About Us

Welcome to the Mendham Township Library

The Mendham Township Library welcomes you to our community-centered environment, providing user-friendly resources and entertainment for people of all ages. There is always a lot to do at the library! Browse the shelves and find current best-sellers for all ages, as well as interesting and popular audio books, DVDs, large print books, travel books, newspapers, magazines, video games, and more. When you visit our website, you can search our catalog and databases, or renew a book from the comfort of your home.

Beyond traditional library services, we are a hub of community activity. Join with your neighbors for ongoing and special programs for all ages, or simply drop by to use a computer, peruse our new book collection, read a magazine or have a cup of coffee. We welcome you, your family and friends. We also welcome new volunteers—there are many ways to become involved with the library. If you haven’t stopped in, we are located in the Brookside section of Mendham. Any person who lives, works, attends school or pays taxes in Mendham may request a library card according to policies set by the Board. The Library is part of the Main Library Alliance and, as such, all cardholders have many library privileges with all other Main affiliates. The library affords these same privileges to other Main members. You must be at least 5-years-old to get a library card.

Whether you visit the library in person, or on-line, we hope our services, programs, and resources will help keep you informed and enrich your life.

The library is open the following hours for your convenience:

New Hours
Sunday (Closed )
Monday 9:30 am – 6 pm
Tuesday 9:30 am – 8 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am – 6 pm
Thursday 9:30 am – 8 pm
Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 1 pm

Holiday Closings 2024
The library will be closed in honor of the following holidays:

  • New Year’s Day (Jan. 1)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 15)
  • President’s Day (Feb. 19)
  • Good Friday (March 29)
  • Memorial Day (May 27)
  • Juneteenth (June 21st)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Labor Day (Sep 2)
  • Columbus Day  (Oct. 14)
  • Thanksgiving Day and Friday (Nov. 28, Nov. 29)
  • Christmas Eve (Dec. 24)
  • Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
  • Boxing Day (Dec. 26)
  • New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31)

The Library is located in The Anderson Wing, Brookside Community Church, behind 6 East Main St, Brookside, NJ. View Map

Get Google maps Direction

Note – GPS users please use 6 E. Main St, Morristown, NJ 07960 for the address.

From the North (Randolph, rt10): Take Millbrook Ave South 2.9 Mi to traffic light. Turn left on Sussex Tpk for 0.2 mi. Turn right on Brookside Rd, which turns into Woodland Rd. At the end of Woodland Rd, turn left onto East Main Street,  The library is on left.

From the South (Bernardsville): Take Anderson Hill Rd / Mendham Rd north towards Mendham for 4 mi. At the traffic light in Mendham, turn right on E. Main St. / rt24 east. Proceed 2 mi. Turn left on Cherry Lane (green sign to Mendham Municipal Court on left in addition to the street sign on right). At the stop sign turn right onto East Main St.  Library is on the left.

From the East (Morristown, 287 Southbound): Take Interstate 287 south of Interstate 80 to exit 35 (route 124, Madison Avenue) west towards Morristown. Go .8 (eight tenths) miles to the Morristown Green (a block square park with all roads one way anti-clockwise), and go around 3 sides of the square to continue on route 510 (Washington Ave., sometimes signed Rte. 24) west towards Mendham and Chester. Continue another 4.8 miles and turn right on Cherry Lane. At the stop sign turn right onto East Main St.  Library is on the left.

From the West (Chester): Take Rte. 510 (sometimes signed Rte. #24) east from Chester to the traffic light in Mendham. Continue straight through. Two miles east of light, turn left on Cherry Lane and proceed as if “from the south.

