[ESS] Ess does not find path to user packages

[Naresh Gurbuxani]

In my init.el file, I have defined a path for personal packages.

(use-package ess
  :defer t
  :config
  (require 'ess-r-mode)
;; many lines omitted
  (setq ess-r-package-library-paths
	(append ess-r-package-library-paths
		'("/Users/nareshgurbuxani/Documents/statProgram/packages")))
  )

In a new emacs session, R does not find this path.  Below is my R session.
> install.packages("linmod_1.0.tar.gz", repos = NULL)
Warning in install.packages("linmod_1.0.tar.gz", repos = NULL) :
  'lib = "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/R.framework/Versions/4.4/Resources/library"' is not writable
Would you like to use a personal library instead? (yes/No/cancel) cancel
Error in install.packages("linmod_1.0.tar.gz", repos = NULL) : 
  unable to install packages

Why does R not see the additional path defined above?

Thanks,
Naresh