April 2025
President’s Message
Celebrating National Library Week
To show its appreciation, the Trustees will provide a luncheon for staff on April 10
April 6 -12 is National Libraries Week during which we celebrate the valuable role libraries play in our communities. And April 8 is National Library Workers Day giving all of us an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedicated work librarians and staff do every day on our behalf. This is even more evident at WMTL where an always friendly, knowledgeable staff member is on hand to assist you. With over 55,000 volumes available to the public, six public computers, the latest periodicals, numerous accessible databases covering a wide range of subjects, workshops for all ages, current and vintage movies weekly, virtual author lectures and frequent concerts, the West Milford Township Library has it all. All you need to do is stop by or log in. Come celebrate the library with us. It’s here for you 52 weeks a year.
American Libraries: The Early Years
Many scholars consider Dr. Benjamin Franklin a forerunner, if not the father of the American library system. But Franklin’s library was not a free public library as we know it today. In 1731 he established the Library Company of Philadelphia which required a subscription fee for members. However, the real story behind Franklin’s library stems from his earlier involvement with the Junto, a group of artisans, writers and civic thinkers in Philadelphia, who met to discuss and debate a variety of topics. It was from this group and Franklin’s passion for sharing authoritative books, difficult and expensive to come by at the time, that he established the Library Company as a way to share books and reduce costs. As membership grew and the concept of lending libraries for the general public took hold, it is estimated that more than 40 lending libraries had opened across the country by the year 1800. There can be little doubt of the role libraries played in the early years of our nation as “public markets” of information and knowledge in the formation of an American government. Much of that may be attributed to the role Franklin played in bringing libraries into the public domain.
In the development of public libraries stands another great name in American history, that of 19th century industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Since 1911, libraries and other institutions across the country have been the beneficiaries of generous donations from the Carnegie Foundation of New York. It is estimated that Carnegie gave away $60 million dollars in his time to more than 1,600 libraries across the country. The 20th century saw the continued growth of public libraries as more towns recognized the important role they played in the community and funded their construction. Now libraries serve their communities in ways that the forefathers could only imagine, and some they could not fathom. At the library the world is at your fingertips. Drop by and see what is waiting for you, and while you’re here give a nod to Messrs. Franklin and Carnegie. We owe them much.
SUNDAY CLOSURES: March 23, 30 and April 13. The library will be closed for air duct cleaning.
WMTL Hits the Road
West Milford Township Library staff will be out in the community in the coming months, participating in everything from pinwheel gardens to Earth Day celebrations, all part of the library’s community outreach efforts.
- April will bring a pinwheel garden consisting of two dozen or more pinwheels displayed on the grounds in front of the library. The display will be created by the WM Women’s Club in acknowledgement of April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.
- The library will be represented at the Wellness Family Festival on Saturday, April 5 from 10 am to 2 pm at West Milford Township High School. Teen Service librarian Danielle will attend this family friendly event hosted by the Highlands Family Success Center.
- The New Weis Center off Westbrook Road in Ringwood will celebrate Earth Day on April 27. WMTL staff will be there to provide children and teen activities.
- You’ll see library staff at WM Community Day on Saturday, June 28, providing crafts and distributing library literature, calendars of library-sponsored events, and other paraphernalia. It should be a fun event and your library will be there for you.
