In honor of the Red Bank Public Library’s centennial year, a retrospective has been written back to the library’s inception when it was founded by a group of women as a subscription library in 1878. This narrative has now been posted to the website for your reading enjoyment.
Visit the Library and receive your 100th Anniversary Library Card!
Want to borrow an item from the RBPL collection but don’t have a library card? Visit the library with photo ID and proof of your Red Bank address, and we will issue you a 100th anniversary library card, free of charge!
While supplies last.
Holiday Gifts that Support the Library!
Consider purchasing one of these limited offer items for December gift-giving - they are not only beautiful but purchasing them supports your library! We can accept payment in the form of cash, check, or the PayPal link/QR code on the flyer.
The RBPL Centennial Celebration Commenced on November 10th with Much Fanfare!
Spirits were high at the library on Friday night as the RBPL Centennial Year commenced with food, drink, and friendly chatter. Notables such as Mayor Billy Portman, Congressman Frank Pallone, Policy Director Mike Illiano on behalf of State Senator Vin Gopal, and Library Director Eleni Glykis, among others, gave speeches, and atmospheric music was performed by students from the Monmouth Conservatory of Music. This event was a terrific kickoff to the library’s year-long celebration of the Centennial, and we remain truly grateful to the Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library for having made this event possible. Please keep checking our website for information on future Centennial-related happenings!
Red Bank Public Library Totes Available!
Limited edition RBPL Tote Bags are still available for purchase! You can buy a tote that’s full of swag for $100, or just the tote bag can be yours for $25. Please see further information below, and give us a call or pay us a visit if you are interested!
RBPL’s push-button, ADA-accessible doors are now open!
This is one part of our ADA Rehabilitation project and is supported by funds from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act, administered by the New Jersey State Library. Matching funds for this project were provided by the Borough of Red Bank and the Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library.
Please stop by and visit us through our new front doors!
The Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library Announces a 100-year Anniversary Celebration
On November 10, 2023, the Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library will host a kick-off celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Library’s founding on January 2nd, 1924. A series of special events and fundraising activities will continue throughout this special year. The November 10th event will have speakers, raffles, music, food, and good company, and will begin at 7 PM at the Library. Tickets are $75.
Red Bank’s first library was instituted in 1878, but wasn’t free, charging $1.50 ($46 in today’s dollars) for subscriptions that allowed patrons to take out just one book at a time.
By creating a free public library, the citizens of Red Bank made a definitive statement that they wanted everyone, not just those who could afford it, to have access to the resources a library could provide. Red Bank’s support for the Library continued even through the stock market crash and the Great Depression. This community spirit continues to be visible today in the wide variety of inclusive programming offered by the Library to engage, support, and educate.
Since that moment in 1924, the library continued to grow, moved to various locations, and expanded its collections. The current location, overlooking the Navesink River at 84 West Front Street, was secured in 1937 as the result of a gift from entrepreneur and philanthropist Sigmund Eisner’s sons.
The Red Bank community has much to be proud of and celebrate! We hope to see you at the Library’s special events this year.
The Red Bank Library will receive a $15,000 grant from the Count Basie Center for the Arts
The contribution will be put towards the library’s Hispanic community outreach programs, which includes a tutor and computer software for Spanish Language GED preparation. You can read the full article at Red Bank Green here. A sincere “thank you” to the Count Basie!
Please Pardon Our Appearance
If you’ve been by the Library over the past few days, you may have noticed a bit of noise; that’s because work has begun on our ADA Rehabilitation project. The $300,000 project was one of the library projects chosen to receive a grant from the Library Construction Bond Act. The grant, which amounts to $150,000, will address the existing infrastructure that inhibits us from providing the best service to all residents. The Borough and the Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library will provide matching funds. Construction started last week and is expected to last into the Fall.
Renovations and enhancements include replacing the front vestibule with push-button, ADA-accessible doors, expanding and renovating the existing Lower-Level bathrooms to make them ADA-accessible, and replacing the existing elevator. This project aims to enhance the already great space at RBPL by making it accessible to all, expanding the functionality of our Library, and ultimately improving the efficiency of our services.
We know that the public is frustrated with closures, delayed openings and most importantly all of the construction noise, but once this project is done, our library will be completely accessible and we will get back to our multi-level programming.
This project is supported by funds from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act, administered by the New Jersey State Library.
