Community
North Bergen to Name Main Library Branch After Executive Director Sai Rao
The Township of North Bergen announced plans to name the main branch of the North Bergen Free Public Library at 8411 Bergenline Ave. in honor of Executive Director Sai Rao.
Mayor Nick Sacco and the Township Board of Commissioners said the naming recognizes Rao’s role in transforming the library into a broader community resource offering career assistance, citizenship training, adult education, technology access, youth programming, and health initiatives.
“Renaming the library in Sai Rao’s honor is a fitting tribute to someone who has devoted so much of her life to serving the people of North Bergen and beyond,” Sacco said. “Sai’s vision, compassion, and tireless dedication have transformed our library into a cornerstone of the community and a place where residents of all ages can learn, grow, and succeed. Her impact on this township will be felt for generations.”
Rao, a longtime North Bergen resident and the library’s first female executive director, was previously recognized as Hudson County’s Woman of the Year for 2020 and received the New York Times Librarian of the Year Award.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition,” Rao said. “The library has always been about serving the people of North Bergen and ensuring every resident has access to opportunities, resources, and lifelong learning. I am grateful to Mayor Sacco, the Board of Commissioners, Library Board of Trustees, our incredible library staff, and the entire community for their support throughout the years.”
Rao also serves on the North Bergen Board of Education and has held leadership positions with regional library organizations and community groups.
The Bergenline Avenue branch is undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen later this year. Township officials said additional details about the naming ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.
