1893
THE AT-HOME LIBRARY
In 1893, the library was relocated to the home of Mary and Elizabeth Barkalow to what is now 31 S. Finley Ave (pictured). The Barkalow sisters housed the library in exchange for free memberships and were eventually awarded salaries of $1/week.
1898
THE BOWLING ALLEY LIBRARY
In 1898 the library moved to its third site, a house located at 23 Main Street (South Finley Avenue) and owned by Samuel S. Childs, which is the current location of Ridge Restaurant. The building was remodeled by Mr. Childs for use as a library and included a room with a small stage for community use. He later added two steel bowling alleys in the basement, presenting the Basking Ridge Free Circulating Library with two sets of pins and three balls for the alley, believing that the money generated could provide income for them. The alleys became a large part of the library’s operation. Mr. Childs continued to supply the bowling pins and balls when necessary, and underwrote alley maintenance. The initial collection included 500 books, with an additional 75 donated by Franklin Conklin. Within three months there were 205 borrowers.
1899
EARLY LIBRARY BENEFACTORS
The support Samuel and Emma Childs was instrumental in the early success of the Library. In addition to the remodeling and addition of the bowling alley to the library building located at 23 South Finley, they continued to support the library in many ways, including the donation of nine new bookcases in 1914 and new lighting fixtures in 1923. In 1929, Emma Childs donated the building for the Library’s new location on the corner of West Oak Street and financed its remodeling in her late husband’s memory.
1909
THE LANDLORD LIBRARY
The library moved to its 4th location, on the corner of West Oak and North Finley. The remodel included a duplex apartment to be used as a source of income for the library.
April 16, 1917 — November 11, 1918
SUPPORT FOR THE TROOPS
During World War I, library trustees collected funds for soldiers’ libraries. The Library also collected and sent 256 books and 415 magazines to Fort Dix and Fort Merritt Hall
1947
WHO’S CALLING?
For the first time, a telephone was installed in the library.
April 1961
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
During National Library Week, 750 Bernards school children visited the Library and received bookmarks.
1970
THE FUTURE IS NOW!
Anne Ryan shows off the library’s first microfilm reader. This piece of equipment made it possible to store the full run of the Bernardsville News and the New York Times, something that would have been impossible due to the large amounts of storage space that would have required.
May 1973
32 S. MAPLE AVE. CLEARED FOR NEW LIBRARY
In preparation for building a new library, demolition began on the Maple Street School to clear the land at 32 South Maple Avenue.
1974
NOT JUST BOOKS!
1974 saw the addition of cutting-edge AV equipment that could be loaned or used in the library.
1976
LEISURE LEARNING BEGINS
Program Coordinator Helen Mallon and Director Anne Ryan apply for a grant and receive the initial funds to start the popular Leisure Learning program in 1976.
1990
GOODBYE, CARD CATALOG!
The library catalog becomes available online.
1997
MAIN EXPANDS BTL’S REACH
The library joined the Main Library Alliance, providing easy access for our users to over 2 million items.
1999 — 2016
SECOND CENTURY DONOR TREE
The library mounts a big fundraising campaign to raise money for a large addition. Individual donors “buy a leaf ” for the two-story tree in the stairwell. For more information, visit www.bernardslibrary.org/second…
October 22, 2012 — November 5, 2012
HURRICANE SANDY STRIKES
After Hurricane Sandy knocked out power, water and internet to residents for over a week, the library became the place to charge devices, warm up, pick up water and MREs and just relax.
February 2017
CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE!
The Space Reorganization project culminated with the opening of the library’s new staircase. This project reallocated space to create the new Teen Room, the Quiet Study Room, the Technology Center and the study area near the elevator.
2018
中文藏書
Our first Adult collection of non-English language books and media is launched in time for the 2016 Lunar New Year. The new collection was the result of a collaborative effort among community members who read Chinese, library staff, and the Friends of Bernards Township Library.
March 2020 — May 2020
COVID-19
COVID-19 forces BTL to close its doors in March 2020. As a result, the Library expands its collection of E-materials and virtual programs. Patrons tuned in to virtual storytime, lectures, tech class and book groups on Zoom, Youtube and Instagram Live.
2023
BTL CELEBRATES 125 YEARS!
Today the library is open 64 hours a week, has almost 17,000 registered users, over 140,000 physical items and loaned 409,636 items in 2018.
