How I Found Freehold Public Library

A library has been hiding from, tucked away right under my nose. Since 1903 a beautiful building right on Main Street has been delivering good books to the people of Freehold Borough. (Freehold Township residents can enjoy the library's services for a $10 fee.)

I had no idea. Every time I searched for books online, . I literally had to walk by it and do a double take. I apologized to the older gentleman who crashed into my back during my sudden and unexpected stop.

What wonders awaited me inside? It's a small-ish library with lots of popular literature neatly stacked on the walls. There is free Internet floating invisibly in the air for public use. Computers are available or you can bring your own, though outlets aren't accessible. A children's room is downstairs.

But most importantly are the people who run this place. Looking like someone who had just woken up after not feeling so great yesterday (mostly because I was someone who wasn't feeling so great yesterday), I was approached with open arms.

Library Director Barbara Greenberg answered my questions about why the library isn't part of the Monmouth County Library system. According to Greenberg, the library was always meant to be a neighborhood space catering to the people of the borough. As we spok,e kids and adults walked in from Main Street proving her very point.

I learned that books are shared freely among other area libraries using inter-library loans even though the Freehold library doesn't have its catalog online. A 10-mile hiking and biking trail was mapped out for me. Upcoming Freehold events were described. I was introduced to Councilman John Newman’s incredibly informative newsletter.

Kathy Mulholland, the tech savvy librarian assistant, filled me in with enough information about Freehold Borough, the library and other exciting topics to fill up a few months worth of columns.

It struck me while I was there--this is what a local library is supposed to be like. A place where people knew you by name and were not just willing to help but really happy to. Every topic of conversation spurred other topics, places of interest to check out, recommendations and ideas. More than just a place to store books, this library is a bubbling hub of information.

I don't know for sure, but this seems exactly the goal that Andrew Carnegie had in mind 108 years ago for the Freehold Public Library--a place for people to meet and freely exchange ideas.

All you have to do is ask. (Tell 'em Jason sent you!)

Connect with Freehold Public Library:

• Freehold Public Library Official Website
• Facebook Page 
• Blog