RECIPE FOR READING: “We are set apart  by our size. We are small, and offer a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. At the same time, we are an up-to-date modern library with the technology of today and the latest books in all areas, as well as local history and genealogical records of Hopewell and an extensive collection of Lindbergh material, all offering interesting research opportunities.” Hopewell Public Library Director Barbara Merry is shown in front of the library’s historic building.

By Jean Stratton

“The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,

And all the sweet serenity of books.”

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Sequestered nooks” provides an apt description of what one finds at the Hopewell Public Library at 13 East Broad Street.

It offers a more intimate setting than many modern libraries today, and is filled with many nooks and crannies, offering surprises, and indeed, the “sweet serenity of books.”

However, it is much more.

Libraries open up new worlds — and the books within, opportunities for great adventures.

Old Harness Shop

The Hopewell Public Library itself has a history all its own. It was founded in 1914 when members of the Roundabout Club, an organization dedicated to social and intellectual pursuits, invested $200 to open a borough library in the old harness shop on West Broad Street at Mercer Street. A year later, it moved to the second floor of Fireman’s Hall on Seminary Avenue. In 1917, the library became a municipal library through a public referendum, and began receiving funding from the Hopewell Borough Council.

The library was immediately popular, and according to its mission statement, “As of October 1916, with a Borough population of 1,200, the library had 680 active patrons, owned more than 1,300 books, and had circulated 10,127 books during the past year. The library quickly outgrew its new space, moved to 28 East Broad Street in 1924, and shared this new space with the Hopewell Museum. In 1965, it moved to its current location in the former National Bank building.”

Keeping up-to-date with the technological advances, the library “automated” in 2009, continues the statement. “Patrons were issued HPL bar-coded library cards, and all items now have HPL (Hopewell Public Library) bar-coded labels. An online catalog replaced the physical card catalog, and the online catalog can be searched by patrons in the library and from home.

“We believe HPL was the last public library in New Jersey to automate, but one of the first in the state to use an integrated library system that is ‘open source’ (Koha) — a new direction for libraries.”

Special Place

HPL is a special place in the community, points out Director Barbara Merry, who first joined the library in 2019 as a volunteer, becoming director in 2022. Her background in literature, including a doctorate in French literature, gave her a valuable rich engagement with books and a unique experience to bring to the library.

“I knew about books and reading habits,” she explains. “This is a very interactive library. The staff is very involved with the patrons. We know what people are reading. We are always there with advice about books, new and old, as well as the technology we have available. We offer access to copier, scanner, and fax machines, and a community bulletin board.

“We are really a community gathering place, almost like an old-fashioned general store. Many of the patrons know each other, and enjoy our relaxed, welcoming environment. Some people spend time looking for books, others work on the computers, and others are doing research. Many people spend an hour or more here, and some come every week, and even every day!”

About 1,800 people currently have cards, which are free to Hopewell residents. Cards are also available to those outside the area for $20.

Books may be kept for two weeks, and there are no overdue fines. Typically, 600 books circulate per month, equally divided among adult and children’s titles. The library has an inter-library loan program with other libraries and also a borrowing arrangement with Princeton and Rutgers universities.

Books, newspapers, magazines, e-books, CDs, and DVDs are all popular, with a wide range of categories of interest to readers, reports Merry. “We have a comprehensive database, and people can go to our website for information.”

New Books

As director, Merry oversees a staff of five employees and four to 10 volunteers. With the help of the staff, she administers the operation, including obtaining books and materials.

“Due to our size, we have limited space for books,” she points out. “We follow the New York Times Book Review, and we work with the Baker & Taylor company, which orders books from publishers for libraries. We typically get 25 to 30 new books per month, and we have sales for older ones, which aren’t circulating, to make room for new ones. Thirteen thousand books are currently available.”

The library is funded primarily by the municipality, but also by support from foundations, individual donors, bake sales, and other events. “We have an annual fundraiser,” says Merry, “and this year it is the Hidden Gardens of Hopewell Valley tour, to be held August 19.”

Children’s Department

Readers come in for books of all kinds, she reports. Fiction, non-fiction, history, biographies, memoirs, those about gardening, space, animals, and more.

“Mysteries are always popular, and really, books on all subjects, including short stories, essays, and reference books. Regarding  the Lindbergh collection, it is of added interest that the headquarters for the reporters covering the trial was in the building next door to us. A new restaurant is being built there now.”

The library has a thriving children’s books department, including a wide-ranging program of events and activities. Many children visit the upstairs where small tables and chairs are available for them to spend time with a new book or activity.

The children’s room has recently been repainted and refurbished, offering a bright new look. It will be completed in August, ready for the children to enjoy the special opportunities there.

“Kids love to come here,” says Children’s Librarian Julie Johnson. “We have everything from picture books for the youngest kids to those for beginning readers, as well as choices for teens and young adults.”

Classics like Winnie the Pooh are still favorites, she reports, as are the popular Mo Willems books and the Harry Potter selection. They also like animal stories, such as the Elephant and Piggie series.

“Books about space, the ocean, and biographies are also popular with the kids,” adds Johnson.

The library encourages children to read, and that they are responding is immensely satisfying for the staff. Watching kids becoming inspired, excited, and entertained by a book instead of an electronic device is evidence of a major achievement!

Programs and Events

The library also offers many programs and events for children. Pre-Story Time, Cooking with Friends, Mad Science, Be Kind to Bees, Eyes of the Wild, and All Together Now are just some of the activities.   

“We have activities for kids every month,” points out Johnson. “For example, our Mother Goose program included reading the book and then creating drawings about it. The Flutter By event teaches kids about birds, and they make bird whistles to take home.

“Our summer reading program, All Together Now, was launched with an ice cream social this month, with the idea of getting the kids to read during the summer.”

The idea is that the kids can set their own goal, she explains. They sign a pledge to read a certain number of books according to their age category, and then at the end of the summer, report their progress. The library will provide a variety of prizes, honoring their achievement.

Numerous programs, activities, and classes are also available for adults. Book clubs, cook book clubs (involving the preparation and sharing of a recipe they have read about), felting and quilting classes, and drum circle, among others, are all offered.

Some of the events and classes are held at the library, while others are in other locations, including the railroad station/community center, the gazebo, and the Presbyterian Church.

Welcoming Center

“We have events once or twice a week, and some once a month,” says Merry. “They are all popular. It is another way for people to interact with each other, face-to-face. This is so important now. After COVID, people very much wanted to get together, be involved, communicate, and share interests.”

HPL is a special place, she emphasizes. “It is the cultural heart of the community. Through its collections, programs, and services, the library is a welcoming center for information, discovery, enrichment, and lifelong learning for people of all ages. Also, we build on the strength of the previous generation, while we are aware that new people are interested in new things.”

She enjoys being able to help patrons with their reading choices, and increasing their reading opportunities.

“I enjoy matching a person with a book,” she explains. “Some people ask us for advice and help looking for a particular title. I also like deciding what books to bring in. This is a chance to add to the enrichment and reading pleasure of our patrons. And in such a special place!”

The library is open Monday and Tuesday 12 to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 12 to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (609) 466-1625 and visit the website at redlibrary.org.