Join the Friends of the Warren Township Library

You can help support the Friends of the Warren Township Library by becoming a member. For as little as $20, you can become a Friend and help the organization in its goal to assist the library.

Donation Levels

Friend $20.00 USD Family Friends $50.00 USD Patron $75.00 USD Sponsor $100.00 USD

The Friends helps fund many programs for children and adults, including musical performances and the Children's Winter Festival.

Just click on the Add to Cart button above to select your donation level or click on the application below to print and mail or drop it off at the Warren Township Library. Forms also are available at the library.

Thank you for your support!

Friends of Warren Library to Honor Librarian for 2016 Canright Award

Please join the Friends of the Warren Township Library at 5 pm on Monday, October 10 to honor Antonette D'Orazio, the 2016 Canright Award recipient, at the Warren Township Library.

The Canright Award, in honor of John and Betty Lou Canright, recognizes the person, persons or group that has done the most for the library during the year. 

"She was chosen to receive the Canright Award because of her outstanding commitment to our library and staff," said Friends of the Warren Library President Carol Senff.

D'Orazio, who has been the Supervisor of Youth Services at Warren Township Library since March 2008, was briefly appointed the library's temporary director while the director was on maternity leave. During those months, she oversaw the entire library as temporary director while juggling her regular responsibilities in the Children's Department.

"Antonette performed both jobs with her usual stellar skills, serving library patrons and managing the daily needs of the Warren Township Library," said Senff. "For this extra service, we are most grateful."

D'Orazio said she never thought she'd want to work with children, but a chance opening in a children's department in a Pennsylvania library many years ago opened her eyes to the "wondrous world of working with children and reading children's literature." After that opportunity, she decided that being a Children's Librarian was exactly what she wanted to do.

The Canright Award has been given annually since 1996, when Ellen Waldstein was the first recipient.

Historic Articles Detail the Warren Library's Building at Municipal Complex

The Friends of the Warren Township Library celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Warren Township Library with family-friendly activities, raffles and artifacts and displays detailing the library's history since it began with a small bookcase in the hallway at Central School in 1945.

Here are some newspaper articles that were on display during the celebration that detail the library's plans in 1992 for a new building in the township's Municipal Complex and the groundbreaking in 1993.

See more articles about the Warren Township Library's history by clicking here.

For a timeline of the Warren Township Library and it's history, please go here.

Article on the vote for a new library (The Star-Ledger, December 9, 1993)

Letters to the Editor debating the need for a new library (Echoes Sentinel, December 3, 1992)

Fundraising efforts to furnish the new library (Echoes-Sentinel, August 25, 1993)

Fundraising efforts for the library (The Star Ledger, September 29, 1993)

Groundbreaking ceremony for the new library in November 1993 (Jersey Journal, November 17, 1993)

Another article on the groundbreaking ceremony (Echoes-Sentinel; November 17, 1993)

Continuation of the groundbreaking article (Echoes-Sentinel, November 17, 1993)

Looking for a unique gift for the holidays? Come to the Holiday Gift Boutique from 10 am to 3 pm on November 14 at the Warren Township Library.

Several local crafters will display and sell their one-of-a-kind creations, including custom jewelry, handmade pottery, fiber art and more. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Warren Township Library. The Friends helps fund many programs for children and adults, including musical performances and the Children's Winter Festival.

Participating vendors include:

4 T.O.D. Sweet Treats by Tara Vyas

A & S Jewelry & Fine Art - handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry by Arline Bleecker; (908) 723-0855 or email

Eclectic Comfort - handmade crafts specializing in unique, upcycled materials by Laura Fazzio

Enchanted Forest Crafts - Wendi Mulvey

Fran Condit - jewelry

KnitbitsByChristine - handmade knitted items by Christine Napolitano

Madesign - handcrafted jewelry by Madeleine Vyas; (732) 371-3657 or email

My Treasure Beads (302)-230-1772 - handcrafted beaded jewelry by Priscilla Karunakaran

Quaint Creations - hand-made jewelry by Lori Mattheiss and Melanie Burdorf; (908) 293-7861 or email

Shine Beautiful Collection - unique jewelry including bracelets and necklaces as well as Crochet hats, headbands and unique candle holders by Vilma Whalen; call (908) 922-1531 

The Aunt Di Collection - hand-knitted and crochet items from clothing to stuffed animals by Dee Tamburro; call or email for special orders; (908) 464-7618 or email

The Karismatic Artisan (908) 938-4694 - original artwork by Deepti Mohamalawari

And wood carvings by Fred E. Ruckriegel.

The Warren Township Library, part of the Somerset County Library system, is the community's friendly destination for free wifi, programs for all ages, movies, music and books.

