Return to (Almost) Normalcy Edition

After a week of extension cords and being a warm place to stay in the community amidst many dark and cold homes, the Bridgewater Library can say (as they used to say on TV) “we now return you to your regularly-scheduled program.”  Our storytimes and special programs are back up and running.

LINCOLN Display is up in the library.

Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, A Man for All Times” illustrates that two centuries after his birth, Lincoln still speaks to Americans and the world. Raised on the Kentucky and Indiana frontiers, and formed by his experiences as a lawyer in Illinois, Lincoln wrestled with issues of race and rights, with the limits of political leadership, and with civil liberties during wartime. His administration advanced the idea of the United States as a single, unified nation, and he set an agenda for inclusive democracy that continues to have resonance today. Bridgewater Library will be displaying this exhibit through the month of November.  Sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman and National Humanities Council.

NOVEMBER is NaNoWrMo (NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH) – while several of our events were cancelled due to Superstorm Sandy (we will let you know if & when they are rescheduled), we have a “how to write” display in our Children’s Room as well as spiral-bound books available for kids to take to create their own stories.  For those whose writing interest is more on the picture book side, check out this blog by local author Tara Lazar about Picture Book Idea Month:  http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/



and if you have a manuscript, check out PITCH PERFECT Wednesday November 28, 2012 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Registration required.



You have the finished manuscript, but how do you craft that perfect pitch or query letter to catch the eye and ear of an agent or publisher? Join local authors for a discussion and workshop on their experiences breaking into the publishing world. You will work in small groups with the published authors to write your own pitch.

 @ the Library: Programs for Parents & Teachers



Monday Morning Moms Group (For parents or caregivers and children ages birth to 3 years) 10:00am-11am Join our new group where you can meet other parents, get ideas, and learn from experts! Each week will have a different theme and discussion led by a speaker. There will be some toys available for the children.

Monday, November 12th Caring for Your Child's First Teeth Registration required.

Monday, November 26th Holiday Gift Ideas for Readers of All Ages Registration required.



@ the Library: Programs for Children:













Family Storytimes (ages 2-6) Tuesdays at 10 and 1:30, Toddler Times (ages 18-36 months) Wednesdays at 10 & 11 and Thursdays at 10:30 & 11:30, Baby Times (Birth-18 months) Thursdays at 9:30. No registration is required but we ask that you only attend one session each week. Full details are posted our November Calendar or you can call us at 908 526-4016 x126. We also offer a satellite storytime/craft on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. at the Neshanic Station Library.

Kids' Club: 'Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things' (Grades 3-4)Monday, November 12th from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration begins October 29 'Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things' By Lenore Look A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to make friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.Join us for a chapter book club for 3rd and 4th graders. Reserve your copy early, and check at the Youth Services desk with any questions.

 

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Wednesday, November 14th from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration begins October 31 Hey LEGO fans, here's a club just for you! Get together with other LEGO-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time! Library LEGOS will be available for building, so you do not need to bring your own.

Garden Club Harvest Baskets (Ages 3+) (For ages 5+)
Saturday, November 17 from 10:30 am - 11:30 am Registration begins November 2 Get ready for Thanksgiving with the Bridgewater Garden Club's annual Harvest Celebration! Join us to hear stories about the harvest, and stick around to construct a beautiful, bountiful harvest basket to 'take home for the holidays!' No need to bring anything with you. We’ll supply all the materials!



Bedtime Math in the Afternoon (Ages 3-6)  Monday, November 19th  1:30-2:30pm

Bedtime Math in the Afternoon (Ages 6-10) Monday, November 19th 4:30-5:30pm

Registration Required. Join us for this celebration of all things mathematical  We'll make huge dominoes and play life size bingo, form tangrams, play guessing games and solve clever problems courtesy of the innovative 'Bedtime Math' folks.  So wear your silliest pajamas and be prepared to have some mind-stretching mathematical fun.

Advocacy: Current Issues in Special Education Thursday, November 29th from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm  Registration Required. Children with disabilities are entitled to a free, appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. This workshop will highlight the most current issues pertaining to special education services available to children with disabilities and their families.
Presented by Maria Fischer, esq., an attorney at Hinkle, Fingles, and Prior, a law firm committed to the field of disability law.  She earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar.  She has also been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Mercer County.



Tail Waggin' Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs (For Children of All Ages) on Thursday, December 6th. 4-5pm. Telephone or In-Person Registration Only Call the library at 908 526-4016 x126 for more information. You may begin registering for this program on Wednesday Nov. 21st.
Did you know that dogs like listening to stories as much as kids do?Come to the Bridgewater Library for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, our new program where children will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading a story to Xena the Therapy Dog, a friendly, six-year-old chocolate labradoodle. Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend. Therapy Dogs International (TDI®) is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed.For more information, please visit www.tdi-dog.org.  

And don’t forget The Library has books nominated for the 2013 Garden State Book Awards on display on the bookshelf behind the Youth Services Reference Desk. Stop on by and take a look!   For a full list of nominees with descriptions, click HERE.





There are ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page.

If you register for a program and realize that you won’t be able to come, please call (908 526-4016x126) or email us (bwljuv@sclibnj.org) as early as possible so we can make someone on the waitlist very happy. Next time that waitlisted participant might be your child!



@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:

TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8) Tuesday, Tuesday, November 13th 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) Tuesday Tuesday, November 13th 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM 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. meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+) Thursday, November 15th From 7:00pm – 8:30pm Registration Required to perform. Think you’ve got what it takes to get up on stage in front of your peers with nothing but your voice and guitar? Want to share your poetry, comedy, or original music? Then this is your night! Join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers get their voices heard. Depending on registration, artists will receive 10-15 minute slots to play music or recite poetry. Sign ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check back for more registration information. **You only need to register if you are interested in performing.**

5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Tuesday December 4th from 7-8pm Registration required. ATTENTION STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! You can help the library with special projects including creating bookmarks for young children, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

Want more info about upcoming programs? Check out our November teen calendar here.



Around the Community:

RVCC Planetarium has a variety of Saturday and Holiday shows for Children. Click HERE for a complete schedule. All shows run approximately 40 minutes. Admission: $7 for one show, $12 for two shows on the same day. Call 908-231-8805 for reservations!


There are lots more things to do around our community. Look at the “Useful Websites for Families” (on the right side of this blog – click the headline if you are reading this as an email) for many more options!

 

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking: Great articles for parents!

 

From Parenting Magazine:

 

Quirky Discipline Rules That Work

Tired of nagging and scolding? Try these 7 surprising solutions…

From NPR: Research Highlights Strengths Of Adolescent Brain

For those of you with teenagers, new research into their brains is quite interesting.  Adolescent brains have gotten a bad rap, according to neuroscientists. It's true that teenage brains can be impulsive, scientists reported at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans. But adolescent brains are also vulnerable, dynamic and highly responsive to positive feedback.  Definitely worth listening to (or reading the transcript)
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/22/163378348/research-highlights-strengths-of-adolescent-brain