Franklin Township Free Public Library
🏢 Franklin Township Free Public Library · Somerset, New Jersey
Franklin Township Free Public Library
The Franklin Township Free Public Library's DeMott Lane building is an architectural standout in Somerset County — a contemporary brick-and-steel structure with a soaring vaulted atrium — open six days a week including evenings until 9 p.m. and Sundays for this diverse Somerset County community.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–9pm |
| Thursday | 10am–9pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–4pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: (732) 873-8700
Website: franklintwp.org
Plus Code: 87G7FFXG+8P (Somerset, NJ)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Franklin Township Free Public Library
The Franklin Township Free Public Library serves the residents of Franklin Township in Somerset County, one of New Jersey's fastest-growing municipalities. The main branch at 485 DeMott Lane, within the Franklin Township Municipal Complex, was designed with a contemporary aesthetic featuring stocky brick columns, a glass-enclosed interior, and a vaulted steel atrium that fills the building with natural light. The library system comprises three locations: the main DeMott Lane branch, the Franklin Park branch at 64 Clover Place, and the Youth Center location on Lewis Street. As of 2022, the system circulates 280,000 items annually to nearly 32,000 active members from a collection of 198,340 items, with a staff of 64 and an operating budget exceeding $4.3 million. The library offers passport acceptance services, free museum passes to area attractions, hotspot lending, and a robust Local History Collection in the Historical Room adjacent to the Reference Desk.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Main branch at 485 DeMott Lane features a soaring vaulted atrium with contemporary brick-and-steel architecture
- Open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday — one of Somerset County's most generous evening schedules
- Passport acceptance services available for US passport applications
- Free museum passes to area cultural institutions available for checkout
- Hotspot lending — borrow a mobile Wi-Fi device for internet access at home
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Franklin Township cardholders can borrow, stream, and learn free through JerseyClicks and the library's digital platforms:
📚 Services
- Passport acceptance services (US passport applications)
- Museum passes for free admission to area cultural institutions
- Hotspot lending — borrow a mobile Wi-Fi device
- Kindle device loans (3-week checkout)
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi, mobile printing, and copying
- Local History Collection in the Historical Room for Franklin Township genealogy and history
- Meeting room reservations for community groups
- Book club kit lending
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and family programming
- Teen volunteering and Kindness Club activities
- Book clubs and film festival screenings
- Reading challenges for all ages
- Computer classes and digital literacy workshops
- ESL and citizenship preparation resources
- Genealogy research support
📍 Nearby Libraries in Somerset & Middlesex Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Somerset · Browse all New Jersey libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Franklin Township Free Public Library offer passport services?
Yes. The DeMott Lane main branch is a passport acceptance facility where you can apply for a US passport. You will need to bring your completed DS-11 application, proof of US citizenship, a government-issued photo ID, a passport photo, and the applicable government fees. It is advisable to call ahead at (732) 873-8700 or check the library website to confirm current appointment availability and hours for passport processing.
What is the Hotspot Lending program at this library?
The Franklin Township Free Public Library lends mobile Wi-Fi hotspot devices that cardholders can check out and take home. This program is especially useful for residents who lack reliable home internet access, allowing them to connect to online services, complete schoolwork, or work remotely. Contact the library at (732) 873-8700 for availability and checkout details.
How many branches does the Franklin Township library system have?
The system has three locations: the main DeMott Lane branch at 485 DeMott Lane in Somerset (the largest, with the most services and longest hours), the Franklin Park branch at 64 Clover Place in Franklin Park (phone: 732-873-8700, option 5), and the Youth Center Library at 429 Lewis Street in Somerset (phone: 848-838-1960). Each branch serves a different part of this geographically large township.
What local history resources does the library have for Franklin Township research?
The DeMott Lane main branch maintains a Local History Collection in the Historical Room near the Reference Desk. The collection includes materials on the history of Franklin Township and its people, and the library has digitized annual reports dating from 1971 to 1980. Staff can assist researchers interested in township history, genealogy, and Somerset County records.
🛂 This library offers U.S. passport services. See how library passport acceptance works — requirements, fees and appointments — and find other passport acceptance libraries by state.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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