Rachel Harrison,  Library Director – rachel.harrison@mendhamtwplib.org
Karen Brookes, Collection Development & Accounting – karen.brookes@mendhamtwplib.org
Jennifer Penwell, Demand Management Coordinator – jennifer.penwell@mendhamtwplib.org
Rachel Harrison, Director of Youth Services – rachel.harrison@mendhamtwplib.org
Dana Feldman, Children’s Programmer- dana.feldman@mendhamtwplib.org
April Kirchdoerffer, Adult Programming & Marketing Coordinator – april@mendhamtwplib.org
Helen Wolfmeyer, Circulation
Susannah Truitt, Circulation Supervisor
Marnie Robinson, Circulation
Niki Dupont, Circulation
Abby Dougherty, Circulation

 

Morse Wilkenfeld, President
Megan Stolarski, Fundraising Lead
Hanneli Hudock, Secretary
Zach Curinga, Board Member
Gia Sullivan, Co-Treasurer
Bob Wowk, Co-Board Member
Sol Barer, Board Member
Stephanie Manson, Board Member
Meredith Ogden, Board Member

 

The Board of Trustees and library staff are extremely grateful to have volunteers from the community that help keep the library running smoothly. The library could not maintain its schedule of being open over 50 hours a week if it were not for our long-standing, devoted volunteers.

There are times that we need volunteers just to be in the library to make sure we have double coverage (so no staff member is alone at the library).

If you are interested in volunteering at the library, please Contact Us to discuss what opportunities might be available.

YOU are part of our history.  For 75 years, Mendham Township Library has provided our community with a neighborhood gathering place. Offering a wide array of free programs for children and adults, our library provides you with all the community connections and materials on which you depend. Our future is made possible by the support of local patrons. The library needs you.

The Mendham Township  Library has a long history of expanding and moving in order to meet the needs of a growing community.

1920’s Our library began as an accessory service of the Morris County Library. First, it was a bookmobile and later it became a library station in the elementary school.

1947 The Mendham Township Public Library  Committee was formed and opened a small library in the blacksmith shop (now the Community Church offices) in Brookside. It’s fitting that a portion of our collection has temporarily moved back to its first home (for the duration of the library’s renovation)

1949 The library moved to a closet in the Community Club.

1954 A new elementary school was built and the library was offered space in the old school building where the circulation desk is located at the present library.

1969 The library expanded  into the old garage (now our reference area) when a new firehouse was built.

1970’s Our library became the first library in Morris County to open Sundays.

1981 The largest expansion

1993 The children’s room moved into the former garage at the far west end of the building.

 

Mission Statement:
The Mendham Township Library provides a vibrant and friendly community gathering place that connects people of all ages with information, ideas and one another to fulfill intellectual and leisure interests through resources and programs.

Vision:
To provide a welcoming environment that is A CORNERSTONE FOR COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.

Strategic Plan
Thanks to all of you who responded to our survey and who support our library! Your input has been incorporated into our five-year strategic plan which we would like to make available for the community to see.

Click here to open the Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan Vignettes
Community Survey
Strategic Plan & Vision and Goal #1
Strategic Plan and Goals #2 & #3
Library Funding

FAQ’s

(1) How is our Mendham Township Library a cornerstone for the community?

The Library enriches the quality of life for our community.  Residents like the warm, small town feel and value the Library’s available resources.  Library users speak of a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, a caring and knowledgeable staff, and a variety of programs and events that bring all ages together.  The Library is a gathering place to share experiences, make new friends and stay connected throughout the year.

(2) I understand Mendham Township Library is an Association Library.  What is the difference between an Association Library and a Municipal Library?  And how is the Mendham Township Library funded?

Mendham Township Library is an Association library (like the Mendham Borough Library).  There are 45 Association libraries in New Jersey, or approximately 2% of public libraries in the state.  The vast majority of libraries are Municipal and supported by local property taxes.  A minimal level of funding for Municipal libraries has been established at 1/3 of a mill on each dollar of assessable property within the municipality.

Association libraries may receive funding from the municipalities where they are located; however, there is no guaranteed minimal level of funding for an Association library.  Mendham Township Library receives financial aid from the Mendham Township Committee; the level of funding is not sufficient to run the Library, and it is also not guaranteed from year to year.  The Library relies significantly on donations from the community to continue to function.  In fact, more than 25% of our yearly operating budget comes from donations from the community.

(3) If I make a donation, how does the Library plan to use the funds?

Donations go directly to the Library and also are tax deductible.  Monies are utilized first, to keep our doors open and second, to provide continued customer-focused service to all of our visitors.  Specifically, funds will provide new books and magazines; purchase new digital e-content and e-Readers; and support a variety of new and existing educational and cultural programs for children and adults.