What Every WM Resident Should Know about their Township
Consisting of 81 square miles, West Milford Township is one of the largest towns in New Jersey and the largest in Passaic County. Of its 51,848 acres, sixty-seven percent is comprised of forested lands; 13% is residential, classified as “urban;” 10 % is wetlands and 7% is covered by water. The Township’s population, according to the 2020 census, was 24,868. The largest growth spurt the Township has experienced in modern times occurred between 1970 and 1980 when the population rose by 31.47%, followed by an increase of 11.78% from 1980 to1990. By 2000, the population had leveled off significantly. The median age of WM residents in 2020 was 45.9 but we are an aging population as evidenced by the increase in median age over the past 30 years. In 1990 the median age of WM residents was 32.8; that increased to 37 years in 2000; 40.2 years in 2010; and today stands around 45.9. Ethnically, 84% of residents identified themselves as Caucasian; 9.1% Hispanic/Latino; 1.5% Asian and 1.3% Black/African-American, according to the 2020 census. It is worth noting that the greatest gain occurred among the Latino population which increased by more than 50% in the period between 2010 and 2020. 23.7% of WM households in 2020 reported an income of between $100,000 and $149,999. Conversely, 2.9% had a household income below $10,000. The median income for all households in West Milford in 2020 was $103,425. West Milford was home to just over 10,000 housing units in 2020. Finally, the percentage of those employed who worked from home in 2010 increased from 4% to 10.8% in 2020, no doubt attributed in large part to the Covid-19 pandemic. All of this information was collected from the 2020 US Census.
Jim Rogers, President
West Milford Township Library Board of Trustees
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March 2025
President’s Message
WMTL: “The People’s Palace”
Contrary to misinformed popular opinion, public libraries are more popular and necessary today than ever before. In his 2018 book, Palaces for the People, NYU sociology professor and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge, Eric Klinenberg states, “Everyday life in libraries is a democratic experience, and people cram into libraries to participate in it whenever the doors are open.”
The author goes on to say today’s libraries bring together different generations of people who learn from each other’s experiences. Libraries provide a safe public space for people of all ages, ethnicities, and cultures to congregate, explore and grow together. Libraries offer opportunities for making new relationships. For many youngsters, the library is the venue where language and reading skills are first introduced. Teens may find a comfortable haven to explore the world together with online and on-site programs that target their interests and talents without the constraints of time limits and curfews. And seniors may take advantage of free computer instruction, a multitude of events, simply enjoy the company of their colleagues, or steal a few moments for themselves in the reading nook with easy access to daily and monthly periodicals.
The West Milford Township Library is your Palace for information, education, camaraderie, entertainment, leisure and culture. Whether you are young or young at heart, stop by WMTL and treat yourself like Royalty.
ProCitizen – Preparing for US Citizenship
Are you or someone you know interested in applying for US citizenship? Fortunately, the West Milford Township Library is here to help. Interested patrons may view ProCitizen instructional videos in either English or Spanish to prepare for the civics, reading and writing parts of the USCIS Naturalization Test. If interested, stop by the reference desk at the library where a librarian will help to get you started.
Virtual Author Talks
Under the leadership of supervising librarian Theresa McArthur and paid for by the Friends of the West Milford Township Library, the library has initiated a new program that interested patrons may access from their desktop, laptop, tablet or cell phone. Patrons may register for virtual presentations on a variety of topics delivered by best-selling authors, influencers and thought leaders. Simply identify your choice of speaker from a list and register for an upcoming talk or view a previous talk from a long list of speakers and topics. It’s that simple.
Is Your Head in the Clouds?
In West Milford, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds is subject to seasonal variation over the course of the year. The clearer (Less cloud cover) part of the year in WM begins around the third week of June and normally lasts for four and one-half months, ending around the second week of November when clouds become more prevalent, according to weatherspark.com. Just in case you asked.
Jim Rogers, President
West Milford Township Library Board of Trustees
______________________________________________________________________________________________
February 2025
Now that the groundhog has seen its shadow and six more weeks of winter are predicted, what better way is there than to idle away the hours at the West Milford Township Library (WMTL)? If you have been to the library lately, you may have noticed the banner hanging above the circulation desk. It’s pretty hard to miss. “WMTL: Committed to Excellence.” It proudly displays the library’s vow to provide excellent service to all who walk through our doors. It’s not merely a slogan. It is a professional commitment from library staffers and trustees that diverse, quality programs will help our young children to flourish; that in-person and virtual programs will capture the interests and imagination of WM pre-teens and young adults; and that adults and seniors will have a place to indulge themselves in literature, music, art and a comfortable chair in which to read, or explore the world by accessing one of the library’s state-of-the-art computers. It’s all here waiting for YOU.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY – LOVE YOUR LIBRARY
Be sure to stop by the library to view the West Milford Township Public Schools Exhibit. Students of art classes will exhibit their work in the second floor gallery and adjacent hallway. Exhibits will be on display through the end of March. The event in honor of Youth Art Month kicked off with a welcome reception on Saturday, February 8.
