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In order to serve our patrons better, we need to know what you need. Please take a minute to fill our our survey. Copy these questions (and your responses to any you wish to answer) into an email to
clevin@sclibnj.org. We’d love all responses by Oct. 3rd if possible. Thanks!
1. Do we offer the kinds of programs and services at the Bridgewater Library that you and your family are looking for? What do you like? What’s missing?
2. Are the program times convenient? Would other times be better?
3. What other library materials and services do you use?
4. What other library materials, programs, and services would you like to see us offer?
5. What parts of this Youth Services Library Newsletter do you find most useful?
6. Have you used the “useful links for families” on the side of our site? (Click on the headline to see them if you are receiving this as an email.) Any that you find particularly useful?
7. Please tell us whether you are a parent/caregiver, grandparent/friend/relative, or teacher and the ages of the children you bring to the library or bring library materials to.
8. Any other comments or suggestions?
Thanks so much – your feedback will help us plan better to serve your needs! --The Bridgewater Youth Services Librarians
LOTS OF GREAT BOOKS FOR KIDS, TEENS, and ADULTS!
Children’s hardbacks are 50 cents, paperbacks 25 cents – it is a great way to expand your home library!
Teachers, show your I.D. on Sunday at 3:30 to get leftover books for your classroom libraries. (Or come earlier in the sale to get “choice” items at bargain prices!)
@ the Library: Programs
Picture This: A Trip to Ancient Pompeii Grades 1-6 Tuesday October 4, 2011 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Journey with us to this ancient city - We'll learn about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and the destruction it caused, then create Roman-inspired mosaics.
(Note: some material might be too intense for some first & second graders.) Registration required.
Make a Difference @ the Library! (Volunteer Opportunities)
For students in grades 5 – 6 Thursday October 6, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
**Registration required ATTENTION STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! Volunteer hours for this month will be limited to today between 7:00pm and 8:00pm.
ROBODYSSEY: How to Talk to a Robot Registration required. Saturday October 8, 2011 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM For Children in Grades 4-6.
Robots will only do what you tell them to do - not necessarily what you want them to do! Learn the language (syntax) to make robots understand what you mean (semantics) and then solve the Blind Bot's Bluff maze challenge.
Going Batty Grades K-5 Wednesday, Oct. 12th 2011 4:30-5:30pm Just in time for Halloween, we'll set our sights (with a touch of echolocation!?!) on this most misunderstood mammal. Join us for stories, scientific investigations, and a bat-terrific craft.
Registration required.
Pumpkin Fun Saturday October 22, 2011 (Ages 3+)
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join the Bridgewater Garden Club for the annual pumpkin-decorating program! Create a fun, magnificently decorated pumpkin - you bring the pumpkin and we’ll supply the decorating materials! Paints will be used, so be sure to wear old clothes or bring a smock. Please bring a box to carry home your pumpkin.
Registration begins October 7th.
And every week through October 14th:
Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Family Story Time (ages 2-6)
no registration required. Join us each week for stories, songs, fingerplays, and a short film.
Wednesdays at 10 & 11 a.m. and
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Toddler Time (18 mo.-3) no registration required. Clapping and singing, rhymes and books….introduce your toddler to the beginnings of story time!
Thursdays at 10:30 Baby Book Time (birth to 18 months) no registration required. Clap your hands and stamp your feet and let you baby feel the beat of stories, songs and rhymes.
Want to see more of our Fall Schedule? Check out our October Bridgewater Library Online Calendar. Also, a reminder that Somerset County Library Cardholders can attend programs at any of our branches…check out their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page for more information.
@ the Library – for Teens:
For those who took the practice PSAT at Bridgewater, A follow-up session to get your scores and have your questions answered by a Kaplan representative will be held on Monday, October 3 at 6:30 pm.
Teen Advisory Board: Tuesday October 18, 2011. 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
For students in Grade 6 – 12 **Registration required
Do you want to make a difference at your library? Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our upcoming T.A.B. meeting! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served! Next
Make a Difference @ the Library! (Volunteer Opportunities)
For students in grades 5 – 6 Thursday October 6, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
**Registration required ATTENTION STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! Volunteer hours for this month will be limited to today between 7:00pm and 8:00pm.
ROBODYSSEY: How to Talk to a Robot Registration begins September 23rd.
Saturday October 8, 2011 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM For Children in Grades 4-6.
