Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners announced that the main branch of the North Bergen Free Public Library, located at 8411 Bergenline Ave., will officially be named in honor of Executive Director Sai Rao in recognition of her years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to the community.

A longtime North Bergen resident, Rao has served as the first female Executive Director of the Township’s Free Public Library, helping transform the library system into a vital community resource offering career assistance, citizenship training, adult education, technology access, youth programming, health initiatives, and more.

Under Rao’s leadership, the library has expanded services and secured numerous grants to enhance opportunities and resources for residents while modernizing and strengthening the Township’s library system. Rao was previously recognized as Hudson County’s Woman of the Year for 2020 and also received the New York Times Librarian of the Year Award.

In addition to her work with the library, Rao serves on the North Bergen Board of Education and has held leadership positions throughout the region, including president of the Hudson County Library Directors Association. She also serves on the Executive Board of the New Jersey Library Association and participates in community initiatives across Hudson County.

The Bergenline Avenue branch is currently undergoing extensive renovations and improvements and is expected to reopen later this year as a modernized community resource for residents of all ages. Additional details regarding the official naming ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.