In my opinion: Freehold Public Library

First of all, I’d like to clarify that my opinions are strictly my own, and not those of the Freehold Public Library.

For those of you who don’t know, the Freehold Public Library (the Carnegie library downtown on East Main street), serves Freehold Borough.  As an independent library, it is something of an island in the surrounding sea of the Monmouth County Library System.  If you want to borrow materials from the Freehold Public Library, you must live, work, or go to school in Freehold Borough.  Or buy an annual membership (a great value).

Anyway, for those of you who don’t already know it, there’s something just a little bit special about the Freehold Public Library.

Yes, it’s a lovely old building.  “Classic Carnegie” architectural style.  It has been well-maintained over the years, and hardly changed at all (for better or worse) since it was erected in 1903. 

But that’s not what makes this library special. 

Perhaps it’s the noise.  Sometimes people complain that the library isn’t quiet enough.  It’s true…there’s no space designated for strict quietness.  The building’s just too busy for that, though sometimes the children’s room is relatively silent (during school hours). 

Maybe it’s the traffic.  People come through the library with astonishing unpredictability.  It’s occasionally slow, but more-often-than-not, people are there to check-out what’s going on as well as to check-out materials.  People stop by during lunch breaks or to use the computers; to use the copy machine or scan the newspapers.  Students come in after school, some with parents, others by themselves or in energetic little packs.  Some people come in and seem to just soak-up the atmosphere, perhaps not “doing anything” except exchanging a friendly greeting with other patrons and with the staff.

Speaking of staff, could it be the staff that make the library special?  Here, I dare say, I flatter myself to be counted among them.  Again, in my opinion, you won’t find a set of staff who truly cares more about the community than you will at Freehold Public Library.  While not large in number, we nevertheless make a big effort to be welcoming and helpful.   

But, honestly, upon reflection, what makes this library truly special are the people who, in fact, are the library, from wherever they come. 

I read an article recently about “life saving libraries,” and I see how our little library is one of those.  It provides a home for the community to come together, to share ideas, to exchange information, to argue points and conspire to dream.  To leave the world outside for just a little while.  And while the library has books, computers, movies, magazines, and all the normal library stuff, what our library can particularly boast is that it has a heart and soul…it is one of those special places that breathes with the life of its people. 

And, so, as one of those people, perhaps my opinions are the opinions of Freehold Public Library.  And, as a part of this community, so are yours.