Robots will only do what you tell them to do - not necessarily what you want them to do! Learn the language (syntax) to make robots understand what you mean (semantics) and then solve the Blind Bot's Bluff maze challenge.
Saturday October 8, 2011 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM For students in Grades 7 - 12
Robots will only do what you tell them to do - not necessarily what you want them to do! Come to our Robodyssey program and learn to speak 'robot language' (or syntax) and learn how to make robots understand what you mean (or semantics). Then, use what you've learned about syntax and semantics to program your very own robot to navigate a minefield of robot swallowing holes!
Please note: Participants should have functional knowledge of Windows.
Want to enter the contest?
Deadline for entries is October 14th. Click on this
Entry form for full information and rules. Contest is open to 6th-12th graders.
@ the Library: Displays:
Jewish High Holidays: Rosh Hashonah & Yom Kippur – atop our holiday books section.
A is for Alphabet, I is for Imagination! -- Check out our great display of innovative alphabet books – they are definitely not just for pre-schoolers! – near the re-shelving area.
Happy 90th Birthday Winnie the Pooh – lots of teddy bear stories to share – above our magazines.
Math Counts: Great Books to Help Kids Enjoy and Understand Mathematical Concepts – above our picture book section
Celebrating Ezra Jack Keats – in conjunction with the
exhibit opening at the Jewish Museum, we are featuring a display of his books.
Around the Community:
This portion of our site highlights events that may be of interest to area families. To be listed, events must either be free or be sponsored by a non-profit.
Children with a parent will join a Naturalist for an early autumn walk in forests and fields as the sun sets and the full moon rises.
Where: Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge. When: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Whoooo… Ages 4 to 6 with parent. How: Registration required. Register online at www.somersetcountyparks.org under the Naturalist programs, or call 908-766-2489. Cost: $10 per pair, $5 per additional child. For more info: Call 908-766-2489.
Family and friends will head out into the fields with a Naturalist to bid farewell to the butterflies for the season while learning about their lifecycles and where they go for the winter. Where: Environmental Education Center, 190 Stirling Road, Basking Ridge.When: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Who: Families. How: Advance registration required. Register online at
www.somersetcountyparks.org under Naturalist programs or call 908-766-2489. Free. For more info: Call 908-766-2489.
October Project - Fire Rescue Helicopters!
- FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 - 12 offered the 1st Saturday of every month at all The Home Depot stores between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety along and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.
- All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.
A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter will circle and land at Central Jersey Regional Airport to help Operation Shoebox New Jersey launch a two-month effort to collect supplies for shipment to US troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your camera as pictures are encouraged. The Hillsborough Rotary Club is hosting the “kid-friendly” event, which will also include displays by the U.S. Army, Civil Air Patrol and other organizations. Visitors will be able to step inside the helicopter and sit at the controls in the pilot’s and co-pilot’s seat.
Where: 1034 Millstone River Rd, Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (Central Jersey Regional Airport)
When: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Who: Bring the whole Family
How: Stop By...don't forget your donations and your camera!
Cost: There is no admission charge. The Rotary is asking that visitors please bring donations suitable to be sent overseas in care packages by Operation Shoebox New Jersey. Needed items include lip balm, sun block, insect repellent, moist wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, white crew socks, small pop-top cans of tuna and fruit, beef jerky and gum. Financial donations will also be accepted. For more info: (908) 698-0333 www.opshoeboxnj.org
To order Princeton Symphony Orchestra tickets, visit
www.princetonsymphony.org (link on graphic will not work)
Fall 2011 PASSPORT TO ART Registration is now open! Children and parents, grandparents, or guardians work side-by-side on arts, crafts, and performance projects led by trained educators and artists. These interactive workshops fill quickly; register early so you won't be disappointed.
THE ART OF MASKS WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 12:30 to 3 PM WHERE: Zimmerli Art Museum, George & Hamilton Streets, New Brunswick
COST: $10 members per child/$15 nonmembers per child
Masks were once worn by all members of Venetian society for purposes ranging from performance and courtship to criminal gain. Join us as we transport ourselves to eighteenth-century Venice and create our own masks. Will you become an anonymous maiden, a villain, or hero?
Click here to register.
POPCORN AND STARBABY WHEN: Saturday, November 5, 12:30 to 3 PM WHERE: Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick
COST: $10 members per child/$15 nonmembers per child
Artist and educator Dot Paolo leads a delightful workshop related to the Zimmerli's exhibition,
Popcorn and Starbaby: Children's Book Illustrations by Frank Asch, using actual popcorn to create depictions of the human figure. To register, call 732.932.7237, ext. 615, or
visit our website.
