The Suburban newsweekly has a nice profile of the Library's new director, Michael Lamb:

"Lamb stressed the importance of partnering with organizations throughout the community in order to provide taxpayers the "biggest bang for their buck." Teaming up with local schools and other organizations in town for programs like summer reading and community reading are just two examples of how the library can do so, he said."

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New Books Coming Soon!

The Library will be getting in books soon by some of our most popular authors. To reserve a copy of any of these, please give us a call, (732) 721-5600 ext. 5033.

27-Jan - John Grisham - The Associate
2-Feb - James Patterson - Run for Your Life
3-Feb - Joe Torre - The Yankee Years
10-Feb - T. Jefferson Parker - The Renegades
17-Feb - Maeve Binchy - Heart and Soul
24-Feb - J.D. Robb - Promises in Death
24-Feb - Lincoln Child - Terminal Freeze
24-Feb - Danielle Steel - One Day at a Time
24-Feb - Robert B. Parker - Night and Day
3-Mar - Jodi Picoult - Handle With Care
9-Mar - David Baldacci - First Family

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This Week at the Library!

Monday January 26, 2008
12:00- 9:00 p.m.: Midterm Study Space (Teens)

Tuesday January 27, 2008
3:30 p.m.: Breakdancing (Teens)
4:00 p.m.: Storytime/Craft (Laurence Harbor Branch)
7:00 p.m.: Family Storytime - all ages (Children's)
12:00-9:00 p.m.: Midterm Study Space (Teens)

Wednesday January 28, 2008
12:00-9:00 p.m.: Midterm Study Space (Teens)

Thursday January 29, 2008
1:00 p.m.: Craft Club (Adults & Seniors)
1:30 p.m.: MS Word Basics (Laurence Harbor Branch, Adults & Seniors, registration required)
4:15 p.m.: K-3rd grade Crafts (Children's)
12:00-9:00 p.m.: Midterm Study Space (Teens)

Friday January 30, 2008
1:30 p.m.: Senior Friday: Movie “Young @ Heart’ (Adults & Seniors)
6:30p.m.: Teen Movie: City of Ember (Teens)

Saturday January 31, 2008
10:00 a.m.: Pi-Eaters Math Club (Teens)
11:00 a.m.: Family Story Time – all ages (Children's)

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Patrons and staff gather together to watch the Presidential inauguration.

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Teen Librarian Mary leads the group through a craft to create blankets that will be donate to Project Linus.

For more information on teen programs at the Library, e-mail Mary.

This Week At the Library

Tuesday January 20, 2008
2:30pm: Internet Basics (Adults & Seniors)
3:30pm: Breakdancing (Teens)
4:00pm: Storytime/Craft (Laurence Harbor Branch)
7:00pm: Family Story Time - all ages (Children's)
7:00pm: Weight Loss (Adults & Seniors)

Thursday January 22, 2008
1:00 pm: Craft Club (Adults & Seniors)
1:30pm: Email Basics (Laurence Harbor Branch/Adults & Seniors)
4:15pm: K-3rd grade Crafts (Children's)
4:30pm: Teen Video Gaming (Teens)
7:00pm: Teen & Tween Video Gaming (Children's, Teens)

Friday January 23, 2008
3:00pm: Midterm Study Space (Teens)
10:00am: Spanish Class (Adults & Seniors)
1:30pm: Senior Friday- Movie: ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ (Adults & Seniors)
2:30pm MS Excel (Adults & Seniors)

Saturday January 24, 2008
9:30am-5:00pm: Midterm Study Space (Teens)
10:00am: Pi-Eaters Math Club (Teens)
11:00am: Family Story Time (All Ages)
2:00pm: Saturday Crafts (Laurence Harbor Branch/Children's)

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The Old Bridge Library hosted an informative program about legal research, conducted by librarians and attorneys from The Middlesex County Law Library.

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In honor of Black History Month, the Old Bridge Public Library will feature African Dance as our First Friday cultural performance to be held on Friday, February 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Bridge Public Library’s Central Branch. Audrey Davis will perform West African traditional dances including marriage and warrior dances accompanied by drums. Ms. Davis will outline the history, cultural context, and foundational steps of the dances. An explanation of traditional African clothing and instruments will also be given. Music will be provided by live percussionists playing in the West African tradition. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Old Bridge Public Library. For further information about library programs, call or e-mail the Information Desk, (732) 721-5600 ext. 5033.