The Friends of the Warren Township Library celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Warren Township Library today with family-friendly activities, raffles and artifacts and displays detailing the library's history.

The library was created by librarian Zoia Horn, established a lending library in the hallway of the Central School on August 27, 1945 with 183 books. 

There were various artifacts and displays showcasing the library's evolution during the past 70 years.

The Warren Library's 2015 Statistics:
Staff - 25
Volunteers: 25
Hours Open per Week - 61
Year-to-Date Take Outs - 139, 030
Year-to-Date Digital Take Outs - 16, 202
Patron Count - 86, 728
Friends of Warren Library Members - 688

How book loans were recorded

Beverly Lang and Albert Knight

JoAnn Ball

People gathered for the anniversary

70th Anniversary cake

Display of the library's history

Warren Township Library Founder Arrested for Refusing to Testify

Zoia Horn in 2010

Librarian Zoia Horn (1918-2014) founded the first library in Warren Township, which started with a modest collection of 183 books at the township's Central School. She and other volunteers helped the library flourish and expand to the point where it had its own building.

After she left Warren Township, Horn gained notoriety in the early 1970s when she became the first U.S. librarian ever jailed for withholding evidence after she refused to testify in a trial. After leaving the township and the library she had nurtured for years, Horn became the Head of the Reference Department at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

While at Bucknell, she was first approached by the FBI in relation to a suspect. In 1972, she gained headlines when she was arrested for refusing to testify in a trial against Philip Berrigan. Berrigan, an anti-war activist who was serving in federal prison for burning draft files concerning the Vietnam War, was alleged to be plotting to blow up heating tunnels beneath Washington, D.C., and to kidnap Henry Kissinger, the national security adviser to President Richard Nixon.

Horn and another Bucknell library employee testified before a grand jury. During the trial, they were subpoenaed to testify for the prosecution, but Horn refused to testify at the trial on the grounds that her forced testimony would threaten intellectual and academic freedom. After she was released, she became an outspoken opponent of the Patriot Act, which allowed the FBI to obtain a warrant requiring a librarian to surrender records of a patron's borrowing or internet use. Horn has criticized the law on grounds that it does not require any showing that evidence of wrongdoing is likely to be found or that the target of its investigation is involved in a crime

Learn more about other fascinating people who helped shape the library during the Warren Township Library 70th Anniversary celebration from 1 pm to 4 pm on September 26. The event, sponsored by the Friends of Warren Township Library, will offer family-friendly activities including a scavenger hunt, button making and other crafts and there will be raffles for children, teens and adults.

1972 Newspaper Tribute to Zoia Horn

Warren Township Library to Celebrate 70th Anniversary

Warren Library in the old "carriage house"

The Friends of the Warren Township Library will be celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the library’s inception on September 26 from 1 to 4 PM at the library.

The event, sponsored by the Friends, will offer family-friendly activities including a scavenger hunt, button making and other crafts. There also will be raffles for children, teens and adults. And of course, a birthday party wouldn’t be complete without a cake. Attendees also will get the chance to see artifacts and learn more about the library’s history.

The Warren Township Library has been housed in several locations throughout the township since it modestly began with a small bookcase in the hallway at Central School in 1945. Professional librarian Zoia Horn volunteered her time to Central School's PTA so that Warren Township might have its own library. She lent 5 books to 3 people from a collection of 183 books.

Emma Jo Cain was among those early volunteers who helped maintain the collection and in the early 1950s she and founder Horn spearheaded ambitious fundraising efforts to help the library.

In 1958, the collection was moved to a renovated porch of the Municipal Building, formerly the manor house of the Hofheimer Estate. Four years later, the library had amassed 6,000 books, which were moved to the carriage house (now the current court building) next door. 

The Friends helps fund many programs for children and adults, including musical performances and the Children's Winter Festival. People can support the library by making a donation to the Friends of the Warren Township Library and becoming a member. Membership forms can be found at the library and on the Friends website.

Friends of Warren Library Craft Show & Fair Showcases Unique Local Vendors

Several local crafters sold their one-of-a-kind creations, including custom jewelry, handmade pottery, wood carvings and even soap from goat's milk at the Friends of the Warren Township Library Craft Show & Sale. A percentage of the proceeds were donated to the Friends of the Warren Township Library. 

If you missed the Craft Show & Fair, you can still purchase items from the participating vendors who are listed below. You also can visit the Friends of Warren Library Facebook album to see all the photos from the event.

Participating vendors included:

4 T.O.D. Sweet Treats  - add a sweet touch to your party or event with these desserts by Tara Vyas; (732) 371-1059 or email.

Art by Eileen - note cards and art work including paintings and murals by Eileen Bonacci; (908) 665-9588 or email; also has an Etsy store.

