Celebrate National Library Week from April 19th-25th with this year’s theme, “Find Your Joy!” There are so many ways to discover what brings you joy through the library, whether that be with a book, a program, a club, or something else! Find your joy at the library by:
Visiting us! We have three branches – Demott Lane, Franklin Park, and Lewis Street.
We have a number of both fiction and nonfiction books that focus on libraries, as well – they’re on display in the front of the fiction section, or you could look through them below.
April 13-20, 2026 is International Dark Sky Week, a global celebration of the night. This event is held every April and aims to highlight the importance of night while raising awareness about the harmful effects caused by light pollution on wildlife and humans.
On Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00pm, the library is hosting a program called Protect Franklin Township’s Night Sky, presented by DarkSky New Jersey Advocate and Franklin Township Astronomy Club leader Ron Urioste. Join us to 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. Learn more about the program and register here.
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out these books from our collection:
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.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the library’s craft supply 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 countless items find a new purpose. Some participants let us know that they planned to use the fake flowers they gathered from the swap to make cemetery wreaths to give away to grieving families, and one participant shared that she would use her new yarn to create blankets to donate to a shelter for families dealing with domestic violence. Many others were grateful to pick up arts and crafts supplies they could use for school projects, in their hobbies, and as a no-cost way to learn a new craft.
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!
If you’re interested in doing more swapping, the library is hosting a cookbook swap on Saturday, May 30 from noon until 3:00 PM. We will have our calendar listing on our website soon, which will feature information about the community partners who will also be present, offering demonstrations and recipe tips.
Spring is finally here! We thought it would be fun to share what we read and watched to keep us sane during the harrowing weather this winter. You can find all of these titles in our catalog by clicking the images below.
“I had a favorite this winter: Tom Clancy Executive Power. I really did enjoy it, here is my review from the Winter Reading Contest:
As a longtime Tom Clancy fan whose journey began with The Bear and the Dragon back in the 90s, I have high standards for the Ryanverse. I’ll admit, I went into this one with some hesitation. I am deeply invested in the Campus narrative with John Clark, and I didn’t have high hopes for a plot centered elsewhere at the start—even though Katie’s previous storylines have been addictive.
However, I was completely surprised by how much this book gripped me. Andrews & Wilson have stayed remarkably true to Clancy’s original spirit, delivering that signature mix of creative plotting, gritty realism, and meticulous historical and military accuracy.
The greatest strength of this book is the deep dive into Kyle Ryan. We get a level of insight into his character that we’ve never seen before, allowing him to truly step out of the shadows and command the narrative in a way that feels earned.
This story is a relentless “edge-of-your-seat” thriller. The authors do a masterclass job of keeping your attention through a series of high-octane sequences, including:
The intense attack on the American Embassy.
The claustrophobic tension of underground tunnel networks.
The climactic stakes at the Presidential Palace.
If you are looking for a book that honors the Clancy legacy while pushing the next generation of Ryans forward, this is it. A must-read for any fan of the series!” -Jay
“Perhaps the best interpretation of Wonder Woman I’ve read to date. Thompson writes a completely different version of Diana raised in Hell and trained by the witch Circe.”
“Bilquis Evely and Tom King reunite once more (they worked together on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). The rambunctious daughter of the late pulp author C. K. Cole learns that there may be more to her father’s Conan-like creation, Othan, than she first thought.”
“A rising force in the world of horror fiction. While we don’t (yet) have her recently Stoker award nominated Teenage Girls Can Be Demons we do have a collection of her other works including the fantasy murder mystery No Gods for Drowning (recently re-published) and reality and identity shattering cosmic horror A Game in Yellow.”
“By far the most devastating title I read during the tail end of 2025. Not for the faint of heart this title focuses on Crane, a trans man, who is sheltered by a hive of parasitic worms in the Appalachian mountains. His sanctuary is threated by an unexpected pregnancy. What unfolds is a emotionally shattering look at bodily autonomy and identity.” -Mike
“My pick is Wait For Me by Amy Jo Burns. Amy lives in Franklin Township and her new book was chosen as the March book for the Read with Jenna Book club on the Today Show.