Library Updates - Pardon Our Appearance
Things are happening at the Red Bank Public Library! Our lower-level bathrooms need some finishing touches, but we’re on to the next phase of our ADA Improvement Project with the installation of a new automatic main entryway.
For the next couple of days, we ask our public to enter and exit the Library through the Eisner Room. These are the doors on the front porch, as shown below!
The last and final phase of our ADA Improvement Project will be installing a new elevator, with work beginning this Fall. This project is supported by funds from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act, administered by the New Jersey State Library, the Borough of Red Bank, and numerous donations to the Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library. We want to thank the Iliad Fund, the Eisner Foundation, and a group of local donors for their generous support toward this project!
We were also able to complete the installation of our new Zoom Room system in the Library’s Meeting Room, making it easier for us to offer hybrid programming soon - ensuring that our patrons can access Library programs from anywhere they have an Internet connection! Fundsfor this project were provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant CAGML-248454-OMLS-21. The $67,048 federal grant awarded two years ago focuses on improving community access.
The Town Wide Yard Sale is Back!
The Red Bank Townwide Yard Sale is back on Saturday, September 9th!
Anyone wishing to take part as a seller can register here or in person at the library. The registration fee is $10 and benefits the RBPL Foundation. Registered homes will be placed on the map, which will be available in paper form and in PDF form on the RBPL website the day of the event. The only way to pay online is through PayPal -- if you'd prefer not to use PayPal, you can register online and then pay later in check or cash at the RBPL circulation desk. All registrants will be sent an info packet before the event.
We have a limited number of plots available at the library for apartment dwellers who wish to sell but do not have a yard. Apartment registrants will be required to bring their own tables and chairs.
UPDATE: ALL LAWN SPACES HAVE BEEN TAKEN!
The deadline for registration is Wednesday, September 6th. The rain date for the event is Sunday September 10th, but the library will NOT make this call -- that is up to the individual sellers.
Register here.
There's Still Time to Participate in Our Summer Reading Program!
Want to participate in cool programs and win prizes while reading fresh reads? Well, there’s still time to join our ALL TOGETHER NOW Summer Reading Program!
The program which runs until August 19, 2023 is open to Children, Teens, and Adults.
Access the program and track your activity through the Beanstack App on your mobile device or online at redbankpl.beanstack.org. Beanstack also allows parents to manage their children’s accounts so they can help younger ones participate, too! Be sure to ask a librarian for a paper reading log if you prefer that option.
Click HERE for the full summer calendar of programs and activities.
Earn badges for reading, attending virtual and in-person events, and completing challenges! You can even win prizes!
Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep updated on additional events. You can also sign up for the Red Bank Public Library’s weekly newsletter.
Please Pardon Our Appearance
If you’ve been by the Library over the past few days, you may have noticed a bit of noise; that’s because work has begun on our ADA Rehabilitation project. The $300,000 project was one of the library projects chosen to receive a grant from the Library Construction Bond Act. The grant, which amounts to $150,000, will address the existing infrastructure that inhibits us from providing the best service to all residents. The Borough and the Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library will provide matching funds. Construction started last week and is expected to last into the Fall.
Renovations and enhancements include replacing the front vestibule with push-button, ADA-accessible doors, expanding and renovating the existing Lower-Level bathrooms to make them ADA-accessible, and replacing the existing elevator. This project aims to enhance the already great space at RBPL by making it accessible to all, expanding the functionality of our Library, and ultimately improving the efficiency of our services.
We know that the public is frustrated with closures, delayed openings and most importantly all of the construction noise, but once this project is done, our library will be completely accessible and we will get back to our multi-level programming.
This project is supported by funds from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act, administered by the New Jersey State Library.
24/7, We’ve Got You Covered! Read, Watch, and Listen for Free
Did you know you can access free books, movies, and more—anytime, anywhere—with your Red Bank Public Library card?
Libby
Libby is the library reading app and is the best way to instantly access books, audiobooks, magazines and read-along books, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Libby is available to use on smartphones, tablets, and Kindle devices. When you download Libby to your device, follow the prompts to connect your Library card to the app. From there, you can immediately begin browsing for books. And, just like at the Library, Libby lets you place holds, check-out, read, and return books. Libby even lets you connect multiple Library cards to your account!
