Franklin Township Public Library
🏢 LOGIN Library Consortium · Franklinville, New Jersey
Franklin Township Public Library
Across from Franklinville Lake in Gloucester County's open farmland, the Franklin Township Public Library has grown from a one-room firehouse collection started by a single volunteer in 1950 into a modern 21st-century facility that serves one of South Jersey's most geographically expansive rural communities. The current building on Coles Mill Road, opened in 2002 and renovated in 2022, houses a teen center, computer lab, meeting room, Cricut Maker studio and one of the only public library collections in the county with a full Library of Things.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4:30pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1584 Coles Mill Road, Franklinville, NJ 08322
Phone: (856) 694-2833
Website: ftlnj.org
Plus Code: 87F6JW8C+VQ (Franklinville, NJ)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Franklin Township Public Library
The Franklin Township Public Library in Franklinville, New Jersey traces its origins to June 1950, when Erma Horel opened a small lending collection in the local firehouse, relying entirely on donated books and volunteer staff. The township took formal control in 1966 after Helen B. Richman donated a library she had built on Old Delsea Drive in Malaga, and a Board of Trustees was established with Martha Ochs serving as head librarian for seventeen years. A 1985 move to a larger Department of Transportation building and a 1991 automation project — when the library joined the Gloucester County Online Database (GOLD), now the LOGIN consortium — modernized its reach considerably. A $1.4 million legislative grant in 1999 funded a brand-new community-center building on Coles Mill Road that opened in 2002, and a $600,000 construction grant drove extensive 2022 renovations adding a dedicated teen center, expanded computer lab, and new meeting room. Franklin Township is a rural Gloucester County municipality covering roughly 60 square miles, and the library serves as the community's cultural and informational hub for a population spread across farmland and small villages.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Traces its roots to 1950 when Erma Horel opened a volunteer firehouse library — formalized as a municipal library in 1966 after Helen Richman's donation
- Current Coles Mill Road building opened 2002, with a $600,000 renovation completed in 2022 adding teen center, computer lab, and meeting room
- Museum and cultural attraction passes for free family access to regional venues
- Library of Things lending program — gadgets, games, kits and a Cricut Maker available by appointment
- Member of LOGIN consortium (formerly Gloucester County Online Database), sharing resources across Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Franklin Township cardholders unlock a wide digital collection free, any time:
📚 Services
- Museum and cultural attraction passes for free family visits
- Library of Things — gadgets, games, kits and a Cricut Maker (by appointment)
- Laptop loans for in-library use (up to 4 hours)
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi (no card required)
- Print, copy, scan, fax and laminating services
- Jigsaw puzzle borrowing (no card required)
- ESL instruction and computer classes
- Reference and genealogy research assistance
- Interlibrary loan through LOGIN consortium
🎸 Programs
- Children's and youth story times
- Teen programs and activities
- Adult learning workshops and computer classes
- English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Friends of the Library events and book sales
📍 Nearby Libraries in Gloucester & Cumberland Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Franklinville · Browse all New Jersey libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Library of Things at Franklin Township Public Library, and how do I borrow from it?
The Library of Things is a collection of gadgets, games, activity kits and creative tools — including a Cricut Maker cutting machine available by appointment — that cardholders can borrow just like a book. Visit the library or check the website at ftlnj.org for the current inventory and borrowing policies.
How did the library start, and why is it in Franklinville?
The library began in 1950 when Erma Horel opened a one-room collection in the local firehouse using donated books and volunteer time. In 1965 Helen B. Richman built a library on her property in the village of Malaga and donated it to Franklin Township in December 1965. The library grew through several buildings before the township built the current facility at 1584 Coles Mill Road in Franklinville, which opened in 2002 and serves the municipality's wide rural territory.
What museum passes are available, and how do I reserve one?
The library maintains borrowable passes that give families free admission to local and regional cultural attractions. Availability changes seasonally — stop by the library or call (856) 694-2833 to see what passes are currently in circulation and to reserve one.
Can I use the library's Wi-Fi or computers without a library card?
Yes. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building without a card. Public computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and laptops may be borrowed for up to four hours of in-library use. For borrowing physical or digital materials you will need a free Franklin Township library card.
🎨 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 lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things 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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