Upcoming Event: Friends of the Library's Mini Golf

By Jennifer Ersalesi

One of the community's favorite winter activities, the Friends of the Library's Mini Golf event at the Rutherford Public Library is coming up in a couple of weeks on Friday, March 6th and Saturday, March 7th. This is Rutherford interviewed Friends of the Library member, Rosemary Jorda, about this upcoming event.

TIR: Who are the Friends of the Library?

Rosemary Jorda: Friends of the Library of Rutherford supports the programs and activities at our local library that impact residents in our community. We have provided key funding for a range of programs and services for over 50 years. The Friends currently fund many of the library’s children’s programs, museum passes, film screenings and more!  The Friends are a 501(c)3 organization, making donations tax-deductible.

TIR: What type of programs and events do the Friends of the Library at the Rutherford Public Library?

RJ: The Friends host a variety of entertaining fundraisers throughout the year to raise critical funds to help support the free programs at Rutherford Library. When you attend our fundraising events or donate to the Friends, you are directly supporting the Rutherford Public Library's programs. 

Our fundraising events in 2026 include: Library Mini Golf on March 6 and 7, Spring Used Book Sale on April 10, 11 & 13, Fall Book Sale on October 2, 3 & 5 and new this year, we will be hosting a fall cookie decorating class fundraiser on October 14 . 

The Friends also host free monthly movie screenings - the last Tuesday of each month, we host a free adult screening, and select Saturdays each month, we host a free kids screening - both at the library. You can also see the Friends out and about supporting many of our town's activities with a booth at Rutherford Pride, Rutherford Day and many more!

TIR: In just a few weeks, the Friends will host their annual Mini Golf Event.  Can you explain more about this event?

RJ: Mini golf fundraiser transforms the library into an 18-hole mini golf course throughout the Rutherford Library! Just like a regular mini golf course, our holes are fun and challenging - all decorated by local businesses in town who sponsor the event. The event is presented by BCB Bank and Brosnan + Clark Orthodontics.  Guests purchase a ticket and are able to explore the library and have indoor fun playing mini golf while listening to music all weekend, provided by Soldato Books & Records. 

We host two sessions for the event: a Friday Night session from 6:30-9:30PM that is 21+ Adults Only featuring drinks, snacks and DJ sets plus an open mini golf course. On Saturday, we host a Family Day at the event from 10:30-3:30PM for all ages. Families purchase tickets for an hour of play on our course. 

TIR: What can people expect when they attend the Miniature Golf Event?

RJ: In addition to a fun mini golf course all weekend, guests will get a chance to explore both floors of the library in a whole new way! The will travel between the stacks, while teeing off on 18 holes! Both days, Soldato will be providing some great tunes to accompany our mini golfers as they tee off. On Friday, guests will also enjoy a selection of drinks from Bolero Snort & Sangri and delicious snacks from Jersey Mike's, Varrelmann's Bake Shop, Herr's Chips, Candlewyck Diner, and more.

TIR: While attending Mini Golf, participants can vote for the "Best Hole" as presented by Smile Today Dentistry.  There are some very creative choices.  What are some of the ways you have seen the sponsors express their creativity?

RJ: Last year, we started the best hole competition at the event. All weekend, guests can cast their ballot for their favorite hole on the course. Our winner gets a placement on the "best hole" plaque on display all year at the library and is presented with a trophy and gets bragging rights. Our 2025 winner was Erie Coffeeshop & Bakery with their wildly popular Donut "hole". We are thrilled that Smile Today is presenting this contest this year with us - they will also provide our little guests with a special prize at the voting booth once they cast their ballot at their tooth themed hole! Sponsors have been so creative over the years. We have had a monopoly themed hole by The Agency, a hair cut theme hole by Hair by Mare, and a fun hole in one competition from West End Golf -  and so many more creative holes for our guests to enjoy!

TIR: What do you enjoy most about this event?

RJ: Mini Golf has been such a fun way to get more residents into out town library and support it. Seeing our local business come together and help fund this fun event that has such a good, positive impact on our comity has been a joy. All proceeds from the event go directly back into the library - to help support all free programs. Being able to bring this to our town has been such a highlight for our Friends group and we hope to be able to keep hosting it for years to come.

TIR: How can people purchase tickets?

RJ: Advance tickets for the event are sold out, but we will have a limited number of tickets available at the door (first come, first served). More details on our website at www.RutherfordLibrary.org/Friends