Download Libby by visiting the App Store or Google Play Store, and search Libby.
Hoopla Digital
While you’re downloading Libby, don’t forget to check out Hoopla Digital.
Hoopla is available to our patrons with a Library card and is a one-stop service for free digital content. In other words, Hoopla is free-to-use and provides you with access to 300,000+ digital movies, TV shows, music, e-books, and more!
Like Libby, Hoopla is an app that can be used on smartphones and tablets. You can also use Hoopla on a computer by visiting www.hoopladigital.com. To access Hoopla, you will need to create an account with your email address and a new password.
Once you start using Hoopla, you can browse and borrow e-books, audiobooks, comics, movies, television shows and movies. My Hoopla will show your borrowing history, recommendations, popular and curated collections.
Freegal Music
Finally, if you’re looking for free music, the Red Bank Public Library has you covered with Freegal Music!
Freegal Music offers access to over 11 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists. Our library subscription provides you with the opportunity to stream music for personal use, right from the comfort of your own home.
You can access Freegal Music online, or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Need help adding these apps to your device? Have a question about adding your Library card to Libby? Stop by the Reference Desk, and we’ll be happy to help!
There’s an app for everything…including the Library!
While you may not be interested in downloading yet another app to your device, this one might make you change your mind!
LMxPRESS PLUS is the library app. From here you can manage your library account, including checkouts, holds and renewals.
Within the app you can also search all 39 LMxAC member libraries, which includes Red Bank Public Library, for your favorite books, movies, music and more. Found a book you like? Place a hold right from the app! Away from the Library and need to renew your book? Renew right in the app!
LMxPRESS PLUS also lets you download and connect to digital content and stay in touch with the library through our social media feed and event calendar.
You can even connect your library card to the app so you’re never without your card again!
Managing your library account and finding books at the library has never been easier with LMxPRESS PLUS. Search LMxPRESS on the App Store or Google Play Store today to manage your library card anywhere, anytime!
Need additional assistance? Stop by the Reference Desk at the Library, or schedule an appointment with the Eisner Opportunity Lab for technical assistance.
Spring into action with Red Bank Public Library’s Food Drive!
The Eisner Memorial Library kicks off a Spring Food Drive this Spring starting March 1. The drive will stock the Library’s Little Free Pantry and the Vin Gopal Civic Association Food Pantry.
The pantry at 224 Shrewsbury Avenue is open on Tuesdays from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm and Thursdays 11:30 am – 2:00 pm. If you need assistance, you can email the VGCA at VinGopalCivic@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.
Groups or individuals can drop off non-perishable, protein-rich foods such as peanut butter, granola bars, and tuna fish. Other most-needed food items are ready-to-eat canned meals, canned fruits, vegetables, instant potatoes, canned and dry soup, pork and beans, canned juices, sip-size juices, and hot and cold cereal.
Donations can be dropped off at the Red Bank Public Library, 84 West Front Street, Red Bank, NJ , during regular business hours.
Join us for NJ Maker’s Day
On Saturday, March 25th, join the Red Bank Public Library as we celebrate the 9th Annual NJ Maker’s Day with a range of free activities for all ages.
Stations focused around arts, crafts, technology and more will be set up throughout the Library. All are welcome.
Family Game Night
Family Game Night will take place the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-7:30 PM. Bring your family, bring your friends and play board, card, and video games! No registration is required. For more info, call (732) 842-0690 X117.
Affordable Housing Program
Affordable Housing in Red Bank information session will take place in the downstairs meeting room on Thursday January 26th from 6:30-7:30 PM. Rev. Porter of the Red Bank Affordable Housing Corp. will be here to provide info on the housing rehabilitation program, the first time home-buyer program, and the affordable housing rental application process. No registration is required. For more info, call (732) 842-0690 x111 or email redbanklibrary@gmail.com.
LOCKER SYSTEM MAKES LIBRARY AVAILABLE 24/7
The Red Bank Public Library’s 24 Locker System allows patrons the flexibility to pick up holds any time of day or night, even when the library is closed! Find out more information here!
Funds for this project were provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant CAGML-248454-OMLS-21. The $67,048 federal grant awarded last year focuses on improving community access. This includes upgrades already made to the Library's Internet service, ensuring patrons can connect to our network without experiencing a drop in speed or connection.
Red Bank Library Locker System