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Upcoming book discussions at the Central Library

On January 15 at 7:00 p.m., the Original Book Discussion Group will be reviewing Orlando by Virginia Woolf.

On January 22 at 7:00 p.m., the Science Fiction Book Discussion Group will be discussing The Caves of Steel by Issac Asimov.

Tuesday, February 10 at 1:30 p.m. Daytime Book Discussion Group: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. “The astonishing, uplifting story of a real life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard - Library Catalog.

Thursday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. Original Book Discussion Group: The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki. “The judgment of crowds may be good in laboratory settings and classrooms, but what happens in the real world? - Book excerpt.

Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. Science Fiction Book Discussion Group: The Enemy Stars by Poul Anderson. “When the black star called, four men went to the galaxy's edge. Only one came back. But he did not come back alone...” - Fantastic Fiction.

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This week at the Library

Tuesday January, 13
1:00pm: Book Discussion
2:30pm: Email Basics
3:30pm: Breakdancing
4:00pm: Storytime/Craft
7:00pm: Family Story Time - all ages

Wednesday January 14, 2008
6:00pm: NJ Court Law Libraries

Thursday January 15, 2008
1:00 pm: Craft Club
1:30pm: Movie Club: ‘Cinema Paradiso”
1:30pm: Internet Basics
4:15pm: K-3rd grade Crafts
5:30pm: Make It Take It - Chocolate
6:30pm: Board Games

Friday January 16, 2008
10:00am: Spanish Class
1:30pm: Senior Friday – Movie ‘Secondhand Lions’

Saturday January 17, 2008
10:00am: Pi-Eaters Math Club
11:00am: Family Story Time - all ages

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John Padovano aka The Rainy Day Hobo, presented a fine concert of folk and blues music at the Library over the weekend.

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Artist and instructor Rocco presented a program at the Library on Action Sketching at the Library over the weekend.

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Teens have various states of fun during the Winter Lock-In at the Library. For more information on teen programs at the Library, please e-mail Mary.

Looking for a new career well suited to these tough economic times? Why not try Librarian? U.S. News and World Report lists it as one of the Best Careers for 2009!

Forget about that image of librarians as a mousy bookworms. More and more of today's librarians must be clever interrogators, helping the patron to reframe their question more usefully. Librarians then become high-tech information sleuths, helping patrons plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records, often starting with a clever Google search but frequently going well beyond."

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This weekend at the Library

Saturday, January 10 at 1:30 pm: Action Sketching Exhibition & Seminar with Noted Artist Rocco Scibetta Learn how to draw with simplicity and flexibility. Q & A forum as well.

Sunday, January 11th at 1:30pm Free Concert with the The Rainy Day Hobo, John Padovano. A Jersey Shore singer-songwriter, Padovano's music draws on blues and folk traditions. John is a polished troubadour who performs solo year-round along the Jersey shore at coffeehouses and cafés.

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Saxophonist Shannon Pierce performed before an appreciative audience at the Library during its monthly First Friday celebration. For more information on First Fridays and other upcoming programs, check out the Library's web site or e-mail Darren.

Librarian Tim Recommends: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

Somehow in all of my mystery and crime fiction reading, I had never read anything by Michael Connelly. His books had always been on my reading list, but for some reason or another he was always bumped in favor for something else. Since it looks like Ian Rankin's great detective John Rebus might well have retired, it seemed like a good time to make the acquaintance of his American counterpart, Harry Bosch. Starting at the beginning of the series, we find detective Bosch assigned to the Hollywood, California homicide bureau. A Vietnam veteran, Bosch is haunted by memories of scouring the tunnels of the enemy. When he finds a former war buddy dead of an apparent overdose in a drainage tunnel, Bosch uncovers a massive conspiracy involving robbery, murder and revenge. This was a very good story, Bosch is a great character and Connelly keeps the story moving briskly. There is quite a bit of detective story cliche, but it never detracts from the story which held my interest throughout. I look forward to reading more books in this series soon.

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Tis the season... for tax forms! The Library has gradually started putting out the most recent tax forms it has received. Tax forms can also be downloaded from the IRS and the New Jersey Department of Taxation. If you need assistance finding a form, call the Library at (732) 721-5600 ext. 5033 or e-mail us. Please Note: The Library can only assist you in getting the forms you need, we are not allowed to assist you in preparing your tax return.

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The Library has a new display of Crime Fiction in the front of the building. Pick up a mystery to while away those dark winter nights!

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