JUNE 2024: CATALOG SYSTEM UPDATE!
Our Library system will be going “offline” starting next Monday, 6/3, to allow for our system upgrade.
We thank you in advance for your patience during this time of reduced services. Please see lmxac.org/upgrade for more details!
JULY 2023: Notary Services are BACK!
We are back to offering Notary Services!
Notary Service is $2.50 per signature. Cash only.
Notary Hours:
Monday 3pm – 5pm
Tuesday 3pm – 5pm
Wednesday 3pm – 5pm
Or via appointment
Please always give us a call before coming to ensure the Notary is in the building!
MARCH 15, 2022 UPDATE: MASKS NOW OPTIONAL
FEBRUARY 7, 2022 UPDATE: LIBRARY IS FULLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
LIBRARY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC STARTING JANUARY 3, 2022 Walkup/Pickup Service Resumes
DUE TO RISING COVID RATES, THE LIBRARY WILL BE RETURNING TO WALKUP/PICKUP SERVICE ONLY
STARTING MONDAY, JANUARY 3.
The Library will be CLOSED to the public starting Monday, January 3.
Material requests and reference questions can be made
via phone at (732) 356-6602
or via email at reference@middlesexlibrarynj.org
To print documents, please email your files to printers@middlesexlibrarynj.org
WALKUP/PICKUP WILL BE LOCATED IN THE FRONT VESTIBULE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE LIBRARY.
MASKS ARE MANDATORY.
NO patrons will be permitted to enter the facility past the front vestibule.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our staff and community safe and healthy during this time!
For the most up to date information on openings and services, please visit our website!
FULL HOURS HAVE RETURNED!
Starting JULY 12, 2021
Please continue to enter through Community Room doors and exit through Circulation main doors
Mondays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Tuesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Wednesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Thursdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Fridays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 5pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 5pm
Saturdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am-2pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am-2pm
Sundays
CLOSED
EXTENDING OUR HOURS!
As of June 7, 2021
Mondays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 6pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Tuesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Wednesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 6pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Thursdays **UPDATED**
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Fridays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 5pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 5pm
Saturdays
Closed to public, staff only
Sundays
CLOSED
Procedures Update
REOPENING MAY 3!
We’re back, and safer than ever!
Please review the graphic below to learn about all the safety measures we are taking to keep our staff, patrons, and community healthy!
See you on May 3!
EXTENDING OUR HOURS!
As of June 7, 2021
Mondays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 6pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Tuesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Wednesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 6pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Thursdays **UPDATED**
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Fridays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 5pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 5pm
Saturdays
Closed to public, staff only
Sundays
CLOSED
Procedures Update
REOPENING MAY 3!
We’re back, and safer than ever!
Please review the graphic below to learn about all the safety measures we are taking to keep our staff, patrons, and community healthy!
See you on May 3!
EXTENDING OUR HOURS!
As of June 7, 2021
Mondays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 6pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Tuesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Wednesdays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 6pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 6pm
Thursdays **UPDATED**
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 8pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 8pm
Fridays
Walkup/Pickup: 10am – 5pm
Open Browsing Hours: 10am – 5pm
Saturdays
Closed to public, staff only
Sundays
CLOSED
Procedures Update
REOPENING MAY 3!
We’re back, and safer than ever!
Please review the graphic below to learn about all the safety measures we are taking to keep our staff, patrons, and community healthy!
See you on May 3!
WE'RE COMING BACK!!!!
WALKUP/PICKUP HOURS EXTENDED WITH FRIDAY SERVICE!
Our Walkup/Pickup service is now available five days a week! Get your goodies in time for the weekend – you can now request and pickup on FRIDAYS, 10am – 5pm!
Monday 10am – 6pm
Tuesday 10am – 8pm
Wednesday 10am – 6pm
Thursday 10am – 8pm
Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday, Sunday CLOSED
(requests made after 4pm Friday will be processed in the
order received, starting Monday morning)
PRINTING and COPYING AVAILABLE at WALKUP/PICKUP!
Pickup Printing Service
Email your document to printers@middlesexlibrarynj.org
> MUST put name and valid/current Library card number IN email <
> ONLY black and white, 8 1/2 x 11 paper <
> $0.20 per page <
> Wait for an email that your document is ready for pickup <
> Any document printed and not picked up will have $1, plus cost of printing, charged to Library card account <
Walkup Copy Service
Show up any time during Walkup/Pickup hours
> ONLY black and white, 8 1/2 x 11 paper <
> $0.20 per page <
> Staff will copy your document while you wait <
WALKUP/PICKUP HOURS EXTENDED!
