New Teen Zone!

Maplewood Library’s new TEEN ZONE is opening at the Main Library on Sept. 6.  Although the area is still “under construction”, the young adult collection of fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels and books on CD have been moved to what used to be the Adult Reference Area.   
TEEN ZONE provides a place for tweens/teens to read a book or magazine, do homework, research a school project or play a game!  Check it out!

Hands-On Science at Hilton Branch

Volcanoes were dirty and creative during the Hands on Science program at Hilton Library during the Summer Reading Club. Volcanoes were built, decorated and erupted to the joy of all.

YA Grand Prize Winner

Tabitha Laurent (on right), pictured with her sister Benjina, is the grand prize winner of Maplewood Library's Teen Summer Reading Program.  Many thanks to [Words] Bookstore, Village Trattoria and the Village Ice Cream Parlour for their generous contributions to the grand prize.

Hilton Branch Summer Reading Club Finale

Learn some Spanish!

Pick up your passport!

See how many stampsyou collected!

All ages welcome, parents are encouraged

to attend.

Wednesday August 31st

3:00-3:45 pm at Hilton Branch

Refreshments will be served. Space is limited, so call to register: 973-762-1688

Local architects Camilla Foulks Zelevansky and  Huzefa Irfani of Studiovert Architecture presented a series of four workshops on indigenous architecture.  Week one was a workshop on local native wigwams. The kids built them out of twigs and brown paper.

A Princes and Princesses From Around the World Tea Party was put on at Maplewood Library by Susan Donlan (back row) of Parteaz in Maplewood. More than 26 boys and girls ages 3 - 6 years attended.

Family Lego Night

 

Family Lego Night has been a fun and successful program that offers families an opportunity to work together to build Lego creations, which are on display in the Children's Room. 

 146 children (plus their parents) signed up to be a part of the Family Lego Night programs this summer.

We will be offering Family Lego Nights starting again this fall. (times and dates to be announced)

below left: Finley B shows his Lego creation entitled "The Haunted Watch Out!"

below right: Maya B shows her Lego creation entitled "The Secret Hideout!"

Rangoli for Adults

Rangoli is a very creative craft for both men and women. Rangolis are floor designs from India and are made using a grid system. It is the kind of workshop in which you really do not need drawing skills!

Seema Moodra, of Enjoy Explore India, will bring a display of rangolis, give a demonstration on how rangolis are made, bring some sample designs, and help each participant complete their project. 

Rangolis are particular to different regions of India and the display will help you learn about the geography, the culture of the country and understand how these geometric patterns have traveled throughout the world. 

It is a simple yet dynamic cultural learning workshop and the skill you learn can be used  to continue designing at home. 

Free and open to all adults 18 and over.

Thursday, July 28

7:00 pm at Main Library

A (Family) Night in Morocco

A family night in Morocco at Hilton Library (part of the summer reading club) featured healthy and delicious food from Morocco prepared in the Whole Foods kitchen.  

Stuffed squash, couscous, watermelon, oranges, and green tea were featured and enjoyed by all.

Special Screening Tonight

Inside Mecca

Join writer and director Anisa Mehdi at this screening of her beautifully uplifting film, following three Muslims from very different backgrounds as they embark on the spiritual journey of a lifetime.

A discussion will follow. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, July 20

7:00 pm at Main Library

Make a Stand for the Library

Help support the Library with a lemonade stand! It's fun for the whole family.

Kits with instructions, helpful hints and signage are available at both Libraries.  

Last year, donations totaled nearly $1600. This year's goal is $2500. Money raised will be used to buy books, CDs and DVDs.

