The Franklin Township Public Library is proud to host four separate screenings of the 29th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival! This festival is a worldwide event, taking place in over 500 venues across six continents between September 30th and October 3rd, 2026! Beginning on the 30th, attendees will join film lovers from around the world to simultaneously watch and vote for their favorite short film at the end of each screening.
Please click on one of the following dates to register. Please note: each individual screening below features all ten short films; you only need to sign up for one date to view all of the finalists!
We have a full calendar of events planned at all library locations for this upcoming month, September 2026! Click here for our full calendar, which also includes young adult and children’s programs.
Standing Tall Against Falls (Presented by the Somerset County Dept. of Health – Tuesday, 9/1 at 11am. DeMott Lane Branch.
In this workshop, participants will identify fall risk factors, understand how frequently falls happen in older adults, learn the potential consequences of falls, and discover ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle to lower fall risk. They will also explore strategies for preventing falls and know the steps to take if a fall happens. Click here to register.
Open Books, Open Minds: Historical Fiction Book Club – Thursday, 9/10 at 1:45pm. Franklin Park Branch.
Join us for a discussion of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith. A limited number of copies of the book will be available for pick up at the Franklin Park Branch Library beginning July 30. Registration is not required.
Ageless Grace – Tuesday, 9/15 at 1:30pm. Franklin Park Branch.
Men and women are joining in the fun of this evidence-based seated exercise, using the cutting edge science of neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to change. Every class is different and uses imagination/creativity, memory/recall, kinesthetic learning, analytical thinking, and strategic planning. Click here to register.
The New Yorker Short Story Club – Friday, 9/18 at 11am. Franklin Park Branch.
Each Month we will discuss a short story published in the New Yorker Magazine. This month we will discuss “Pig Lab” by Will Mackin from the July 6 – 13, 2026 issue.
You can access the story through the Pressreader app, or by checking out the magazine from the library. See us as the Franklin Park Branch if you need help getting a copy of the story.
The Cranberry Lacemakers of Central New Jersey – Saturday, 9/19 from 10:30am to 4:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Experience the dynamic, centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making.
Join the Cranberry Lacemakers to experience and learn the fun, dynamic centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making. The group is actively seeking new members who would like to learn and preserve this craft. Email Celeste for more information about the group or if you would like to try a pattern.
No registration required, walk-ins welcome!
Save a Life Day Table – Thursday 9/24 from 2pm to 4pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Save-a-Life Day is an initiative to distribute free Naloxone/Narcan and raise awareness about overdoses. Stop by the Community Room between 2:00 and 4:00 for life-saving resources and information.
Manhattan Short Film Festival – Wednesday, 9/30 from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Join film lovers from around the world for the 29th annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival. Audiences in over 500 cities spanning 6 continents unite for one week to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world. Attendees will view the films before voting for their choice for best film and best actor at the conclusion of the program. Please note that some or all of the films may contain adult content or language not intended for children. Learn more about the festival here.
The library will host four screenings, and each showing is the same. The non-English films are shown with subtitles. The room will open approximately 15 minutes before showtime. There is a ten minute intermission halfway through the films.
Registration is required but walk-ins are welcome as long as there is space. This is an on-site, in-person program. If you have any questions regarding the library’s policies and programming, please call us at 732-873-8700 x 111. The library reserves the right to reschedule programs.
For any questions about upcoming library events, please call the reference desk at 732-873-8700 opt. 3 or leave a comment below.
We have a full calendar of events planned at all library locations for this upcoming month, June 2026! Click here for our full calendar, which also includes young adult and children’s programs.
Ageless Grace – Tuesday, 6/16 at 1:30pm. Franklin Park Branch.
Men and women are joining in the fun of this evidence-based seated exercise, using the cutting edge science of neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to change. Every class is different and uses imagination/creativity, memory/recall, kinesthetic learning, analytical thinking, and strategic planning. Click here to register.
Artists’ Eyes on the American Revolution – Tuesday, 6/16 at 6:30pm. Virtual Event.
Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) produced more than 1,000 portraits in his lifetime as he worked in eight cities: Newport, Rhode Island; Edinburgh; London; Dublin; New York; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and Boston. Renowned for the accuracy of his likenesses, Stuart painted the most important Americans of his time, including presidents. His portrait of George Washington is on the one-dollar bill. Stuart could be a charming conversationalist, drawing out his sitters’ personalities (though not every story he told was true). Works of art from East Coast institutions will be highlighted in the talk. Click here to register.
Presented by art historian Michael Norris. Mike got his BA in classics from the University of California at San Diego and his MA in classics and Ph.D. in art history at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He spent twenty years at the Cloisters Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and has lectured on trips all over the world. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Part of our American Revolution Art History Lecture Series; click here to learn about and register for our section lecture in July.
