Annual Report 2025

COMMUNITY. COMPASSION. CONNECTION. CREATIVITY.



Continuing to innovate so future generations remain educated, connected, and free.
Our Mission
Community. Compassion. Connection. Creativity.
Our Values
We provide equal access and the pursuit of intellectual freedom for all.
We foster literacy and learning for everyone in our diverse community through a combination of trustworthy resources, friendly knowledgeable staff, and exceptional service.
We provide a comfortable, welcoming, and continually reimagined space that supports the way people use libraries today and well into the future.
We endorse literacy, learning and community engagement.

Director's Message
Amy Babcock

Improving Accessibility
Parking Lot Expansion
The Township of Livingston provided funding to expand the library's parking lot by 42 spots, including 15-minute parking and additional accessible spaces.

Available 24/7
Digital Content & Databases
40,347
Database searches
Top Online Resources
NYT - Games
NYT Online
Value Line
Star-Ledger Online
Morningstar

Library's Podcast
L-Town Radio
1,780
Listens
Top Episodes
Fang Gong of the Livingston Chinese Association
Shilpa Kulkarni of Shiv’s Third Eye

Library Journal's Movers & Shakers Award
Community Builder
- Joe O'Brien
Library Journal's Movers & Shakers 2025—Community Builders Joe O’Brien, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian was nationally recognized for their outstanding contributions to the library and its podcast.

A World of Possibilities to Explore
Museum Passes
562
Passes were borrowed.
Top Checkouts
MoMA
Intrepid Museum
Guggenheim
Frick Collection
Montclair Art Museum
3 museums were added in 2025:
Dia: Beacon, Liberty Hall, and the New York Transit Museum

Preserve the Past
Library of Things
550
Things were borrowed.
Top Checkouts
Mobile Hotspots
Pressure Washer
Sewing Machine
Telescope
Tonie Box
From Vinyl Grooves to Faded Negatives:
New items include:
Kodak Slide N Scan Digital Film Scanner, Crosley Vinyl Record Player/Turntable, Radio Cassette Player Recorder

Collaborate, Meet, Quiet Study, and Research
Study Rooms
4,274
Reservations
The Addition of 3 Smart Whiteboards for
Casting
Zoom Meetings
Group Collaboration

“Great opportunity to enjoy quality music, enjoy friendship & socialize.”
Senior Happening
1,266
Attendees
Performances Include:
Lectures-in-Song
LHS Jazz Band
NJ Symphony Orchestra

Color Our World
Summer Learning Challenge
This Summer, the library had just under 1,000 participants. 743 children and 225 teens received a Color Our World Activity Palette, a booklet designed with color-themed, community and reading based activities.As children and teens completed activities, they returned to the library to have their Activity Palette stamped, earning a small prize and a ticket for the grand prize raffle. The raffle baskets were color-coded to match the themes in the Palette, adding an extra layer of excitement and cohesion. The response from families was overwhelmingly positive. Parents appreciated the flexibility of not having to register, as well as the opportunity to engage in fun, meaningful activities with their children and not simply count books read. Children were eager to share their progress, discuss the books they were reading, and make repeat visits to the library throughout the summer.
Winter Challenge A fun, interactive literacy game for children in grades 5 and under was offered in the winter; children mark off squares on a bingo board as they complete reading and pre-reading activities to earn prizes. Special thanks to the friends for donating a coupon for a free book from the Ongoing Book Sale as a Bingo prize! A grand prize winner was chosen to receive a Barnes and Noble Gift Card, and other winners received books as prizes.

NJLA - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award
Special Needs Resource Fair - Ragini Lall
Adult Librarian Ragini Lall won the NJLA award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for this First Annual Special Needs Resource Fair held on April 27th, 2025. This informative and inclusive event was designed to connect individuals and their families to valuable resources, services, and opportunities within our community. Attendees were able to explore booths from local, county, and state government and non-profit organizations to find tools to empower their journeys.
In attendance were Paul Aronsohn, Governor-appointed Ombudsman of New Jersey, Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, and Livingston Mayor Edward Meinhardt. The Library received a Proclamation from the State of New Jersey presented by Assemblywoman Bagolie for being a Disability Friendly Library.

