Middletown Township Public Library Renovation
The Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL) has unveiled plans for a renovation and redesign of its Reference Area, to begin in early 2024. The planned renovation incorporates suggestions from the public to include more comfortable seating space, additional private meeting and study space for the community, and enhanced history and reading rooms. Expansion of the Teen Room and a Makerspace are also included in the plans.
2/6/2024 Bid Opening Results
Conceptual Rendering
Updates
- MTPL is excited to announce the Grand Reopening of the Reference Area and History Room. Please join us on Monday, March 31st at 11:00am for a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by tours and demonstrations of all our new spaces!
- 2/24/25 UPDATE: Library has reopened as of Friday 2/21. The reference area that has been under construction and the main book collection is closed to the public for the time being. More updates coming soon!
- 2/18/25 UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances with the construction work this week, the library will have to fully close for the next few days. We hope to reopen on Friday 2/21 but please watch our website and social media channels for further updates. Programs and tax appointments will be rescheduled. We apologize for the inconvenience.
- MTPL will be partially closed to the public from Monday, February 17th through Friday, February 21st as we work on some of the last pieces of the renovation process. The library will maintain our normal hours during this partial closure.
- Community Room, Lobby Area, and the Children’s Room will remain open.
- All scheduled programs and tax appointments will continue as planned.
- When programming is not going on, open study space will be available in the community room.
- Staff will be available to fill holds, locker pickups, and assist with the public computers.
- All other parts of the building will be temporarily closed. We ask that all patrons try to place item requests on hold, as the staff access to the collection may be limited.
- In advance of the partial closure, the library’s main collection will reopen for browsing this Wednesday, February 12th through Saturday, February 15th.
- MTPL would like to thank our patrons for their patience & understanding as our reference area undergoes renovations. Throughout the entirety of the renovation process, our main goal has been to remain open and accessible to the community as much as possible. As with any large project, there have been some delays along the way, but we are pleased to say that we are now nearing the final stages of the renovation process. There will likely be some closures as we finalize some of the last pieces of construction, but we will do our best to keep as many services and programs available to the public during that time. Expect more information to be released in the coming weeks. We very much look forward to introducing these new spaces to our community and promise that the end result will be worth the wait!
- The majority of the adult collection is still closed to the public, but should be opened up again very soon. Please see a staff member at the information desk if you need assistance.
- Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility as we work to create a beautiful new library space for the community.
- Please watch this page for further updates.
Previous Updates:
- The library will reopen Friday 10/4/24 to all public and staff.
- The library will remain closed on Thursday 10/3, but front door pickup for holds will be available from 9am-5pm on this day.
- All library loans will be extended and no fines will accrue during the period the library is closed.
- The Reference staff and public computers have been relocated! As of March 1st, the reference area beyond the media hub is closed to the public.
- Public Computers and all reference services can now be found in the Community Room.
- Tables and study areas are available by the fireplace and in the lobby. Certain days and times there will be open study time available in the community room, but please call ahead or ask a library staff member as that availability will vary and is not guaranteed.
- April 11th – CONSTRUCTION IS STARTING!
- When visiting the library, please drive slowly through the parking lot and be aware of construction vehicles and workers.
- Much of the book collection will be unavailable to the public on Wednesday evening 4/10 and all-day Thursday 4/11 while contractors build a temporary safety wall. Holds and locker requests are available and recommended.
- Construction continues in the adult reference area. Please note that there will be some increased noise and activity in the library during construction.
- Library staff are hard at work moving some of the books to other accessible areas in preparation for later phases of the renovation. If you need help finding anything, please reach out to a library staff member – we’re here to help!
- May 23rd and May 24th the library will be closed to the public due to very loud and disruptive construction work.
- The future site of the History Room has now been closed off for construction. Please take note of the new access corridor to the main library collection, located at the entrance to the Reference Area.
FAQ
Why does the library need to be renovated?
The last time the library went through a major renovation was in 2004. Since then, the needs of the community have evolved and the library has a need to redesign some interior space. We are unable to build upwards or add on additions, so re-configuring some of the indoor space was the best solution. Instead of a computer lab that is no longer utilized as such, a larger teen space and a separate makerspace will be added. More seating around the reference area, as well as 4 new private study rooms will be installed. A larger History Room is also in the plans, which will provide much needed space to house our collection of Middletown Township and New Jersey history materials.
Will the library remain open during the renovation process?
The intention is to have the library remain open for the majority of the renovation. There will likely be days or times when the library will need to close due to the nature of the renovation work, but ample notice will be provided if and when that happens. The adult reference area will be closed off for a portion of the renovation, but we are working on providing alternative space within the library for patrons to study and utilize public computers.
When will the renovation begin?
The renovation began in April of 2024. It will be done in two phases.
How do I get my materials during the renovation?
The community may browse and check out materials as usual. Certain parts of the collection may not be fully accessible, but staff will be able to retrieve items. The 24/7 Locker Pick-up will be available at all times. Regular hold requests will also be available.
Have any questions?
Use the contact form below with any questions you have regarding the renovation.