FREEHOLD – Residents of Freehold Borough and surrounding communities now have a new way to satisfy their craving for good books.
Two mini-libraries are now in place outside the First Baptist Church of Freehold at the corner of West Main Street and Manalapan Avenue in the borough, according to a press release.
The libraries, actually small decorative boxes outside the church and neighboring parsonage, contain a variety of books in Spanish and English, said Jonathan Elsensohn, pastor. The books are free to those who wish to take a book that interests them and donations are accepted.
Elsensohn said the libraries are part of the Little Free Library program and are designed to spur reading among children and adults. Even though the libraries are outside a church, the books are not necessarily religious in nature, Elsensohn said.
“There are children’s books, fiction, nonfiction and general interest books in the libraries,” the pastor said. “Our hope is that residents stop by, browse and take a book home. If they bring the books back or drop off other books they have found interesting, all the better.”
The Spanish library is being maintained by the Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Freehold, which shares the church building with First Baptist.
In addition, the church recently installed a Little Free Pantry in the church parking lot near the office off Manalapan Avenue. The pantry includes canned and boxed foods that may be used by people in need. The pantry also accepts donations, according to the press release.
“The libraries and pantry are one way our churches are fulfilling our mission to be of service to all members of our community, whether they are Christian or not,” Elsensohn said.
The church is seeking to ramp up its participation in missions and outreach, and the libraries are one step in that effort, the pastor said.
