Happy New Year! The Old Bridge Central Library and the Laurence Harbor Branch will be closed Saturday, December 31 - Monday, January 2.

Send comments to: OBPL

First Friday, January 6 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of alternative folk and country music with Local New Jersey Singer and Musician Emily Grove. Send comments to: Darren

Our ever resourceful custodian Tibi stands with the Donation Giving Snowman he built for the Library. Patrons will pull off the snowman the item they would like to donate to the library, and bring it to the circulation desk. At the circ desk will be quick form for the patron to fill out (so we can gather a listing of donors), and the circ staff will collect the money which will then go to purchase the item.

Send comments to Library Director Sara Hansen.

It's almost time for the holidays! Here are the Library's hours during the festive season: Both the Central Library and the Laurence Harbor Branch will be closed December 24-26 and December 31-January 1. Happy holidays!

Send comments to: OBPL

OLD BRIDGE LIBRARY TV SERIES ON DVD

Have you ever started watching a great TV show in the middle of a season and wished you could go back and watch the episodes you’ve missed? The library can help you catch up. The library has several great TV shows on DVD available to rent and watch at your convenience. Here’s a list of some of the most popular titles:

1. DEXTER – Dexter Morgan works for the Miami Police Department as a Crime Scene Analyst. He also moonlights as a serial killer. The twist- he only kills those who are killers themselves. The library also has several of the Dexter novels written by Jeff Lindsay.

2. MONK – Brilliantly portrayed by Tony Shalhoub, Adrian Monk solves Crimes for the San Francisco Police Department. If you like the show, you might enjoy the books written by Lee Goldberg.

3. SOPRANOS – The classic HBO drama that put New Jersey on the map. The show revolves around Tony Soprano who struggling to keep his families together, a regular family and the other kind of “family” - the North Jersey Mob. The library has several “Soprano” related materials including the soundtrack cds, a Soprano Family Cookbook (641.5 RUC), and other Soprano books under the call number 791.45.

4. MAD MEN – This series has recently won most of the major awards for Best Drama. Taking place in the 1960’s, the drama takes place in the offices of the Sterling Cooper Ad Agency on Madison Ave. To read more about the look of the series, check out these library books: The Fashion File-Inspirations from the costume designer of Mad Men (746.92 BRY) /The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook-The bars and restaurants of Mad Men (642 GEL)/Mad Men Unbuttoned –A romp through 1960’s America (791.45 VAR).

5. HOUSE – Another NJ based drama, the series centers on Dr. Gregory House. Dr. Gregory House is a medical genius with no bedside manner. Actor Hugh Laurie is also an excellent author as well as actor. Check out his novel, The Gunseller, available in our Fiction collection. Also read The House That House Built (792.02 CHA).

6. LOST – An incredible TV series, you will need to watch it from Episode 1 or You might get “Lost”. At times, confusing and moving but always interesting And entertaining. The series revolves around a group of survivors of a plane crash, lost on a Pacific Island, all with a secret to tell. To help understand it all, check out Finding Lost –The Unofficial Guide (791.45 STA)

7. THE TUDORS – Not exactly the real story – Henry VIII really didn’t look Anything like Jonathan Rhys-Meyers but fun to watch nonetheless. Great acting by a great cast might make you want to check out these titles-The Tudors, Thy Will Be Done by Elizabeth Massie (F MASSIE) /The Wives of Henry VII by Antonia Fraser (942.052 FRA) and The Tudors –The Complete Story of England’s Most Notorious Dynasty (942.05 MEY)

8. TRUE BLOOD – Based on the popular Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris (M Harris), the new series details the lives of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, LA.

9. THE OFFICE (U.K.) & THE OFFICE (U.S.) – One of rare instances where a Remake of a series is as good and as popular as the original. Watch both and compare the two shows.

10. MODERN FAMILY – One of our most recent DVD purchases, This laugh Out loud comedy centers around The Pritchett Family.

This is just a small sampling of our fantastic DVD collection. If you have any questions or requests, please visit our librarians at the information desk. Send comments to: Amy.

