PP Boro booksale helps others

The Point Pleasant Borough branch hosted a town-wide used book drive on Saturday, April 25.

  Local residents were encouraged to drop off any used books at the library.  Teens volunteered to help box the used books that were sent to Better World Books, a company that resells or recycles the books. A portion of any sales is donated to non-profit literacy partners such as the National Center for Family Literacy and Books for Africa. Any books that cannot be sold are recycled.

 The drive was a huge success. Cathi Finnen, Robin Romance and Lynn Jackson all played an important roll in the planning of the book drive.

Through our Eyes unites the community

The reason why we are in business is to bring awareness to the community about things they might not know about.

“Through Our Eyes” is a musical created by Alan Rosen and presents how the world looks through the eyes of people with physical and mental impairments.

Saturday’s two performances of “Through Our Eyes” were emotional events that reminded everyone: beneath the surface we are all basically the same, with the same hopes, dreams and desires. The simple request of the performers: do not treat us differently.

Seventy performers played to nearly 250 people during the performances. People were even calling Saturday morning to make reservations. We were “sold out.”

Everyone who attended said how moved they were by the performances and the message that was delivered. It truly fulfilled our promise to connect neighbors.

“The show was very moving,” said Elaine McConnell. “The audience was everything we could have hoped for. Kudos to you all and thanks for bringing OCL’s statement of purpose to life in such a touching way.”

One episode clearly illustrated how we accomplished that purpose. One young singer, during the “Angels on Parade” segment, began with baseball’s seventh-inning stretch anthem “Take me out to the Ballgame.” The second line of the song suddenly jumped to line five or six and as she bogged down her solo instead became a sing-along as people joined in and supported her with their voices. Her performance galvanized the community.

Thanks to the OceanFirst Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant committee, to the committee for bringing the show to our attention, and to the people who worked so hard to make it happen.

Photos from the first performance can be viewed on the Flickr Web site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157617905786843/ Click on the “slideshow” icon towards the top right, sit back and enjoy.

Remedies from the Kitchen Garden Food historian, Judith Krall-Russo

Remedies from the Kitchen Garden

Food historian, Judith Krall-Russo, presented her facinating and informative program entitled, Remedies from the Kitchen Garden, at the Brick Branch on April 28.  The program, sponsored by the Friends of the Brick Library, presented some of the history and folklore of home remedies, when long before pharmacies people concocted their own remedies for everything from coughs and sore throats to hiccups and hangovers and demonstrated how our ancestors relied mainly on everyday foods found in the kitchen or garden such as honey, spices, onions, and garlic. Ms. Krall-Russo presented a wide variety of remedies – some practical, some humorous, and some downright bizarre!

 

Meet the author-Karen Riley: Voices in the Pines

Author Karen F. Riley’s audience was engrossed by her tales of murder and mayhem, and adversity and triumphs. Her recitations from her newest book, “Voices in the Pines-True Stories from the New Jersey Pine Barrens”, revealed much of what was not previously well known. A spirited question and answer session kept many audience members until just minutes before the branch’s closing.

Little Egg Harbor is Kind to Animals

      

On Saturday, May 2 the Little Egg Harbor branch of the Ocean County Library, 290 Mathistown Rd, held a “Be Kind to Animals Day”. The Ocean County Parks and Recreation Department presented a program on Animals of the Pinelands, the MATES academy (Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science) presented a program on the Diamondback Terrapins, Barbara Lathrop a Humane Society Volunteer, talked about proper care for pets, and Officer Michael Thompson and his K-9 partner Diesel of the Long Beach Township Police Department answered questions

Spring Friends of the Library Forum

NJLA Executive Director Pat Tumulty and OCL Director Elaine McConnell

Friends discuss their tables’ topic

Despite the rain, the Spring 2009 Friends Exchange held at the Upper Shores Branch drew over 65 Friends as well as Branch Managers, Management Team and speaker Pat Tumulty, Executive Director, NJLA. Director Elaine McConnell talked briefly about her upcoming retirement. In smaller groups, Friends discussed “ How do you run a productive Friends meeting ? How do you engage new members ? What fundraisers are there beyond book sales ? “

Pat Tumulty energized the group with points about fragile library funding and the great importance of Friends sharing library advocacy.

The Upper Shores Friends, as hosts, invited everyone to enjoy the brand new Reading Garden, a cooperative project with the library made possible by memorial donations.

Lakewood hosts Odessa Klemzer Band

The Lakewood branch hosted the Odessa Klezmer band Sunday afternoon and drew in more than 60 people, some from as far away as Old Bridge. In fact, it was so successful they needed to pull in chairs from the reading area to accomodate the crowd.