Allentown Public Library Association

08/11/2026

06/26/2026

The moment you have all been waiting for!!! Our Book Stall Buy One Get One Free sale is back and starts today!!!!

06/13/2026

The stories of local free black families in Allentown and Upper Freehold are not often told but are an integral part of the fabric of our community. Join us on Saturday, June 20, 2026, for “Say Our Names – African American Families Emerging Our of Slavery to Freedom in Upper Freehold and Allentown, 1770’s – 1830’s.” The free program begins at 6:30 pm in Allentown Methodist Church, 23 Church Street in Allentown, NJ. Light refreshments will be served and all are welcome. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected].

This program will help commemorate Juneteenth. In writing about the significance of Juneteenth, the National Museum of African American Culture and Life wrote: “Freedom for enslaved people in Texas was officially announced on June 19, 1865, by Union troops in Galveston Bay, leading to the celebration of ‘Juneteenth’." For more information, please see, https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth. The State of NJ designated Friday, June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth.

The program will be presented by public historian and Upper Freehold resident Sue Kozel, a retired university adjunct history professor whose teaching and research has focused on slavery, freedom, liberty, and unfreedom in New Jersey and nationally. She will share key statistics for enslavement and highlight the names of several Free Black families and individuals emerging out of slavery into freedom in Allentown and Upper Freehold. In her grant-funded research, Sue excavated African American names from various original historical documents.

TAVI’s Juneteenth program is part of TAVI250, a year-long series of events celebrating America’s 250th birthday, made possible by funding from Monmouth Arts, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, as well as the support of First Commerce Bank and Fulton Bank. For program details, visit TAVI’s website at www.allentownvinj.org

06/05/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 | 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏 - 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟓

Celebrate the 2026 CSLP theme, Unearth a Story™, with a summer full of reading, exploration, and discovery at the library. Readers of all ages are invited to explore stories and attend exciting events and activities all summer long.

Start your reading adventure today! https://monmouthcountylib.beanstack.org/reader365

06/04/2026

🐴Check out this great program!

05/03/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and supported the APLA Trivia Night, one of our favorite nights of the year! Congratulations to Jedi Mind Trick on their first place win and a million thanks to all the winners for donating their winnings back to the library. Also, as she passes the torch, we want to send huge gratitude to Joan Ruddiman for all her years and dedication as both board president and ruler of APLA Trivia Night.