NEWARK -- The city's public library has a new leader and he's eager to widen the library's reach in the community -- starting with a new coffee shop.

"I really see the library as a hub," said Jeffrey Trzeciak, 50, who was appointed director of the Newark Public Library last month. "In some ways drawing people in but also connecting us and providing the glue that brings together all these organizations."

Trzeciak will oversee the main library and its seven branches. He hopes to expand services to the city's growing Latino community and enhance children's services by hiring a children's librarian in every branch. There are also plans to bring a coffee shop to the first floor of the main library.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Trzeciak previously worked as the university librarian at Washington University in St. Louis. He and his husband bought a house and moved to Newark last month.

Jeffrey Trzeciak - Director, Newark Public Library (Cryrolfe Photography)

Trzeciak said he wants to promote diversity in the profession and diversity in its resources, make collections more accessible and strengthening relationships with the city's cultural institutions.

"Newark has a long history of musical success," Trzeciak said, saying he was drawn to the city library's "long history of innovation" that started with its longtime leader, the late John Cotton Dana.

He cited the library's exhibits on World War II, African American art, the James Brown African American reading room, the Philip Roth library collection and its computer services that help more than 1,000 people a week apply for jobs.

The library also boasts the state's only Sala Hispanoamericana, or Latin American reading room and received a $1 million donation from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to digitize its collection.

"We are a city library, supporting the city of Newark but we are actively in the region and the state," Trzeciak said. He said the library also serves as a federal depository for federal documents. "Our reach extends beyond the city, it's really statewide and beyond."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.