& Chapters Old New The South Orange Public Library’s 150th anniversary BY EDIE SACHS RIGHT: The fireplace in the Library's Connett Building in an undated photo. The clock was a gift from the Mead family (namesakes of Mead Street, and one of the library's founding families). LEFT: The reading room, circulation desk, and stacks in the Connett Building of the South Orange Library, circa 1896. Photo courtesy of the collections of The Newark Historical Society; Newark, NJ; all rights reserved. LEFT: The South Orange Library in 1890, still located on the top floor of its second building -- originally Smith and Lum's; at the time of this photo it had become Beck's Paints & Hardware. Charles Beck is in the doorway and his brother, Adolph is beside the horse.