The Cranberry Lacemakers of Central New Jersey – Saturday, 6/20 from 10:30am to 4:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Experience the dynamic, centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making.
Join the Cranberry Lacemakers to experience and learn the fun, dynamic centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making. The group is actively seeking new members who would like to learn and preserve this craft. Email Celeste for more information about the group or if you would like to try a pattern.
No registration required, walk-ins welcome!
The Franklin Park Tragedy: A Forgotten Story – Monday, 6/22 at 6:30pm. Franklin Park Branch.
“The Franklin Park Tragedy, A Forgotten Story of Racial Injustice in New Jersey” (The History Press) provides a detailed account of the Franklin Park Tragedy murders of March 1, 1894, when Lucretia Baker and her daughter, Gertrude, were murdered in their home and her husband, Moore Baker, fought off the two African American attackers and killed them. The second part of the tragedy involves the group blame of the African American residents of the area and the expulsion of some of those residents by the Franklin Park vigilante society called the Mutual Endeavor Society. Lynchings, expulsions, and sundown town designations, which are normally associated with southern states during this era, are shown to have been contemplated by Franklin Park, New Jersey residents.
Author Brian Armstrong used surviving historical records, land records, and personal stories to demonstrate how the Great Migration of African American families from the South in the twentieth century, with the help of a new group of white farmers, changed the “sundown town” designation for the Franklin Park area. This community change began with the arrival of the Colemans and other families in the 1920s which was the beginning of the transformation of Franklin Park into the diverse place that it is today. Armstrong will also discuss prominent African American citizens of the Franklin Park area who worked on the farms and in some cases owned land during the 1800s, the role of the media in the racial issues of this era.
Preventing Tick Borne Diseases – Tuesday, 6/23 from 11am to 12:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Get information on tick borne diseases, how to prevent them, and how to identify common ticks from the Somerset County Department of Health.
Visit the Somerset County Department of Health website here.
Registration is appreciated but not required to attend!
Tap Away Stress – Wednesday 6/24 at 11am. DeMott Lane Branch.
How often do you find yourself thinking about how stressed out you are? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple technique to gain control over your emotions and lower stress? Well, there is! It’s called Emotional Freedom Techniques or “tapping.” More than 120 clinical studies have shown that tapping on certain pressure points on our upper body can reduce fear, worry, frustration, overwhelm and other emotions that tend to keep us stuck. It can even help reduce chronic pain.
Alicia Grey, a certified EFT practitioner, will offer a workshop to introduce you to this incredible self-help tool.
We have a full calendar of events planned at all library locations for this upcoming month, May 2026! Click here for our full calendar, which also includes young adult and children’s programs.
Health Screenings for Adults – Tuesday, 5/5 from 2pm to 4pm, Franklin Park Branch AND Tuesday, 5/19 from 4pm to 6pm, DeMott Lane.
A nurse from the Somerset County Department of Health will be offering free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. No registration required.
Advanced Beginner Sewing Class for Adults – Friday, 5/8 and 5/15 at 11am. Franklin Park.
Over the course of two sessions, adults will make their own small tote bag. This class is intended for adults with some sewing experience. Please plan to attend both sessions. Registration begins May 1 at 10:15am. Registration is required.
Colonial Tea Tastings @ Lewis Street – Wednesday, 5/13 at 3pm. Lewis Street.
Join us for a lovely chat about colonial N.J. while enjoying Boston Tea Party tea and British shortbread cookies! Colonial Tea Tastings will be a series of 5 “America 250” monthly events. No registration required.
The Cranberry Lacemakers of New Jersey – Saturday, 5/16 from 10:30am to 4:30pm. DeMott Lane.
Join the Cranberry Lacemakers to experience and learn the fun, dynamic centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making. The group is actively seeking new members who would like to learn and preserve this craft. Email Celeste for more information about the group or if you would like to try a pattern. No registration required, walk-ins welcome!
Be Wise About Your Medications – Presented by the Somerset County Department of Health – Tuesday, 5/19 at 11am. DeMott Lane.
Learn about medications, covering both generic and brand name drugs. Become familiar with the effects of medications, including allergic reactions, side effects, adverse drug events, and common drug interactions, while also learning how to use medications safely and responsibly.
A presentation from the HealthEASE Health Education Curriculum from NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Visit the Somerset County Department of Health website here.
Open Book, Open Minds: Historical Fiction Book Club – Thursday, 5/21 at 1:45pm. Franklin Park.
Join us for a discussion of Madame Fourcade’s Secret War: The daring young woman who led France’s largest spy network against Hitler by Lynne Olson. A limited number of copies the book are available for pick up at the Franklin Park Branch Library. Registration is not required.