A Librarian's Ten Favorite Books of 2011

10. Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke - Burke makes beautiful observations about the folly and stupidity of warfare, and the fallible nature of human beings in this excellent story.
9. Wyatt by Garry Discher - Like Richard Stark's great American anti-hero, Parker, Wyatt is a cold and calculating thief, looking for ways to ply his trade in an increasingly digital world.
8. The Sentry by Robert Crais - Crais keeps the action moving briskly and the complex storyline is logical and compelling. This longstanding series continues to produce interesting stories, flipping the perspective between Pike and Cole keeps things fresh and the Southern California setting is always alluring.
7. Devil Red Joe R. Lansdale - In this story, Hap and Leonard are helping a former cop friend of theirs who has recently started a detective agency. When a series of murders is committed that appears to be attributed to a vampire cult, Hap and Leonard investigate and stumble into much more than they bargain for.
6. Headstone by Ken Bruen - This was a fantastic novel in one of the best series going in contemporary crime fiction. Jack Taylor is such a compelling character, that whatever happens, you can't stop rooting for him and be simultaneously repulsed and fascinated by his deeds.
5. Rule 34 by Charles Stross - Charles Stross, one of the premier science fiction authors in the genre ties all of these threads and many more involving rouge artificial intelligence, international criminal syndicates, smuggling, human greed, culpability, and the unceasing march of technological progress.
4. The Gentlemen's Hour by Don Winslow - This is another excellent Winslow adventure, a sequel to The Dawn Patrol (although reading that book first is not necessary.) The protagonist is a very appealing character, someone we really we really want to root for to win against all odds.
3. You'd Better Watch Out by Tom Piccrilli - When a nameless young man witnesses his mother being murdered on Christmas Day by his crooked cop father, he vows one day to have revenge.
2. The Killer Is Dying by James Sallis - While James Sallis ostensibly writes crime novels, the crime itself becomes almost incidental to the haunted and melancholy lives of the characters he composes.
1. Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran - Claire is about as far from Nancy Drew and Stephanie Plum as you can get, but if you are looking for a gritty and well written crime novel, this is one of the year's finest.

Send your favorites list to: Tim.

Senior Friday Movies, January 2012

Friday, January 6th @ 1:30PM It’s Complicated Starring: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Rita Wilson Jane is the mother of three grown kids, has a thriving business and an amicable relationship with her ex-husband Jake. But when an innocent meal turns into an affair, Jane finds herself as the other woman. When an architect falls for Jane, he soon realizes he’s become part of a love triangle as things get very complicated. Rated R, 120 minutes, 2009

Friday, January 13th @ 1:30PM Super 8 Starring: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler In 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Soon inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - more terrifying than any of them could have imagined. Rated PG-13, 112 minutes, 2011

Friday, January 20th @ 1:30PM Zookeeper Starring: Kevin James With Voices by: Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher In Zookeeper, the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo love their caretaker, Griffin Keyes. Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Griffin decides the only way to get a girl in his life is to leave the zoo and find a more glamorous job. The animals decide to break their code of silence and reveal their biggest secret, they can talk! To keep Griffin from leaving, they teach him the rules of courtship, animal style. Rated PG, 90 minutes, 2011

Friday, January 27th @ 1:30PM The Debt Starring: Ciaran Hinds, Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington In 1965, three young Israeli Mossad agents on a secret mission capture and kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. Now, thirty years later, a man claiming to be the Nazi has surfaced in Ukraine and one of the former agents must go back undercover to seek out the truth. Rated R, 113 minutes, 2010

Send comments to: Lynn.

Top 10 movies coming out in 2012 that are based on best selling novels. (Order based on release date)

1. One For the Money by Janet Evanovich. Starring: Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara Release Date: January 27, 2012

2. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Voices By: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift Release Date: March 2, 2012

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Release Date: March 23, 2012

4. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth-Grahame-Smith. Starring: Benjamin Walker Release Date: June 22, 2012

5. The Hobbit by J.K.R. Tolkien. Staring: Luke Evans, Elijah Wood Release Date: December 14, 2012

6. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Starring: Tobey Maguire, Irrfan Khan Release Date: December 21, 2012

7. World War Z by Max Brooks. Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric West Release Date: December 21, 2012

8. The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire Release Date: December 25, 2012

9. The Perks of Being A Wallflower Starring: Emma Watson, Logan Lerman Slated Release Date: 2012

10. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. Starring Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe Slated Release Date: 2012

Please check IMDb.com for any release date changes or production information on these upcoming movies. To place a hold on any of these titles, please visit the library's online catalog or call the library at 732-721-5600 ext. 5010

Send comments to: Dennis.