While some of you may have heard the the governor has allowed libraries to open at a limited capacity, our physical building will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future. The maintenance required to in keep our very high trafficked building safe and clean for the community, especially our high risk patrons, is not something we can commit to with our limited resources. The safety and health of our staff and patrons is our utmost priority, especially during this troubling Covid-19 times, so our Board of Trustees has agreed to continue offering W/P services for extended hours, but not open the building.
What does this mean?
Printing, copying, and material check out WITH EXTENDED HOURS!
Monday 10am – 6pm
Tuesday 10am – 8pm
Wednesday 10am – 6pm
Thursday 10am – 8pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday CLOSED
We are ALWAYS available via phone and email (reference@middlesexlibrarynj.org) for reference queries and support
Readers advisory forms – let us help you choose what to read!
AND – coming soon – VIRTUALLY BROWSE OUR SHELVES! In the next few weeks, we will be adding a special function to our website that allows you to real time browse the offerings inside the library on our shelves! You may not be able to browse in person, but you WILL SOON be able to from the comfort of your own couch! Keep an eye on the website for this!
We will continue to update you all on our reopening phases via our website, at www.middlesexlibrarynj.org. As always, stay safe and well!
NOTARY SERVICE AVAILABLE!
We are pleased to announce that starting Tuesday, September 8, 2020, we will offer Notary Service at our Walkup/Pickup area on Mondays from 10am – 1pm and on Tuesdays from 5-8pm.
The cost is $2.00 per signature. Exact change is required. Due to Covid restrictions, we can not make change.
WALKUP/PICKUP SERVICE STARTS MONDAY JUNE 22!
As of Monday, June 15, Gov. Murphy has given the green light to Libraries to begin “curbside” contactless pickup/dropoff.
Along with most of our colleagues in NJ, we were following the strict Stay at Home orders from Gov. Murphy’s previous Executive Orders, and our staff have been working remotely. Now that we have the permission to start a new service AND allow staff back into the building, we are diligent about creating a safe and easy Walkup/Pickup procedure for our staff and our patrons!
This new service will start MONDAY, JUNE 22. As Interlibrary Loan has not safely restarted yet, this pickup is limited to ONLY items we currently have on our shelf, in our Middlesex library. We cannot place holds or obtain any materials from other libraries at this time.
Our Bookdrops are open, and all materials are quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours, as recommended by the CDC, before returning to the shelves. Therefore, you may notice a delay in items being removed from your account. Rest assured, NO fines are being accrued or charged – all fines have been suspended until at least July 31.
To pick up materials, park in the parking lot closest to the Community Room (the lot by Borough Hall). The Community Room doors will be open and you can pick up your materials there without entering the building. Don’t forget to wear your mask – keep our staff and yourself safe!
Check out this handy dandy graphic that explains how our new Walkup/Pickup service will work!
We can't wait to see you all soon!
LIBRARY CLOSED AS OF MARCH 16, 2020
Our physical doors may be closed, but our e-resources are ALWAYS open!
Click here for access to ebooks, movies, tv shows, audiobooks, and more!
The decision to close the Middlesex Public Library is not one that leadership takes lightly. We understand that now, more than ever, our patrons need accessibility to legitimate and factual information and sources. The Library is, and always has been, the trusted institution to bring that reliable information to an uncertain world.
The physical and emotional health of our patrons, staff, and community is our highest priority. Therefore, due to the increasingly rapid transmission of the novel Coronavirus/COVID-19, it is the decision of Library Director Chrissy George and the Middlesex Library Board of Trustees to close the Middlesex Public Library to its staff and the public, starting Monday, March 16. The Director and the Board will reevaluate this on a weekly basis.
As previously mentioned in our Preparedness Plan, it’s important to remember that cancelling programs and limiting certain services does not give in to panic. Removing opportunities for large groups of people in confined spaces results in a variety of indirect and direct ways of managing the spread of this virus – keeps the number of infected people lower, prevents medical systems from becoming overwhelmed, and buys time to allow the medical community to distribute and examine options. As the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), WHO (World Health Organization), and all of our national and statewide leaders, scientists, and epidemiologists have reported, “Social Distancing” is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of this virus, and the Middlesex Public Library intends to do our part in that as well.
RETURNING MATERIALS: ALL materials have extended and open ended due dates. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN MATERIALS TO OUR OUTDOOR BOOK DROP, OR LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY. YOU WILL NOT ACCRUE FINES ON ANY MATERIALS FROM NOW UNTIL MARCH 31. We encourage our patrons and our staff to stay home, and, thusly, our Book Drop will not be emptied on a regular basis, to ensure a reduction of transferring potential germs.
