Our History
In 1952, The Woman’s Club of Franklin Lakes recognized the importance of establishing a public library to meet the needs of the children and adults in town. The Woman’s Club drew together volunteers and organizations on February 27, 1952 for the purpose of discussing plans to create a library. Mrs. Edwin Miller, chairman of the Woman’s Club, invited representatives from a wide variety of organizations, including the Board of Education, PTA, Valley Hospital, Progressive Republicans, Garden Club, Fire Department, Boy Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, and the Borough Council to help organize and outfit a new library. The library was opened in December 1952 in the first Campgaw Post Office building on Pulis Avenue for nine hours a week and was manned by volunteers.
In 1957, the library outgrew its quarters and moved into a donated mobile home that was positioned on the municipal lot where the present day VFW currently stands. The library was open for twelve hours a week with special accommodations during school hours. The library became quite busy with annual circulation reaching 13,000. The need for a full time employee was recognized and with $1,000 awarded by the Borough Council, Mrs. Helen Gustavson was hired as the first Director.
By 1961, the library outgrew its space and a new wing was added through a donation of volunteer labor and materials. The library now occupied 650 square feet with an annual circulation of 16,000. In 1965 when annual circulation reached 21,000, it became apparent that staff had to increase as well. Mrs. Stewart Zabriskie was hired as the first full time assistant and two part time helpers also joined the expanded staff. By 1966, a vacation summer reading program was instituted, the library had grown to a standing collection of 11,000 volumes, and circulation had doubled.
By 1967, with $10,000 earmarked for a new library building by the Town Council, a consultant was hired to conduct a needs assessment to clarify methods to better serve the community. It was recommended to “municipalize” the library so as to provide for space and secure future funding. In 1968 a public referendum passed by an overwhelming vote of 5:1. In November of 1968, the library moved to the basement of the Municipal Building. Kathleen Palmund was hired as the first full time professional librarian and appointed as Director. Plans for a new library were underway with drawings submitted by the firm of Ludlow, Jefferson and Tuscik. However, by 1970 municipal support was uncertain and the library remained in the basement of the Municipal Building. Barbara Thiele was subsequently appointed Director and began investigating further establishment of a permanent facility.
In 1976, the library received a federal grant to develop resources for family life, administered by Children’s Librarian Kathryn Farnsworth. By 1977, a permanent 8,000 square foot library, designed by architect Fred Klenk, opened adjacent to the Municipal Building. Barbara Thiele resigned in 1978 and Christine Wierzba was named Acting Director. Having foresight, the library joined a newly established cooperative, which became the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), that promoted reciprocal borrowing on a county wide level by 1979.
In July 1980, Ms. Wierzba was replaced by Yvonne Roux, the former Children’s Librarian. Ms. Roux served as Director through 1986. Denise Millman succeeded her and served until 1988 when Susan Crocker O’Neal was hired. Under Ms. O’Neal’s leadership, the library grew by leaps and bounds with automated circulation services and expanded programs for all ages. By 1988, plans were underway to further enlarge the library by an additional 4,000 square feet and construction was completed in 1990.
Throughout the 1990s, the library responded directly to the needs of the patrons by adding additional professional staff, updating the copier machines, introducing circulation of compact discs, adopting regular Sunday hours, establishing a website and launching the first public access Internet computers. In 1993 the library became the first recipient of the American Library Association’s Loleta Fyan Award for development of a preschool catalog prototype by Ms. O’Neal and Children’s Librarian Gerry McMahon.
By the end of the ‘90s, the Ivy Group conducted a needs assessment and the Library Trustees realized the necessity to expand yet again to continue to meet the requirements of an expanding public. By 2001, under the direction of George Cooke, the library began plans for expansion and engaged the architectural firm of Buell Kratzer Powell LTD. Mr. Cooke retired in August of 2003 and was succeeded by Gerry McMahon. The library received a grant for construction through the State’s Construction Bond Fund and the Borough Council adopted a $3.6 million bond ordinance to renovate and expand the building. Construction commenced in November of 2002 and was successfully completed in May of 2004.
In the past decades the library has continued to grow exponentially, by adding additional staff, classes, and resources to meet the growing demands and the expanding technological requirements of the community. Circulation reached an all-time high in 2011 with 306,657 items loaned. Today the Franklin Lakes Public Library offers a full plate of enrichment and education through extensive and varied materials, guidance, service, programs, classes and workshops. The output of accomplishments, achieved by the library over the course of 70 years of service is incredible. Behind everything the library does is the desire to provide an answer to the needs of its community. The library is a great equalizer; regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic background, political affiliation, or need, the library continues to provide services that are both necessary and valued by its community.
LIBRARY DIRECTORS:
Helen Gustavson
Kathleen Palmlund: 1969-1979
Barbara Thiele: 1970-1978
Christine Wierzba: 1978-1980 (Acting Director)
Yvonne Roux: 1980-1986
Denise Millman: 1986-1988
Susan Crocker: 1988-2001
George Cooke: 2001-2003
Gerry McMahon: 2003 – 2021
Kerri Wallace: 2021 - 2023
Elysse Fink: 2023 - present