Book a Nook, Part II - Check out an eReader at the Old Bridge Public Library

Please call the Adult Services Desk (732) 721-5600 x5033 to make a reservation for a Nook and let us know the title of the book you would like to read.

If the Nook doesn't already have the title, we will purchase the title and load it onto the book for you.

We will buy titles with a purchase price up to $19.99. The Library reserves the right not to purchase any title that does not meet with out collection development guidelines.

The Library will purchase one title at a time per customer and up to two titles each year. You MUST have an Old Bridge Library card to borrow a Nook.

Send comments to: OBPL

Book a Nook: Check out an eReader @ the Old Bridge Public Library. E-readers are versatile, portable devices that can be customized to the reader's needs. You Library is here to let you try out a Nook for free.

Nook eReader Borrowing Policy and Agreement

1. A Nook can be checked out by an Old Bridge Library customer who is 18 years of age or older and in good standing.
2. Customer must present current proof of address (e.g. driver's license) and have their own current Library card in hand before checking out the Nook.
3. The customer will sign a Nook Borrowing Agreement each time the Nook is checked out.
4. The Nook will circulate for 14 days and should be handed directly to a staff member at the Circulation Desk when returned.
5. Nooks cannot be returned in the book drop or to any other Library or left on the Circulation or Reference Desks.
6. The overdue fine for the Nook is $5.00 per day.
7. If the Nook is not returned or is damaged, the customer will be charged $149 for the Nook, $25.00 for the cover, and $14.95 for the chord.
8. Please do not register the Nook at Barnes and Noble with a personal credit card to purchase items. Please do not download any software or tamper with the hardware, software or settings.

Send comments to: OBPL

Staff Recommends - Plugged: A Novel by Eoin Colfer

Egged on by one of my favorite authors, Ken Bruen, to take a break from the world of young adult literature and enter the world of adult crime fiction, the author of the popular Artemis Fowl series of teen adventures turns to the seedy underbelly of New Jersey for this darkly funny tale of mobsters, murder and redemption. Daniel McEvoy mustered out of the Irish army after a couple of peacekeeping tours of Lebanon under his belt and is looking for a fresh start. Emigrating to America he finds the only jobs he can get are as bouncers at nightclubs, ending up at a sleazy New Jersey strip club. When one one of his favorite hostesses is harassed and then murdered, and his best friend is kidnapped, McEvoy is unwittingly plunged into his toughest mission since his military days. On the run from the mob, listening to a ghost of his missing friend and caught between two bloodthirsty cops, it will take all of Daniel's skills just to survive. This was a well written and frequently quite funny book: think Donald Westlake crossed with Alan Guthrie. Quite a bit of violence, so the squeamish might want to let this one pass by. But for fans of hard-boiled crime fiction with a touch of mordant humor, this is definitely a book to look out for. Plugged

Send comments to: Tim.

Just to let you know, we are getting some movie titles on Blu-Ray and DVD because they come packaged together for the price of one.

When we get both formats, they are going into separate cases. In the Library catalog, search the title and it will say "Blu-ray/digital combo pack." When you click on this, you will see the call number for DVD and Blu-ray versions.

Send comments to: OBPL

Senior Movies at the Library

• Senior Friday Movie: Larry Crowne — Friday, December 9 at 1:30pm at Old Bridge Public Library.
• Senior Friday Movie: The Help — Friday, December 16 at 1:30pm at Old Bridge Public Library.
• Senior Friday Movie: Sweet Home Alabama — Friday, December 23 at 1:30pm at Old Bridge Public Library.
• Special Senior Film: Seniors Bring Your Grandchildren! — Friday, December 30 at 1:30pm at Old Bridge Public Library.

