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The Friends of the Library

The Friends is formed exclusively for charitable, literary and educational purposes in support of and cooperating with the Library in developing, maintaining, and enhancing its facilities, resources, and services for the public. Read about and join the Membership of the Friends, and find out about the Member-Merchant Initiative benefit designed to support local Millburn-Short Hills businesses and strengthen library ties with the community (paper form here). For monthly updates, subscribe to the Friends Newsletter.Friends of the Library logo

In furtherance of its purpose, the Friends:

  • encourage monetary gifts for the exclusive benefit of the Library, and raise funds through book sales & other appropriate activities
  • encourage the use of the Library facilities, resources & services
  • focus attention on the Library through promotion and sponsorship of Library programs & activities

The Friends of the Library organize and sponsor a number of programs, events and improvements that help keep Millburn Library fresh, relevant and popular, including:

  • Museum Passes for Millburn cardholders
  • 3D Printer
  • Electronic Bulletin Board
  • Summer Reading program for children & teens
  • Expanded Young Adult space with new space
  • Supplemental library budget for new books, DVDs and more
  • Special programs, lectures ad performances for all ages
May Ray: An Inventive & Irreverent American in Paris. Museum Night at Millburn Library, Tuesday, November 11th at 7:00pm. Join art historian Larissa Bailiff as she explores the boundary-blurring, multi-media practice of the American expat artist Man Ray. Coinciding with this fall's groundbreaking exhibition, "Man Ray: When Objects Dream" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ms. Bailiff's talk will take us into the heart of the Dada and Surrealist movements and have us reveling in the allure and absurdity of the Parisian avant-garde movement of the 1920s and '30s.
Fireside Book Club: December 1st, 2025 - "What We Can Know" by Ian McEwan. Zoom link emailed prior to the meeting. The novel opens in 2014 with an intimate dinner party hosted by the renowned poet Francis Blundy in honor of his wife's birthday. Bundy surprised his guests by reading aloud a new poem, 'A Corona for Vivien'. Little does anyone know anyone gathered around the table know that for generations to come people will speculate about the message of this poem, a copy of which has never been found.
Native Seed Library: take 1-2 seeds packets of local native seeds. Seeds are available in the Library entrance vestibule in a wooden cabinet.

44th Annual Student Chess Tournament

44th Annual Student Chess Tournament

  • Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025 @ 9:30am (snow date: Saturday, December 20)
  • Fee: $20 (in advance) or $25 (at the door) — Zelle, cash or checks (made out to “Friends of the Millburn Library” and add “Chess Tournament, {student’s full name & grade}” in the memo)
  • Questions: friends@millburnlibrary.org or scottmsy@msn.com
  • Volunteers: we need volunteers to assist with the event, please contact friends@millburnlibrary.org to help.
    • Please pack a lunch and a snack for your student
    • Groups: [1] 5-7 years old, [II] 8-10 years old, [III] 11-14 years old
    • The students will play 4 games, and each round will be 5 minutes per side on the clock (which will be provided). Please bring a chess set.

Fireside Book Club

The Fireside Book Club meets virtually every month (first Monday of the month at 7:00pm). Lively discussion is led by a library staff member, or other special guests. All are welcome to attend these gatherings! All Fireside Book Clubs are currently virtual. Register for an upcoming Book Club meeting here. All are welcome!

To obtain copies of the monthly book, visit the Millburn Library Circulation Desk and ask for a Book Club-reserved copy, or borrow the eBook version via the Libby app.

  • Oct. 6 | Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (moderated by Michelle Brubaker)
  • Nov. 3 | The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (moderated by Sarah Pardi) | Register
    • One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing  to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hal’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink. Following cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what is means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt out collective soul.

Annual Book Sale

Due to the ongoing renovations on the second floor of the Millburn Library, there will be no 2025 Friends Book Sale.

To volunteer or ask questions, email friends@millburn.bccls.org.

Officers & Board

Officers (2025-26)

Dorothy Kelly President
Sapna Gupta Vice President
Lori King
 Treasurer
Michelle Brubaker Secretary

Board (2025-26)

Ruthie Binder
Michelle Brubaker
Lisa DelaCruz
Judith Eisner
Mara Epstein
Stacy Gitten
Sapna Gupta
Dorothy Kelly
Lori King
Jean Lee
Stephanie Monahos
Mindy Pilgar

The Friends work to support MFPL through fundraising and by creating interest in the public library. All money raised, whether through donations, membership fees, or fundraising, is used exclusively for programs, materials and projects that benefit the Millburn Library.

The Friends of the Millburn Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN# 22-2280527. Check if your employer offers a matching gift program— it’s an easy way to increase support!

Monthly Meeting

Friends of the Millburn Library Business Meetings are open to the public, please email the Friends if you would like to attend. Until further notice, all meetings will be held online via Zoom.

Seed Library

Let’s grow together!

The Friends are proud to announce the launch of our Little Free Native Seed Library located inside the Glen Avenue entrance of the Millburn Library.

Pick up a packet or two to plant at home and start your own native pollinator garden. The seeds have been harvested from local sources and are free. Packets are labeled with planting instructions.

Working together, we can help the environment and grow closer as a community.

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