Tap Away Stress – Wednesday, 5/27 at 11am. DeMott Lane.
How often do you find yourself thinking about how stressed out you are? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple technique to gain control over your emotions and lower stress? Well, there is! It’s called Emotional Freedom Techniques or “tapping.” More than 120 clinical studies have shown that tapping on certain pressure points on our upper body can reduce fear, worry, frustration, overwhelm and other emotions that tend to keep us stuck. It can even help reduce chronic pain.
Alicia Grey, a certified EFT practitioner, will offer a workshop to introduce you to this incredible self-help tool.
Community Cookbook Swap and Recipe Demonstration – Saturday, 5/30 from 12pm to 3pm. DeMott Lane.
Tired of the same recipes? Want to spice up your meals? If so, come swap the cookbooks you never use for some new-to-you ones! Come in, take a cookbook off the table and replace it with one of your own. It’s simple and free. You can swap up to 5 cookbooks, but if you don’t have a book to swap, you are still welcome to attend and take a book. As people swap, the selection of books will keep changing.
In addition, Rebecca from Three Birds Farm will be set up with samples of sourdough bread, a butter making demonstration, and she will be available to answer questions and share recipes.
Drop by any time between noon and 3:00 PM, and stay as long as you’d like. No need to register!
For any questions about upcoming library events, please call the reference desk at 732-873-8700 opt. 3 or leave a comment below.
We have a full calendar of events planned at all library locations for this month, April 2026! Click here for our full calendar, which also includes young adult and children’s programs.
New Jersey Shipwrecks – Wednesday, 4/8 at 6:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Going back centuries, many ships have crashed into the New Jersey coast–and many of their remnants remain underwater to this day. Shipwreck diver Dan Lieb will present on nearly 300 years of shipwreck activity in New Jersey waters. Dan will discuss the identification of several shipwreck sites that were misnamed or nicknamed obscuring their past and causes of wrecking. Learn how the tools of underwater archeology were used to identify some of these sites.
Presenter Dan Lieb has led and participated in dozens of archaeological expeditions to map shipwrecks in New Jersey and the surrounding region for more than 30 years.
Bone Up Your Health – Tuesday, 4/14 at 11am. DeMott Lane Branch.
Learn to recognize risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures, adopt lifestyle changes to prevent osteoporosis, understand the daily calcium needs for healthy strong bones, and explore ways to prevent falls.
A presentation from the HealthEASE Health Education Curriculum from NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Vitis the Somerset County Department of Health website here.
The Cranberry Lacemakers of Central New Jersey – Saturday, April 18 from 10:30am to 4:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Join the Cranberry Lacemakers to experience and learn the fun, dynamic centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making. The group is actively seeking new members who would like to learn and preserve this craft. Email Celeste for more information about the group or if you would like to try a pattern.
No registration required, walk-ins welcome!
Meet the Author: Amy Jo Burns – Saturday, April 18 at 11am. Franklin Park Branch.
FTPL welcomes the return of local author Amy Jo Burns! Join us for a discussion of Amy’s books, including her newest book, “Wait for Me.”
Amy Jo Burns returns to the Franklin Township Public Library to discuss her books, including her newest book, Wait for Me, the “Read with Jenna” March book club selection.
Copies of Wait for Me will be available for purchase at the event for $25, cash only.
Protect Franklin Township’s Night Sky – Wednesday, 4/22 at 6pm. DeMott Lane Branch.
Go “dark” this April in support of International Dark Sky Week. Learn about light pollution and the environmental impact of artificial light at night, including how excessive lighting affects wildlife, human health, and our night sky. You’ll also learn simple, practical steps you can take to reduce light pollution in your neighborhood. Please click here to register.
Tap Away Stress – Wednesday, 4/29 at 11am. DeMott Lane Branch.
How often do you find yourself thinking about how stressed out you are? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple technique to gain control over your emotions and lower stress? Well, there is! It’s called Emotional Freedom Techniques or “tapping.” More than 120 clinical studies have shown that tapping on certain pressure points on our upper body can reduce fear, worry, frustration, overwhelm and other emotions that tend to keep us stuck. It can even help reduce chronic pain.
Alicia Grey, a certified EFT practitioner, will offer a workshop to introduce you to this incredible self-help tool.
Come check out our craft swap on Saturday, 3/28/26 from 11am to 12pm at the DeMott Lane branch! You’ll find tables of arts and crafts supplies for all ages for the taking, donated by fellow crafters. Take home some free, new-to-you supplies to get you started on a new project. The swap is open to all: you do not need to donate supplies or register in order to participate!
Please note that items to be donated must be dropped off prior to the swap only during the designatedtime(3/23 through 3/27). Items brought to the swap will not be accepted.
