Friends of the Millburn 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.

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
Library Garden
Supplemental library budget for new books, DVDs and more
Special programs, lectures and performances for all ages

Fireside Book Club: Monday, October 5 @ 7pm (Zoom). "Thunderstruck" by Erik Larson. The author tells the interwoven stories of two men, Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator or a seemingly supernatural means of communication, whose lives intersect at the turn of the twentieth century during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time.

Native Seed Library: take 1-2 seeds packets of local native seeds. Seeds are available in the Library entrance vestibule in a wooden cabinet.

Mah Jongg Classes for Beginners (NEW)

Mah Jongg Classes for Beginners

Details:

Time: Classes meet on Wednesdays, 12:30 – 2:30pm (5 total)
- Dates: September 16, 23, 30 | October 7, 14
Location: Millburn Free Public Library Auditorium
Instructor: Rachael Lerner
- 6 years of experience, bringing a passion for the “tiles”. Her teaching style focuses on patience, humor, and breaking down the complex rules of the NMJL into understandable, engaging steps.
What You Will Learn:
- Identify all 152 tiles in a standard Mah Jongg set.
- Read & interpret the current National Mah Jongg rules and 2026 card.
- Master the Charleston (the passing phase of the game).
- Execute the strategic gameplay, including “calling” tiles and declaring Mah Jongg.
Fee:
- $100/Friends members, or $125 for non-members (includes 2026 NMJL Card)
- Register here. If you know you cannot attend the first 3 meetings, please do not register. No refunds. Limited to 8 players/session.
Questions: friends@millburnlibrary.org

Annual Book Sale

2026 Book Sale Dates (now over)*

April 11 – May 8 (extended date): Book & Vinyl Donation drive.
- Please leave donations in the bin near the elevator .
- Accepted: hardcover, paperback, & children’s books in good condition; vinyl records in good condition.
- Not accepted: textbooks, magazines, encyclopedia sets, CDs, DVDs, VHS
Thursday, May 14 (6:30-8:30pm): Members-only Preview Evening
Friday, May 15 (3-5pm): Educator’s Appreciation Day
Saturday, May 16 (9:30am-5pm): Book Sale
Sunday – Tuesday, May 17 – 19 (Sunday 1-4:30pm, 9:30am-5pm): Bag Sale

To volunteer or ask questions, email friends@millburnlibrary.org.

Chess Camp & Classes

Chess Classes — Drop-in Saturdays

Dates: September 12, 19, 26 | October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | November 7, 14, 21 | December 5 (Tournament Day), 12, 19
- Beginner: 1-2pm (60 min.)
- Intermediate: 2:05-3:20pm (75 min.)
- Advanced: 3:25 – 4:55pm (90 min.)
What we teach:
- rules of chess
- how to checkmate
- how to play opening & tactics
- strategy in the middle game & endgame
- how to read & write in chess notation, and more
Price: each class is $20
Teacher: Chess Master Scott Massey

Chess Tournament

Date: Saturday, December 5 (snow date: Saturday, 12/19)

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.

October 5 | Thunderstruck by Erik Larson, moderated by Joan Balash. Register.
November 2 | The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, moderated by Mara Epstein.
December 7 | Family of Spies: A WWII Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor by Christine Kuehn, moderated by Stacey Gitten.
January 4 | The Book Club for Troublesome Women: A Novel by Marie Bostwick, moderated by Michelle Brubaker
February 1 | Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, moderated by Jon Michaud
March 1 | The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble, moderated by Amy Ipp.
April 5 | The Beekeeper’s Lament: How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America by Hannah Nordhaus, moderated by Nidhi Thakur
May 3 | Never Mind the Happy by Marc Shaiman, moderated by Nancy Dries
June 7 | The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance by Edmund De Waal, moderated by Dorothy Kelly

Officers & Board

Officers (2025-26)

Sapna Gupta	President
Mara Epstein	Vice President
Lori King	Treasurer
Michelle Brubaker	Secretary

Board (2025-26)

Ruthie Binder

Michelle Brubaker

Lisa DelaCruz

Judith Eisner

Mara Epstein

Sapna Gupta

Dorothy Kelly

Lori King

Jean Lee

Stephanie Monahos

Mindy Pilger

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 (friends@millburnlibrary.org) if you would like the Zoom link to attend. Until further notice, all meetings will be held online via Zoom.

2026 – 2027 Meeting Dates: 7:00pm on the first Tuesday of each month unless otherwise notified.

September 1st
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st
January 5th
February 2nd
March 2nd
April 6th
May 4th
June 1st

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.

Build Millburn with Legos

Date: Saturday, October 7 (2-4pm)
- Registration info coming in September
Details: Build Millburn out of 100,000 Lego bricks! Yes, it CAN be done!