OCL Friends Forum at Mancini Hall

Ocean County Library hosted its annual Friends Forum Oct. 17 in Mancini Hall.  About 50 Friends and branch managers attended.

The forum was organized by Sharon Osborn, Rita Oakes, Heather Andolsen and Nancy Dowd.

“People said it was the best Friend’s forum yet,” said Sharon.

Both agreed it was a moving experience.

“The morning was filled with practical knowledge that the Friends could take home and use to make their groups more visible,” said Rita.

Topics included discussions about marketing the library, ways the library’s public relations department could help the Friends groups  with advertising their events, and how to write press releases.

“I’d like to thank you and everyone at the Friends Exchange on Saturday,” wrote   Laura Giannota, president  for the Barnegat Friends group. “It was great getting together and hearing about so many great programs around the County!  Thanks all for the hard work in putting this together! ”

Special thanks to Harry Applegate, Mike LaRocca, Karen Jakubczak and Brian Marshall for their technical and tactical support.  And thanks to Bill Ringer and Michael Smith for creating the PowerPoint Presentation, and to Chris Barnes for his help on that.

Photos of the event can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157622618271670/

Barbara Solomon recieves NJAE award

left to right-Judy Macaluso, Barbara Solomon, Kim Defibaugh

Barbara Solomon was honored Monday Oct 5 in Somerset at the annual Art Educators of New Jersey conference.  Barbara received the John Pappas Award. She was nominated by Kim Huyler Defibaugh,  Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts, K-12 Toms River Regional Schools for her outstanding support of student art as a non-educator.   Barbara coordinated student & faculty art shows in the Toms River branch for several years for many TR area schools.  Congratulations Barb!

Back to the 60s in Manchester

Manchester branch kicked off August with ’60s Week! The band “Strictly ’60s” rocked out to tunes from the Beatles, Stones, and Doors to an audience of 175 patrons.
The fun-filled week included 60s Jeopardy with Lou Nemphos as Alex Trebek, Beatles Day with the Utlimate Beatles Quiz, ’60s Movie Day with showings of “Funny Girl” and “13 Days,” Baseball in the ’60s and Woodstock Rock Band. The week concluded with ’60s karaoke where 30 patrons and our own Sabrina La Spata singing “Hey Jude” and doing cartwheels in front of our new book section!

Jackson Friends donate statue and garden

Library and township officials joined the Friends of the Jackson branch of the Ocean County Library Saturday for the dedication of a statue they named “Jack and Jill.”

The statue becomes part of a restful area just outside the building.  The area includes a gazebo that was created by Eagle Scout Andrew McAllister and a garden created by Down to Earth Landscaping.  The gazebo and garden were created in part from a financial contribution from the Friends group.

The sculpture was purchased from Large Art Company in Baltimore and was cast in California, said past Friend’s president Roger Friend.

The sculpture has a boy and girl on a bench.  They boy is reading a book while the girl is doing research on her laptop computer.

“Libraries used to be measured by the number of books on their shelves,” said Friends president Murray Blasz, “but that is no longer true.  The library brings media of all types to us, including the latest technology.”

Saturday’s program was the culmination of a years-long dream, said Friend.  He said the sculpture speaks about all the wonderful resources the library has to offer.

A children’s concert followed the dedication program.

Photos from the event can be viewed as a slideshow at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157621791134755/show/

2009 FlowerFest at Toms River branch

Several hundred people attended FlowerFest Saturday (April 18) and everyone we spoke with said they enjoyed it a lot!
Members of the Toms River Garden Club demonstrated ways to create miniature floral arrangements and preserve flowers. Lisa Stubenrauch shared the tips that help her create stunning floral photographs. Tina Bulwin of Flowers by Addalia demonstrated how one can create centerpieces using Jersey Fresh fruit and flowers. Michael Mandracchia told how to draw birds into your yard by skillfully employing different flowers and plants. And Mike McGrath, our key speaker, gave two great seminars that were both entertaining and informative.

Thanks to Reynolds Garden Center, Calgo Gardens and Lowes of Toms River for beautifying our entry way.
Photos from Flowerfest can be viewed at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157617006171213/

Nancy Marino’s novel to be released May 12

Local librarian to release her first book

TOMS RIVER – A book written by Ocean County librarian Nancy Marino, from Waretown, is scheduled to be released May 12.

“Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me” is a novel about Tamara Ann Simpson growing up in Long Island’s Massapequa Park during the summer of 1969.

Simpson’s best friend, foster child Kebsie Grobser, suddenly moved away that summer and she was replaced by Douglas “Muscle Man” McGinty. Simpson’s quest that summer: expose McGinty, “a squirrelly runt, a lying snake and a pitiful excuse for a ten-year old,” for the fraud she knows him to be.

The book chronicles her attempts to unmask him but it also shows Simpson as a socially isolated girl who misses her best friend very much. Perhaps Tamara could stand to take one small step towards a bit of compassion and understanding for McGinty and at the same time redeem herself.

“Nan Marino may be a debut author,” Patricia Reilly Giff wrote on the book jacket, “but she’s obviously a born storyteller. You will immediately feel at home with her characters, you’ll ache right along with them, and you won’t be able to leave their stories behind.”

Marino will discuss her book at children’s programs June 12 and July 28 at the Toms River branch, 101 Washington St.

The publisher, Roaring Brook Press, said the book is appropriate for 8- to 12-year olds but Marino said the story has been well received by teen and adult readers, too.

An audio CD of the book read by actress Emily Bauer will also be released May 12.

Debbi Macomber luncheon

Debbie Macomber visited the Captain’s Inn Restaurant on March 25.  The luncheon was sponsored by the LEH & UP Friends and it was a packed house, completely sold out.  Debbie gave an entertaining, down to earth talk about how she became an overnight success that took 20 years.  The friends presented Debbie with a plaque making her an honorary member of the FOL.  A good time was had by all.

LIGHTS! CAMERA!

ACTION!

 

Sharon Osborn is roaming the halls snagging people to illustrate a video she is putting together to illustrate the changes recently made to the communications plan.  So if you see her stalking the halls with a video camera in her hands…Duck!  (You have been warned.)

Sharon poses Alice & Carol

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who's having more fun?

Inauguration shown in Mancini Hall

Today’s inauguration of President Barack H. Obama was braodcast on a large screen in Mancini Hall this morning. More than 100 people from the area sat and watched as the President and Vice President Joe Biden were sworn into office. Refreshments were served.
Unlike the crowds in Washington, D.C. our group did not have to contend with the cold temperatures. But like the Washington crowd we were able to share the historic moment as a community. Thanks to Colleen and TR programming for putting the program together.
The Asbury Park Press has an article on their Web site about our program. It can be found at their Web site:  http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/B3/20090120/OBAMAINAUGURATION10/90120085/-1/OBAMAINAUGURATION

They also posted a video taken at the library.  It can be seen at http://www.app.com/section/VIDEONETWORK&videoID=1007398365

12th Night @ Stafford

Stafford Branch celebrated “Twelfth Night” (Epiphany or Three Kings Day) by dressing as “the days” – yes, the “Piper piping” is wearing a smoking jacket & carrying a pipe!