Middletown Township Public Library
🏢 Middletown Township Public Library · Middletown, New Jersey
Middletown Township Public Library
One of Monmouth County's most-circulated libraries, the Middletown Township Public Library grew from two 1914–1916 civic association lending libraries into a full township system that opened June 4, 1921, and now circulates over 400,000 items a year to households across the Bayshore region.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: (732) 671-3700
Website: mtpl.org
Plus Code: 87G7CV3R+P2 (Middletown, NJ)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Middletown Township Public Library
The Middletown Township Public Library has its roots in two independent association libraries — the Navesink Civic Association lending library (1914) and the Middletown Public Library (1916). The two merged in June 1921 to form a unified township library, pioneering a model for rural library service in Monmouth County nearly two years before the county established its own library system. A network of service stations spread across the township in the 1920s, and in June 1966 the Port Monmouth (now Bayshore) Branch opened as the second permanent location. Today the main library at 55 New Monmouth Road circulates over 400,000 items a year — roughly 23 materials per Middletown household — and maintains a New Jersey History Room with digitized books, photographs, pamphlets, and newspapers documenting the township's long history. The library offers free Libby and hoopla downloads, JerseyClicks statewide databases, free notary services, and meeting space for the community.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened June 4, 1921 — formed from two civic-association libraries founded in 1914 and 1916, making it older than the Monmouth County Library system
- Circulates more than 400,000 items per year, roughly 23 per Middletown household
- New Jersey History Room with digitized local books, photographs, pamphlets, and newspapers — ongoing digital preservation project
- Free notary public service available; genealogy research appointments by 60-minute booking
- Open until 9 pm Monday through Thursday for after-work and student visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Middletown cardholders get free statewide digital resources through New Jersey's library network:
📚 Services
- New Jersey History Room with local historical documents, photographs, and digitized collections
- Genealogy research appointments (60-minute sessions)
- Free notary public service
- Public computers, printing, scanning, and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room and community event space
- Interlibrary loan
- Business Resource Center (small business information and databases)
- Reference and reader's advisory
🎸 Programs
- Children's story times and literacy programs
- Teen programs and events
- Adult education and technology workshops
- Book clubs and author discussions
- Community and cultural programs
- New Jersey Humanities Council programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Monmouth & Union Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Middletown · Browse all New Jersey libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How far back does the Middletown Township Public Library's history go?
The library traces its roots to 1914, when the Navesink Civic Association started a lending library, and to 1916, when the Middletown Public Library was incorporated. The two merged into the Middletown Township Public Library and opened as a full-grown entity on June 4, 1921 — before Monmouth County voters even approved a county library system. The Bayshore (originally Port Monmouth) branch followed in June 1966.
What is the New Jersey History Room?
The New Jersey History Room is the library's local-history archive, housing a growing collection of digitized books, pamphlets, photographs, and newspapers documenting Middletown Township's long history. The library is actively digitizing materials to preserve and provide online access to this regional archive. Staff offer 60-minute genealogy and local-history research appointments — book via the library's online calendar at mtpl.libcal.com.
Does the library offer a notary public?
Yes, the Middletown Township Public Library provides free notary public services. A notary serves as an impartial witness to document signings, and you must be present with a valid photo ID when signing. Contact the library at (732) 671-3700 for availability and scheduling.
What are JerseyClicks databases, and are they free?
JerseyClicks is New Jersey's statewide database program, providing all NJ residents with free 24/7 access to more than 20 databases — including EBSCO research portals for K-12 and college students, HeritageQuest for genealogy, and business listing services. Access them through the library's website at mtpl.org or directly through the NJ State Library with your library card.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services 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.
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