Strategic Plan 2026-2030 –Your Input is Needed
During 2025, the library will undertake one of its most important missions in serving the community. Every five years the library reviews and updates its Strategic Plan. Such plans typically include a mission statement, the library’s vision, a profile of the community and goals and objectives for the next five years. The current Plan is built upon eight goals and 57 objectives covering all facets of library operations. Check it out by clicking on “Strategic Plan 2021-2025 located on the library website. The 2026-2030 Strategic Plan will come together this year with input from residents and staff and will be officially adopted by the Board of Trustees in December. In the coming months, look for anonymous surveys of library programs, services, personnel, materials and facilities on the library website. Along with information gathered from possible focus groups, this is your opportunity to offer your opinions and suggestions that will be incorporated into the new Plan. As the township’s information, entertainment, technology and cultural center, the WMTL is here to serve you. Help us by taking a moment to express your views on how the library may better serve you when you see the survey posted on its website.
Jim Rogers, President
West Milford Township Library Board of Trustees
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
January 2025
Happy New Year from the trustees and staff of the West Milford Township Library. 2025 promises to be an exciting and event-filled year at the WMTL. Many on-site and virtual activities and events for young children, teens, adults and seniors will be available throughout the year. Check out the library’s website (www.wmtl.org) and social media (Facebook and Instagram) for updates on program offerings.
If you haven’t been to the library in a while, be sure to stop by and take advantage of all that we have to offer. You will find a friendly and helpful staff. Whether you’re looking for a new book, a DVD, general information or something specific, our knowledgeable staff of library professionals can point you in the right direction and help you to find what it is you are looking for. Think of them as “information sleuths,” ready to assist you in your search.
When you walk into the library, you will find the friendly faces of our library assistants at the circulation desk. They can direct you to our reference desk where a knowledgeable professional librarian will guide you through our extensive collection of over 55,000 volumes, or assist you with any of the library’s public computers and copier. Did you know that as a library cardholder you may submit copy from your home computer directly to the library for printing? Submit and then stop by the library where your printed materials will be waiting for you. It’s that easy.
Looking for help learning a foreign language? Your library has language learning software to assist you. Speaking of languages, the library recently expanded its collection of Polish and Spanish language reading materials. The library houses two private study rooms which patrons may reserve, and the library’s public computers are available to bring the world to your doorstep.
As the community’s information, entertainment, technology and cultural center, WMTL has so much to offer. For example, the staff of the Dr. Joan Oberer Children’s Room hosts numerous activities and programs designed to introduce pre-school children to rudimentary language and reading skills. Teens and Young Adults may take advantage of a plethora of programs targeted to their interests and tastes. In 2024, the library sponsored 444 programs for juveniles and more than 200 programs for adults. A number of children’s programs are aligned with grade level curricula of the local schools, such as the “summer reading challenge” for students in all grades as well as adults. Last summer 333 students and adults participated in this six- week program.
Finally, when you are in the library, find a comfortable chair in the first floor reading nook where many newspapers and periodicals are located at your fingertips. Relax and take a moment for yourself to indulge in all that WMTL, your community resource, has to offer. The library is open 59 hours, seven days a week. We look forward to seeing you.
Best regards for a Happy and Healthy 2025,
Jim Rogers, President
West Milford Township Library Board of Trusteees