CREATE A GREETING CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS WHEN: Saturday, December 3, 12:30 to 3 PM WHERE: Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick
COST: $10 members per child/$15 nonmembers per child
Join educator/artist Rachel Escolar in the museum's annual workshop dedicated to the creation of unique greeting cards for the holidays. You may want to end your afternoon by stopping in the Museum Store to find the perfect gifts to accompany your handmade cards. To register,
use this link.
Holiday Workshop NEW YEAR CALENDAR WHEN: Wednesday, December 28, 12:30 to 3 PM WHERE: Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick
COST: $10 members per child / $15 nonmembers per child Parents or guardians are free! Enjoy each season as you turn the pages of your personalized 2012 calendar. Instructor Dot Paolo guides participants in the use of collage, stamps and many other art techniques to create one-of-a-kind calendars. Participants may wish to bring photographs of friends and family to include in their designs. For registration details,
visit our website.
COMMUNITY PAINTING PROJECT WHEN: October 2, from 10 AM to 4 PM WHERE: 18 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge
Kids ages 4 and up are invited to participate in a community painting project. Acrylic paint will be used on a mural-sized canvas that has been planned out in advance to inspire artists of all levels. (Left: Caren Frost Olmstead in front of the mural sized canvas. Photo by Kristina Lloyd)
The painting is part of
ARTsee Open Studio Tour—the first of its kind in Bernardsville and Bernards Township. Twenty-four of the area’s finest artists will open their private studios to the public, including six artists at Farmstead Arts at 450 King George Road. The group’s mission is the fostering of artistic expression, the promotion of visual artists who live and work in our area and the creation of art-based community events.
Artists Caren Frost Olmsted and Kristina Lloyd will display paintings, pastels, painted musical instruments, photography and beaded jewelry in Caren’s second floor garage studio and gallery.
Learn the story of the elves who sneak in during the night to finish the work the shoemaker could not complete during his workday. Children will present a play of the story for parents, caregivers, and siblings who may rejoin the program at 5:00pm.
Where: Warren Library, 42 Mountain Boulevard, Warren. Program Room. When: 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM Who: Ages 4 to 6. How: Registration required. Register online. Cost: Free. For more info: Call the Children's Services Desk at 908-754-5554 ext. 23.
MORRIS MUSEUM ANNOUNCES ECLECTIC FALL EXHIBITS
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown MUSEUM HOURS: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM; Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM; and Sunday, 1-5 PM. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for museum members and is free to the public every Thursday between 5 and 8 PM. For more information, call 973.971.3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.
On the Road: 100 Years of Motorcycles in America WHEN: September 25 through December 4, 2011
This exhibition offers an exhilarating look at the motorcycle—its origins, engineering innovations, customization and, of course, bike culture.
On the Road will examine important milestones of motorcycle history in the United States, including the first cross-country trip, racing, safety, women and riding, politics and Hollywood. Also on view will be motorcycle memorabilia, fashions, safety gear and vintage posters.
Bold Strokes: The Paintings of Chris Kappmeier WHEN: October 20, 2011 through March 25, 2012 New Jersey artist Chris Kappmeier’s paintings burst with tiny expressionistic specks and dashes of paint that build to capture city vistas and landscapes in their splendor. An artist with a modern take on the traditions of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Kappmeier says his paintings “call to mind the work of artists such as Van Gogh and Monet, who were also obsessed with visions of vibrant colors.”
