Summit Library to Join Main Library Alliance

By Tom Mizisko

The Summit Free Public Library will soon greatly expand access to books and many other materials by joining the Main Library Alliance (MAIN), a consortium of 60 public libraries across northern and central New Jersey. Cardholders will gain access to more than 3.2 million items from libraries across Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

Summit’s current collection includes approximately 160,000 items; after the Library joins MAIN, over twenty times more materials will be available to browse and borrow, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and more. The larger shared collection will also increase availability of popular titles and reduce wait times for high-demand materials.

The transition to the MAIN shared catalog is scheduled for June 10, 2026.

“Joining MAIN allows us to offer a broader range of content, better supporting the diverse interests and needs of our community,” said Amy Behr-Shields, Library Director. “It strengthens our ability to fulfill the Library’s mission to inform, enrich, and inspire – while continuing to prioritize service to Summit residents.”

Current Summit Library cards will continue to work after the Library joins MAIN; patrons will keep their existing library card number and PIN. To prepare for the transition, the ability to place new holds at the Summit Library will be temporarily suspended beginning April 15, 2026. Hold requests will resume once the new MAIN catalog becomes available in June. Holds on digital content through the Libby app will still function normally. During the migration period, other library services may experience brief interruptions. The Library will provide advance notice of any expected outages.

More information about the transition will continue to be shared through the Library’s website and social media channels. Patrons with questions about the transition are encouraged to read the Library’s FAQ at www.summitlibrary.org/main-faq/ or contact the Library at www.summitlibrary.org/hours-contact/.