In the Children's Room

Kids had a great time creating African Masks during our School Age Crafts Program. The workshop will be offered again on Monday August 1 at 7pm Other upcoming craft programs for ages 6-12 are:

Chinese Cinderella
Main Library: Mon July 18 @ 7 pm
                     Tues July 19 @ 3 pm
Hilton Branch: Wed July 20 @ 2 pm

Mexican Tin Craft
Main Library: Mon July 25 @ 7 pm
                     Tues July 26 @ 3 pm
Hilton Branch: Wed July 27 @ 2 pm

For more information contact the Children's Room at 

973-762-1622 extension 5005

Two Big Events on Thursday, June 30

Sugar Changed the World

Join local authors Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos to learn about the history, music, and dance of sugar throughout the world.  For all ages-- families welcome.  Share your sugar story at: http://sugarchangedtheworld.com

Thursday, June 30

4:00 pm at Main Library

Big in China

Author Alan Paul was Big in China, and now he’s huge in New Jersey. He lived in Beijing for 3 ½ years, raised his 3 kids, traveled all over, and became a musical star. He’ll talk about his adventures and, in his words, “what can happen when you plunge into a new reality!”

Copies of the book will be available for sale.

Thursday, June 30,

7:00 pm at Main Library

Coming this month:

Novel Destinations 

Adult Summer Reading Program

This summer, adults will have their own reading program at Maplewood Library. Novel Destinations is open to adults 18 and older, with programs, give-aways, book discussions, and prizes. 
Registration begins Monday, June 27. When you register, you‘ll receive a bookmark and reading log. 
Every adult who turns in a completed reading log by Friday, August 12 will receive a Novel Destinations browsing bag and will be entered into a grand prize raffle drawing. 
Programs do not require registration, and are free of charge. 
Register at Main Library or Hilton Branch. 
Novel Destinaions is funded by the Friends of the Library

See more of us in the Maplewood Memorial Day Parade here :

on Flickr

and here:

On Picassa

The Secrets of Self-Publishing  

Your book is finished! Now what? Local author Peter Gilio will lead you through the process of self-publishing; what you need to know before you start, and how to make it a rewarding and successful experience.

Wednesday, May 18 

7:00 pm at Main Library

State Library Recognizes Hilton Library  Best Practice

The Read Together Backpacks at Hilton Library have won a $500 prize for a Best Practice in Early Literacy from the New Jersey State Library. Four libraries in the state were awarded this prize.

Hilton Library has about 25 of the child-sized backpacks filled with materials…books, manipulatives, CDs, puzzles, and other items to encourage parents to be part of their children’s introduction to reading.

The check was presented to Jennifer Burkholder, Hilton’s children’s librarian, at the State Librarian’s breakfast during the New Jersey Library Association Conference in Long Branch on May 4.

Jennifer will also be part of a panel presentation on May 10 in Atlantic City for The NJ Head Start Association Conference. She will describe and demonstrate how the Read Together Backpacks help parents and caregivers encourage language and pre-reading skills in children from birth-6 years.

Hilton Library is also featured in a Best Practices booklet that the State Library will distribute at both the NJLA and NJ Head Start Conferences.

"Meet the Warriors" Event a Big Success

Over 300 people came out to meet a Samburu Chief and 3 warriors. These visitors from a remote area of Kenya came as part of the Library's African Pen Pals program The library welcomed [left to right] Chief George, Warrior Katelo, Warrior Lekataro, and Tribal elder Lesiit.

View more pictures of the warriors

Watch videos of the event (by photographer Joy Yagid) on YouTube: Video 1 Video 2

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Maplewood Library’s new ADA-compliant elevator was launched with much fanfare. From left: Assemblyman John McKeon, Township Committeeman Marlon Brownlee, Library Director Jane Kennedy, President of the Library Board Katherine Hilaire and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey. 

E-Audiobooks for Kids and Teens

Maplewood Library has a NEW and IMPROVED selection of downloadable audiobooks for children and teens

Now you can download children’s audiobooks by authors such as Avi, Dan Gutman, Betsy Byars and Michael Buckley.  Recordings of the popular children’s series “Ivy + Bean”, “My Weird School” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” are available for download from home.  Teen book authors include Meg Cabot, Margaret Peterson Haddix and Anthony Horowitz and series such as “Maximum Ride”, “Mediator” and “Alex Rider”.  Check out our website www.maplewood.library.org/Eaudiobooks.htm  to view downloadable titles or come in and ask a librarian.