What will you make with your pile of new (to you) supplies? We have put together a list of crafting books to help give you a few ideas! All titles included in this list are available in print at the library.
Learn tips, techniques, and tools for how to protect yourself online from scams and threats, from New Jersey’s cybersecurity experts in this informative session May 19th from 6:30-7:30pm at Demott Lane.
This session is presented by The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC), the State’s one-stop shop for cybersecurity information sharing, threat analysis, and incident reporting. We will discuss cybersecurity basics, threat actors, types of attacks and how to best protect yourself in the digital age.
Registration is appreciated but walk-ins are welcome! Registration can be found here.
Learn from an experienced naturalist about great spots across New Jersey for birding, including what you can expect to find, and what makes a location a great area for bird activity. This multimedia presentation will get you excited to look in your neighborhood, local park or backyard for our state’s exceptional range of migratory and year-round birds. Lindsay will also draw on her experience supporting bird banding research to share insights into how concerned community members are using science to learn about, monitor, and protect birds.
We’ve put together a reading list of some excellent books on birdwatching, including guides, introductions, and memoirs about how transformative the hobby can be!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the library’s first-ever craft swap last Saturday! We received many wonderful donations of supplies of all kinds, from yarn and fabric to markers and beads and everything in between. Everyone who attended the swap appreciated the chance to give these items a new home and save them from the landfill while also saving money. Together, we helped hundreds of items find a new purpose.
This program was part of the library’s observance of “Makers Day,” an annual statewide celebration of making of all kinds at New Jersey libraries. We hope that the supplies you picked up during the swap will inspire you to make something new!
Today, March 20th, marks the first day of Spring! Spring brings warmer weather, blooming flowers, and new programs at the library! Start the season off right with some of our upcoming April programs!
Butterfly Count – All Ages – All Month Long – DeMott Lane
Families can work together to count all the butterflies in the Children’s Area at DeMott Lane… earning one FREE Children’s Book Sale coupon! One coupon per family in April 2025. Expires 5/5/2025.
Sit n’ Stitch – Adults – April 3 and April 23 – Franklin Park
Share your current projects with fellow crafters! Spend some time with other crafters and work on your current knitting, crocheting, or other needle craft project. This event will be held Thursday, April 3 from 6:30pm – 7:45pm and Wednesday, April 23 from 11:00am – 12:00pm at Franklin Park.
DIY: Cookie Decorating Class – Adults – April 9 – Demott Lane
Learn how to create beautifully decorated cookies with Emily, the owner of Emily’s Bake Shop. This event will be held Wednesday, April 9 from 11:00am – 12:00pm at Demott Lane. Registration is required and will open on March 26 at 10:15am.
DIY: Cardmaking Workshop – Adults – April 14 and April 16 – Franklin Park
Make your own handmade cards! Join Fran, a Stampin’ Up representative, for an engaging workshop where you’ll learn how to create beautiful handmade cards. This event will be held Monday, April 14 from 6:00pm – 7:00pm and Wednesday, April 16 from 11:00am – 12:00pm at Franklin Park. Please register for one class. Registration is required and can be found here for April 14 and here for April 16.
Carrot Patch Pudding Cups – Teens – April 17 – Franklin Park
Come prepared to make them and eat them! Open to students ages 12-17. Ingredients: Instant chocolate pudding mix, milk, pretzels, orange and green candy melts, store bought brownie bites, sprinkles. Attendees may be using library equipment. As with any equipment, there is a potential for harm and attendees participate at their own risk. This event will be held Thursday, April 17 from 6:00pm – 7:00pm at Franklin Park. Registration is required and can be found here.
Birdy Jerz: Birding in New Jersey – Adults – April 24 – Demott Lane
Learn from an experienced naturalist about great spots across New Jersey for birding, including what you can expect to find, and what makes a location a great area for bird activity. This multimedia presentation will get you excited to look in your neighborhood, local park or backyard for our state’s exceptional range of migratory and year-round birds. Lindsay will also draw on her experience supporting bird banding research to share insights into how concerned community members are using science to learn about, monitor, and protect birds. This event will be held Thursday, April 24 from 6:30pm – 7:30pm at Demott Lane. Registration is appreciated and can be found here.
Paint and Sip: Lavender Blooms – Adults – April 30 – Demott Lane
Adults are welcome to join us and paint a floral canvas and enjoy (non-alcoholic!) beverages. All supplies and drinks are provided, just bring your creativity! Presented by Jennifer Moy of Art Sink. This event will be held Wednesday, April 30 from 4:30pm – 6:00pm at Demott Lane. Registration is required and will open on April 1 at 10:15 AM. This is a popular program that usually fills up quickly. If your plans chance, please let us know or cancel your registration as early as possible so that others who are interested may take your spot.