A & S Studios - handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry and contemporary art by Arline Bleecker; (908) 723-0855 or email.

Eclectic Comfort - handmade crafts specializing in unique, upcycled materials by Laura Fazzio; also on Facebook.

KnitbitsByChristine - handmade knitted items by Christine Napolitano

Madesign - handcrafted jewelry by Madeleine Vyas; (732) 371-3657 or email

My Treasure Beads  - handcrafted beaded jewelry and custom designs by Priscilla Karunakaran; (908) 405-6747 or email

Donna Post - pottery and fiber art

Pretty Petals - hand-painted glass items including plates, vases and recycled wine bottles from Ann Force; (908) 272-9236 or email

Quaint Creations - hand-made jewelry by Lori Mattheiss; (908) 293-7861 or email

Fred E. Ruckriegel - unique hand-carved and painted wood pieces; (908) 346-6148

Secret Garden Soap of Madison - goat milk soap and goat milk and honey lotions and custom gift baskets

The Aunt Di Collection - hand-knitted and crochet items from clothing to stuffed animals by Dee Tamburro; call or email for special orders; (908) 464-7618 or email

The Karismatic Artisan - original artwork by Deepti Mohamalawari who also has original ethnic jewelry through Ethnic Chimes; (908) 938-4694 or email

Shine Beautiful Collection - unique jewelry including bracelets and necklaces by Vilma Whalen; call (908) 922-1531.

The Friends helps fund many programs for children and adults, including musical performances and the Children's Winter Festival.  You can help the library by making a donation to the Friends of Warren Library.

Warren Library Craft Show and Sale

Looking for a unique gift for mom this Mother's Day? Stop by the Friends of the Warren Library Craft Show and Sale between 10 am and 3 pm on May 2 at the Warren Township Library. 

Several local crafters will display and sell their one-of-a-kind creations, including custom jewelry, handmade pottery, fiber art and more. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Warren Township Library. The Friends helps fund many programs for children and adults, including musical performances and the Children's Winter Festival. 

Participating vendors include:

4 T.O.D. Sweet Treats by Tara Vyas

Art by Eileen Bonacci - note cards and art

A & S Jewelry & Fine Art (908-723-0855) - handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry 

Eclectic Comfort - handmade crafts specializing in unique, upcycled materials by Laura Fazzio

KnitbitsByChristine - handmade knitted items by Christine Napolitano

Madeseign  (732) 371-3657 - handcrafted jewelry by Madeleine Vyas 

My Treasure Beads (302)-230-1772 - handcrafted beaded jewelry by Priscilla Karunakaran

Secret Garden Soap of Madison - goat milk soap and goat milk and honey lotions and custom gift baskets

The Karismatic Artisan (908) 938-4694 - original artwork by Deepti Mohamalawari 

And jewelry by Lori Mattheiss and Melanie Burdorf; knitting and crochet work by Dee Tamburro; pottery and fiber art by Donna Post

The Warren Township Library, part of the Somerset County Library system, is the community's friendly destination for free wifi, programs for all ages, movies, music and books.

Read for Prizes! Family Read Aloud Month at Warren Library

Cindy Lou Who

Celebrate  Family Read Aloud Month this March at Warren Township Library. Stop in at the library anytime during the month and pick up your packet for our "at-home" reading program. Every family member can participate, even those from far away via FaceTime or Skype. Audio books, stories, plays - any reading counts!

Packets include a robot that families can color in for every 15 minutes read together. For each completed robot, the family will be entered in a drawing for a prize. All robots will be displayed in the Youth Services section of the library. Prizes provided by Trattoria La Strada and 16 Handles.

Participants can also "Guess the Author" each week. The week's author will be displayed on the bulletin board and people can enter for a chance to win a book. A winner will be drawn from the correct answers every Monday.

Program materials provided by the Friends of the Warren Township Library.

Friends of the Warren Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Warren Township Library are planning a big clearance book sale on Monday, February 2nd from 9:30 am to 9 pm at the Warren Township Library.  

The ongoing book sale of the Friends of the Library is a big success, and the proceeds have been helping to fund a variety of programs for children and adults designed to enhance the cultural life of our residents.  

All items, including books, audiobooks, music cds, etc will be included in this one-day “Red Dot” sale. You’ll be able to buy two items and get three for free!

The Friends of the Warren Township Library provide direct financial assistance not only by sponsoring programs, but also by purchasing special items not included in the library budget. Most of all, the Friends generously volunteer their time, talents and funds when needed, to promote, improve and expand library services - and to improve the quality of life in their communities.

The Friends of the Warren Township Library are now on Facebook and you can follow the Friends on Twitter.