The story concerns a meteor, a very special mandolin, and how the act of mentorship enriches the lives of two women songwriters. It is also about the power of music to transcend time, heal wounds, and connect us.” -Paul
“I tore through the Dungeon Crawler Carl book series this winter — The first book is lighter than the rest, if that can be believed. As Carl and Donut bond with more and more Earth survivors and the stakes become bigger as the number of those survivors lessens, the strength and depth of the series grows. Not for the faint of heart, but funny, heart breaking, and powerful. Recommended!” -Helen
“Calling all Patricia Cornwell fans! The TV show we’ve been waiting for is finally here. Scarpetta, based on Cornwell’s bestselling series, is everything fans could hope for. And don’t be fooled by any doubts about casting—Jamie Lee Curtis absolutely nails the role of Dorothy.
New to the series? Check-out the first book, Postmortem, before diving in!” -Laura
“The book is set in the fictional town of Golden, GA. A mysterious old man appears in town and begins to frequent a local coffee shop where there are many portraits of local residents hanging on the walls. Theo takes great interest in the portraits and begins to buy them and gift them to the people who are the subjects of the portraits. People in the town are very curious about where Theo is from, why he is there, for how long, and what his story is. The townspeople begin to grow very fond of him, and several strong friendships begin to grow. Theo’s story is eventually revealed and the characters are woven together. This is a beautiful story about how lives can change through simple acts of kindness and connection.” -Stephanie
“This is a great book for anyone who writes (or wants to), but it is also just an entertaining read about creativity in general.” -Kerri
“I’ve been very slowly reading The Odyssey – translated by Emily Wilson to prep for the new upcoming movie! I also recently read Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier. Could not put it down and basically ignored my family the whole weekend I read it this past January.
Also some new favorite YA books that I’ve enjoyed recently are:”
-Karen
“I read the original Jurassic Park novel on a whim and wound up really enjoying it. It’s different enough from the movie (which I’ve seen countless times) to make it worth the read. I was also fascinated by 1491, and tore right through it during the bleakest parts of this winter. Finally, George Saunders’ new novel Vigil was excellent.” -George
What did you read and/or watch this winter? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy first day of spring! After such long and cold winter, what better way to welcome the more pleasant weather than with a traditional spring cleaning? If you are looking for cleaning tips, ideas, or you don’t know where to start, the library has you covered! Check out one of these cleaning guide books to start the season off right. All titles included in this list are available in print at the library.
What are your spring cleaning tips? Share them in the comments below!
Some patrons might remember the ravens from last year who made a nest on above the book drop at the Demott Lane branch. They’re back again this year, with a new nest in the same location! They’ve been hard at work building up the next the past couple of weeks and can often be seen flying above or around the library. Keep an eye out for them next time you visit FTPL and stay tuned for more raven update!
One of the ravens adding sticks to the nestOne of the ravens on a snow pile last week
Teens ages 12-17 are invited for a special event during Spring Break! A Pryce in Blood is a pirate themed murder mystery game in which participants are asked to solve the mystery! The game will take place at the Franklin Park Branch on Monday, March 30 at 4:30pm and again at 6:30pm. “Pirate” themed snacks will be served! Prizes will be awarded to the one who solves the mystery and to the one assigned to be the culprit. Please select one timeslot to attend and be sure to register. Click here to register for the 4:30pm timeslot. Or click here to register for the 6:30pm timeslot.
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.
Teens come learn to crochet! Teens who know how to crochet are welcome to come & stitch with us! Open to students ages 12-17. Our next meeting is Thursday, March 12 at 6:30pm. We meet monthly at the Franklin Park Branch. New students always welcome. Please register at www.franklintwp.org/
