of any customer seeking Notary Service.
- Notary service is limited to three documents per person, per visit.
- The library will not provide witnesses and witnesses may not be solicited from customers using the Library.
- Documents in any language other than English will not be notarized at this facility.
- New Jersey law requires that a Notary and the customer seeking notarization be able to communicate directly with each other. Library Notaries are not permitted to make use of a translator to communicate with a Notary Service customer.
- Notary Service is not available for Deeds or other real-estate related documents, Wills, Living Wills, Living Trusts, Codicils or Depositions.
- Certain public documents cannot be copied and notarized. Examples of these are: Passports, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates and Marriage Certificates.
- In accordance with New Jersey Notarial Law, Notaries will not provide service if the customer, document or circumstances of the request for Notary Service raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt or uncertainty for the Library. In this event, the library Notary may, at his/her sole discretion, decline to provide Notary Service.
- Notary services are provided free of charge by the Chester Library to Chester Library card holders. In lieu of fees, donations to the library are welcome.
Call the library on 908-879-7612 or stop by the desk to check-out the pass. A Chester Library card is required.
- Passes may be checked out for three (3) days. (Exception–American Museum of Natural History is a “ticket” that does not need to be returned.)
- The pass must be returned in person at the front desk of the Chester Library. There will be a $5 charge if returned in the book drop or to another library.
- The fine for an overdue pass is $5 per day. The charge for a lost museum pass is $10 plus the museum’s charge for a replacement.
- Household members may check out the museum pass once per calendar month (Exception-American Museum of Natural History is once per year). This will allow more patrons a chance to use the pass.
- American Museum of Natural History
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Cooper Gristmill
- Fosterfields Living Farm
- Historic Speedwell
- Intrepid Museum
- Morris Museum
Please visit our meeting room reservation page for more information.
- Small Group Classes available at the library
- Individual Sessions available at the library
Mentoring is available at the library to help with homework, study strategies, and academic questions.
BrainFuse HelpNow
A New Standard for Online Homework Help.
BrainFuse HelpNow™ provides differentiated learning solutions for students of diverse needs and backgrounds.
Students communicate with live, online tutors using an interactive, virtual whiteboard to chat, write, draw, copy/paste text or images, and graph homework problems.
HelpNow also offers skills building and test preparation where after taking a quiz, the user can then connect directly to a live tutor to review the topics and questions covered in the quiz.
Both the student and the tutor can view the quiz questions and the corresponding student answers for an intensive test prep which may include loading lessons onto the whiteboard. All live tutoring sessions are saved and can be replayed as well as shared with friends and teachers. Need further assistance or want to know where to start?
Your Youth Programs Librarian is always here to help! Contact: maryann.burden@chesterlib.org
Mango Languages
Mango is an adaptive language-learning experience that provides the tools and guidance you need to expand your language skills wherever and however you learn best. More than 70 languages to choose from. Create an account and then use on your computer, tablet or phone.
- Real-world conversations
- Voice Comparison for matching your pronunciation with native-speaker audio
- Listening & Reading Activities
- Personalized Review System
- Culture Notes for unique insights into different cultures
- Mango Movies for learning through engaging, authentic content
German conversation meet-ups are also offered.
BrainFuse JobNow
BrainFuse JobNow™ provides live online assistance, powerful tools, and other resources for job-seekers.
Live Interview Coaching: Patrons can brush up on interview techniques or get live online interview practice from trained job coaches. Job coaches and patrons communicate via live chat in our online classroom. In addition to live interview coaching, patrons enjoy 24/7 access to interview tips and career resources.
Resume Lab: Patrons can submit their resumes any time through the JobNow Resume Lab and a job coach will send it back within 24 hours with detailed feedback and suggestions for improvement. Users are also able to download resume templates, or browse resources for producing better resumes.
Career Resources: Patrons enjoy 24/7 access to a carefully-selected library of job resources. In addition, Brainfuse job coaches help users strategically target jobs best suited to their interests and qualifications.
Adult Learning Center: The Adult Learning Center provides foundational, career-enhancing skills to job seekers. In addition, the Adult Learning Center offers test preparation (including the GED and the USCIS citizenship test) and a unique academic skills center featuring live, online tutors.
BrainFuse VetNow
VetNow supports veterans and their families with navigating the VA bureaucracy, providing academic tutoring, and employment transition assistance. You can work with VetNow
Navigators to learn about benefits eligibility, community resources for housing, healthcare and education benefits, and locating accredited claims agents.
They also provide job tools specifically designed to help veterans with all stages of the job hunting process. The VetNow Job Tools feature career coaching, expert resume assistance, live interview preparation, and more.
If you are looking to go back to school, VetNow’s College Skills section can help you brush up on your academics! There are live tutors in a wide range of college level subjects, an extensive library of lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests including SAT, ACT, TEAS, HESI, GRE, and GMAT, and live help for language learners.
The Morris County Library offers a Libraries-by-Mail service to home-bound residents. Click here for more information or to sign up for the program. You will need a Chester Library Card to participate in the program.