Brainteasers 2 WHEN: October 1, 2011 – January 8, 2012
This collection of hands-on puzzles is designed to challenge visitors’ problem-solving skills and provide plenty of fun. Includes mathematical conundrums and mind-boggling block puzzles that require creative thinking and problem-solving strategies. Several LEGO® tables will be set up, where visitors can use the problem-solving skills of Brainteasers and artistic inspiration from Art of the Brick
® (see exhibition listing below) to build their own fantastic creations. This exhibition is produced and toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Delaware River Steamboat Ride Sat. October 8 (rain date Sun. Oct. 16) 10:00am to noon An 1880 replica of a sternwheeler steamboat will take you on a unique and unforgettable two-mile voyage on the Delaware River. Sit back, relax, and watch the wildlife that calls the river home. Learn all about steamboats. Meet in Lambertville. Led by Stephanie Foster, Scherman Hoffman teacher naturalist, and Sean Grace, Plainsboro Preserve sanctuary director. To register, call Scherman Hoffman at 908-766-5787. Please preregister by Sept. 28. Cost $25 members; $35 non members. Directions will be given when you register. Limit 4
NEWSIES! THE MUSICAL Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Jack Feldman Book by Harvey Fierstein
WHEN: September 15-October 16 WHERE: Paper Mill Playhouse, 36 Brookside Drive, Millburn
TICKETS: Call 973.379.3636
ORDER TICKETS ONLINE HERE
Read all about it! Paper Mill Playhouse is presenting the première of a brand-new musical,
NEWSIES, adapted for the stage from the popular Disney film based on the 1899 true story of a courageous group of scrappy newsboys who become unlikely heroes when they rally forces to fight an unscrupulous newspaper tycoon.
Hexagon Players Present: The Wizard of Oz Fri Sep-30 7:30 PM Sat Oct-01 2 PM & 7:30 PM at Bernards High School Bernardsville, New Jersey
The Mildred Barry Garvin Prize is an award of
$1,500 to a New Jersey teacher, guidance counselor, or school librarian for outstanding teaching of black American history in
kindergarten through high school or outstanding performance in a related activity such as
developing curriculum materials. One prize is awarded annually.
Nominations for the 2012 prize must be postmarked by October 6, 2011. Nominees must be a New Jersey teacher, guidance counselor, or school librarian engaged in teaching of black American history at any grade level between kindergarten and high school. Individuals may be nominated by others, or they may self-nominate.
To nominate an educational professional, submit the
nomination form and a 500-word essay describing the nominee’s qualifications and why he or she should receive the Garvin Prize. You may access the nomination form at
http://www.state.nj.us/state/historical/dos_his_grants.html#capesPostmark and submit the nomination form and essay no later than
October 6, 2011 to: Niquole Primiani Chief Programs Officer New Jersey Historical Commission 225 West State Street, PO Box 305 Trenton, NJ 08625-0305 (Please use the P.O. Box for U.S. Mail and the street address for courier service.)
These are just a few events from listings in various calendars & online newsletters including njartsmaven.com, Hillsborough, Branchburg, Somerville Macaroni Kid, and Warren Macaroni Kid. If your family is looking for things to do, take a look at these sites, as well as many other area event listings are in the “useful websites” section on the right side of this blog (if you are getting this via email, just click on the headline to see them listed.)
Let Your Fingers Do (More) Walking:
James Patterson's most recent book, "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life" is a No. 1 New York Times and No. 1 Indiebound best-seller. He is also the author of the award-winning "Maximum Ride," "Daniel X," and "Witch & Wizard" young adult series, and is the 2010 Children's Choice Book Awards author of the year. In 2008, Patterson created www.ReadKiddoRead.com, a site dedicated to helping parents find books that will get their kids reading.
James Patterson says boys can be a little squirrelly when it comes to reading, but they need to be praised and encouraged.
James Patterson notes:
- Parents, it's up to you, not schools, to find books to get your kids reading
- Get them motivated with books they like; rereading books and reading on tablets is fine
- There are numerous programs to guide parents; they also need to model reading habit
- Boys especially need encouragement; movies, video games should push reading
ReadKiddoRead.com, GuysRead.com, and
Oprah.com's Kids Reading List are excellent resources, and they're simpler to use than an iPhone. The
American Library Association and the
Young Adult Library Services Association have recommendations for terrific books, easily found by searching "ALA reading lists."
DropEverythingandRead.com has a "Favorite D.E.A.R. Books" tab on its home page.
Here's a simple but powerful truth that many parents and schools don't act on: The more kids read, the better readers they become. Want to learn how to make this happen for your child? Read his article!
A Very Potter Musical
Harry Potter turned on a whole generation of readers (both kids and their parents). If you are looking for some fun this rainy weekend, check out this loving, fan-made
Harry Potter musical parody on YouTube. More information is in this
Wikipedia article.
5th Annual Constitution Day Poster Design Contest – Deadline near!
Entries must be postmarked by October 1st, 2011. The first 100 entrants receive a free pocket constitution book from
constitutionfacts.com, with the contest winner receiving additional prizes! To enter, download the Constitution Day Poster Design Contest
entry form.
Weekend Journey through the Past
