Hiasvtoernics BY LORI DRAZ
Middletown Township
Public Library
On June 2, residents, dignitaries and book lovers came together
to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Middletown Township
Public Library (MTPL). The event included family fun and activities,
speeches and the opening of a time capsule from 1971. Library Director
Heather Andolsen and Library Board President William R. Bucco also began
placing content into a new time capsule that will be buried at the
end of 2021 and opened in 50 years.
The Middletown Township Public Library’s history exists not so
much in a building as in the community. Throughout its evolution, the
library operated in several locations, but throughout it all, the residents
of Middletown have and continue to rely on it for information, education
and recreation.
To begin, Middletown is one of the oldest towns in New Jersey. Its
roots date back to 1665 to a group of English who migrated from western
Long Island and New England. In 1693, Monmouth County was organized
into municipalities with three original townships. At that time,
Middletown covered the entire area north of the Navesink River and east
of Freehold Township. By 1848, Middletown was split to allow the formation
of Raritan Township. There is deep history throughout, and Mid-
Monmouth Hills, Navesink and Middletown Village.
The Middletown Township Public Library was originally two independent
association libraries: Navesink in 1914 and Middletown in
1916, which merged in 1921 to create the MTPL. It continued taking
shape until 1954. The Navesink Library was its headquarters, and the
Middletown Library (located in the former Franklin Academy on Kings
Highway) was a branch. There were stations located throughout the
township (New Monmouth, Heddens Corners, Hillside, Belford, East
Keansburg, Everett, Leonardo, Lincroft, Port Monmouth, Red Hill and
56 JULY 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
River Plaza). In a place as large as
Middletown, getting to the library
wasn’t always easy. The sight of
the friendly MTPL Ford Model
A Bookmobile became beloved
to residents of rural areas who
looked to its visits for books.
From 1942 to 1959, MTPL was
located in the basement of the
former Town Hall. In 1959, MTPL
moved to a former telephone
company building on Kings Highway.
MTPL needed more space
and formed the Port Monmouth
(later named Bayshore) Branch
in June 1966. The Lincroft branch
In 1968, the township acquired a 13-acre property at New Monmouth
and Tindall Roads. Five acres on New Monmouth Road went to the library.
Construction started in 1969, and the building opened in 1971.
than 6,000 residents. Today, Middletown has about 68,000 residents.
MTPL entered the electronics age in the 1990s and entered the digital
age in the early 2000s. MTPL underwent renovations in 2005.
Throughout it all, the MTPL has been an essential connector in this
big area. It was a lifesaving communication center during and after Hurricane
Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Once power was
restored, the library provided online services, helped residents apply for
which were attended by 12,873 adults and 16,125 children that year.
Today’s Middletown Township Public Library has an active participation
of residents. Each year, more than 617,000 items are circulated, and
the library hosts 70,000 people at more than 1,600 programs. During
the 2020 pandemic year, the library continued to meet the needs of
the community, with 73,413 items downloaded and virtual programs
attended by 10,935 patrons.
Mayor Tony Perry said, “Middletown has a rich heritage, and our
community is fortunate to have a public library that offers a variety of
resources to help us research, preserve and protect our past.”
In celebration of the library’s centennial, the staff will be raising
money for a History Room that features computer research stations, enhanced
technology such as augmented and virtual reality, and a gallery
embracing the future.
The centennial celebration will continue throughout the year with a
big list of centennial-themed events, programs and crafts including DIY
time capsule crafts, and children’s event with 1920s props and stories, to
name a few. The list is still growing, so keep checking for more events on
the library’s social media channels.
MTPL is creating a Legacy Project to digitize and remember the residents
Middletown has lost. With Sept. 11’s 20th anniversary approaching,
the Legacy Project will begin with by enrolling the 37 Middletown
residents lost that day. Residents can submit documents, pictures, etc. to
help centralize memories of the victims.
MTPL will also be hosting a gala in October.
Visitors are always welcome; the library is located at 55 New Monmouth
Rd. in Middletown.
/TheJournalNJ.com