Community Mural
Displayed in the Periodical Lounge and made in collaboration with local residents of all ages, this large-scale collage has transformed this public space into a source of pride and connection.

Circulation
424,589
Total Circs
Adult Circs
131,825
Juvenile & YA Circs
225,660
eBooks & Audiobooks
96,012
Registered Borrowers
19,104
Reciprocal Borrowing
49,122

NJLA - Innovative Program Award
Makers of History
-Lisa Jenkins
Youth Librarian Lisa Jenkins won the NJLA award for Innovative Programming Award for this original program series that combines STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with heritage months to offer an original, hands-on learning experience. Children learn about famous trailblazers, like chemists, pilots, engineers and participate in hands-on activities inspired by their scientific or innovative work. They create things like pinhole projectors for eclipses, pulley systems, or towers, connecting history with practical science and engineering.

National English Honor Society's
Social Justice Read In
The library was thrilled to host the Livingston High School National English Honor Society's second annual Social Justice Read In, The event was set up ‘coffee house open mic’ style as students sang, played their instruments and recited poetry. Different LHS clubs presented tri-folds highlighting various authors and activists. Members of the Board of Education, the Town Council, many LHS teachers and a special Library Board Member were in attendance.

English Language Learners
The program served patrons coming from countries around the globe like Russia, China, Brazil, Ukraine, and many more.
During the ten months, The Casual Conversation program had approximately 24 volunteer tutors that met with approximately 50 learners for an hour each week. During the 1,860 hours, tutors and learners engaged in casual conversations that covered a variety of topics.
The Advanced Virtual Book Club and The Beginner Book Club each completed five novels. The Beginning Grammar class and the Reading For Meaning Comprehension class had an average of 8 students per week. The town of Livingston has an eclectic resident population. The English Language Learner Programs at The Livingston Library strives to meet the abilities and needs of its patrons.


Attendance
276,884
Total Visits
Programs Offered
1,085
Program Attendance
60,301

Friends of the Library
65 for 65 Fundraiser
Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the Livingston Library for their programs & services.


















102,581
WIFI SESSIONS
226,387
WEBSITE VIEWS
400,681
NEWSLETTER OPENINGS
Board of Trustees
Friends of the Library
Laurence Bergmann, Co-President
Peggy Slatkin, Co-President
Cynthia Vallario, Secretary
Barbara Bye,Treasurer
Sudeep Amin, Trustee
Iris Leopold, Trustee
Nora Lichtenstein, Trustee
Yitao Yu, Trustee
Edward Meinhardt, Mayor
Doreen Mollenhauer, President
Teresa Allard, Treasurer
Amy Babcock, Member of the Board
and Representative of Library Administration
Larry Bergmann, Member of the Board
and Representative of the Library Trustees
Ira Berkowitz, Member of the Board
Barbara Bye, Member of the Board, President’s Advisor,
and Representative of the Library Trustees
Anita Mintz, Member of the Board
Visit
Livingston Public Library
10 Robert H. Harp Drive
Livingston, NJ 07039
Monday - Thursday 10am - 9pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm



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On Display, September 2026 – Hummels: Little Figures, Big History
This September, the Livingston Public Library presents a collection of charming Hummel figurines belonging to local resident Marty Moskowitz. The larger collection, which also includes plates, plaques, and bells,...
Celebrate Healthy Aging at the Library: Laugh, Learn, and Live Well
September is Healthy Aging Month, a time to celebrate the opportunities that come with growing older and to focus on the habits that can help us live healthier, happier,...
Take & Make Rosh Hashanah Craft
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah by stopping by the Youth Services Desk to pick up a take & make Rosh Hashanah craft available starting September 8th My Shofar A Turkish Rosh...
Upcoming Reads: September 2026
Happy September, Livingston! It’s back-to-school time, so let’s hit the books this month with some great new releases. As always, any of the titles listed below with a blue...