ALL PROGRAMS CANCELLED: AS OF MARCH 16, ALL PROGRAMS HELD IN THE LIBRARY – ADULT, CHILDREN, AND SCHEDULED/BOOKED MEETING ROOMS, AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS ARE CANCELLED. Library sponsored and independent programs using our meeting rooms are ALL CANCELLED. No exceptions.
CITIZENSHIP CLASS: CITIZENSHIP TEST CLASS….PLEASE CONTACT MR. JOHNSON FOR INFORMATION.AT 732 -447- 5548 OR lulu4836@ aol.com.
READY REFERENCE OPTIONS: We are always accessible via email to answer your reference queries. If you have questions and need our help, email us at Reference@middlesexlibrarynj.org, or send us a message on our Facebook page and we will be happy to provide you with the assistance you need.
PHONE ASSISTANCE: If you need to reach someone via phone, please call our main line. If staff is not available to answer immediately, please leave a voicemail message. Staff will be checking voicemail messages frequently, and someone will return your call as soon as we possibly can.
FACEBOOK AND WEBSITE: At this time, the BEST way to stay up to date on Library openings is on our Facebook page and our website. We will be updating both extremely frequently with information not only on closings, but important news links and ways to get thru the social distancing and self quarantining in the best ways possible, without going stir crazy. Check both our sites – we will help you navigate this situation! You can learn a new skill, enrich your current knowledge, visit museums and travel the world from your couch – we will make it possible!
DIGITAL RESOURCES: We encourage users to utilize the many digital remote services available as much as possible. We provide electronic access to a variety of library materials, including: Books and Audiobooks (Hoopla, Libby by Overdrive), Magazines (RBDigital), Music (Hoopla), and Movies and TV Shows (Hoopla). You can also view a complete list of all electronic resources and instructions on our website. We have increased our budget and limits for electronic resources in an effort to provide our community with continuing literacy and learning opportunities.
VIRTUAL “MOVE IT MIDDLESEX” STORYTIME: We are working with the Middlesex Borough Recreation Department to bring a VIRTUAL STORYTIME to our Facebook and to the Recreation’s Facebook. Once a day, we will be posting videos and live check in storytimes with the effort to get kids ages 2 and up to listen, read, interact, and MOVE. We don’t have exact times yet, but anticipate the storytimes to be uploaded starting Tuesday, March 17, and to be available to view in real time and at a later time, to fit into your child’s learning journey during the day/night. Keep an eye on the Library Facebook page, Recreation Facebook page, and the Library and Borough websites for more information on our “Move It Middlesex” Storytimes!
ONLINE CHILDREN’S BOOKS AND OTHER SERVICES: We have a variety of online kids’ books and websites that we can share to assist in virtual learning for our young patrons at this time. In the next few days our website will be updated with an array of services to encourage learning and literacy in this remote time. We are here to continue to support the journey of reading and learning; and this is the perfect time to tap into the creative abilities that transcend the paper pages.
HOLDS AND INTERLIBRARY LOAN: Holds and ILLs are suspended at this time. If you have placed a hold, it will be “on hold” until the Library reopens. The Library is not sending out or receiving holds at all.
PRIVILEGE RENEWALS: LMxAC (Libraries of Middlesex Consortium) has extended all Library Cards for an additional month at this time. If you need your PIN or card number, please call the Library and leave a voicemail, and someone will return your call as soon as possible. Library card numbers and pins are necessary to access our electronic materials.
This is an anxious time for our country, our state, and our town. The Library encourages you to use social media as a means of maintaining connections and avoiding isolation at this time. While we are in this crisis, technology can be a wonderful tool to help you continue to learn and communicate while also joining in the mutual goal of social distancing to manage this virus. Middlesex is a team, a close knit community, and together we will use all our resources to emerge MIDDLESEX STRONG and most of all, MIDDLESEX HEALTHY. We thank you for your patience and your flexibility in navigating and walking this unprecedented path with us!
We encourage all of our patrons to rely on verified and legitimate sources of information for news. Please visit the following websites to keep up to date with all the news on Coronavirus/COVID-19. And, of course – WASH YOUR HANDS!
HELPFUL LINKS:
State of NJ, Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The World Health Organization (WHO)
Videos from the CDC on COVID-19
CDC Department of Preparedness Twitter Feed
Fact Sheets for parents and children
National Public Radio (NPR) comic explaining Coronavirus for kids
Handwashing Reminder Signs
And also, it’s important to engage in emotional health checks and balances during situations such as this. Check here for information on how to control anxiety and emotions during this time.