Send comments to: OBPL

Staff recommends: Snuff by Terry Pratchett

The venerable fantasy series Discworld has many sub-plots among its nearly forty books, but my favorite involve the city watch commander Sam Vimes and his ever present search for law and order. Asked to finally take a vacation on his wife's country estate, Vimes is bored stiff in the sticks, and soon begins to sniff around in search of wrongs to right. He doesn't have to look far. After the local blacksmith Vimes quarreled with goes missing and he is nearly arrested by the clueless local constabulary, Vimes is heralded by local goblin leaders looking for "just ice," justice that is for a goblin woman found murdered and eviscerated while others were shipped off to slavery in the dead of night. Vimes attacks the crime with his usual vigor, making for a very entertaining story. As with much of Pratchett's work, the story is rife with thinly veiled social commentary, about the nature of good and evil, rich and poor and especially about the outcasts of society and how they are often mistreated. He can be a little preachy at times, with characters getting long grandstanding speeches, but the world and the memorable characters that he has created over the course of thirty plus years of storytelling win the day with a very entertaining book for fantasy fans, and open minded fans of police procedural that don't mind the satirical fantasy setting. Snuff - OBPL Catalog

Send comments to: OBPL

Upcoming Programs

• Hearing Loss: Have You Heard? — Thursday, December 1 at 11:00am
• First Friday - December 2nd at 6:30pm, the Library presents Drums and Dance of India, featuring the Taalim School of New Jersey.
• Introduction to Herbal Medicine — Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00pm

Send comments to: OBPL

TOP 10 ROYALTY BOOKS
By Staff Member Amy

THE RELUCTANT EMPRESS: ELISABETH of AUSTRIA by Brigitte Hamann
B ELISABETH HAM
Often called the 19th Century Princess Diana. Married at age 16 to Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, her turbulent life and tragic death resembles Princess Diana’s life.

VICKY: PRINCESS ROYAL OF ENGLAND & GERMAN EMPRESS by Daphne Bennett
943.084 BEN
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s eldest and favorite child. An exceptionally brilliant woman, she never achieved the greatness her parents wished for her.

MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE JOURNEY by Antonia Fraser
B MARIE ANTOINETTE FRA
One of history’s most misunderstood women. You’ll discover the truth about her and her tragic life.

GEORGE, NICHOLAS, AND WILHELM: THREE ROYAL COUSINS AND THE ROAD TO WORLD WAR I by Miranda Carter
940.3 CAR
A incredibly informative narrative that gives insight to the three cousins and rulers who were swept up the events leading to the First World War.

NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA by Robert Massie
947.08 MAS
Considered by some, the standard by which other royal biographies are measured. At the heart of this biography is a classic love story.

ROYAL FEUD : THE DARK SIDE OF THE LOVE STORY OF THE CENTURY by Michael Thornton
941.084 THO
A fun read. This book tells the truth behind the “love affair of the century”. This was the first book that hinted that the beloved Queen Mother could be tough. Fans of the movie “A King’s Speech” will recognize some of the scenes of the book.

EDWARD & ALEXANDRA by Richard Hough
941.0823 HOU
Edward was the second child and Queen Victoria’ heir. Ascending the throne at age 60, he and his beautiful Danish consort Alexandra only reigned for 9 years but made a lasting impact. Alexandra was the daughter of Denmark’s King Christian IX, “The Father – In –Law of Europe”

MATRIARCH: QUEEN MARY AND THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR by Anne Edwards
B MARY EDW
A biography of a “minor” princess who rose from obscurity to marry the future King George V. A fascinating woman who became an exemplary Queen. She is probably most known for her collection of jewels.

THE LAST ROMANTIC : A BIOGRAPHY OF QUEEN MARIE OF ROMANIA by Hannah Pakula
B MARIE PAK
One of the most famous Queens of our time if not the most eccentric.

ROYAL SISTERS : QUEEN ELIZABETH AND PRINCESS MARGARET by Anne Edwards
941.085 EDW
A very informative biography of Queen Elizabeth and her late sister Princess Margaret.

Send comments to: Amy.

Staff recommends: Black Light by Patrick Melton, et. al.

Buck Carlsbad is a private investigator, traveling the country taking jobs and pulling marks. Sounds pretty innocuous, right? Until you learn that Buck has a special gift, and that pulling marks means capturing wayward ghosts and poltergeists. Buck is scarred by thoughts a desolate stretch of Nevada where the ghosts of several notorious killers lie and where his parents themselves were killed. He tried to go there once before and was nearly killed himself by what lies in wait there. When he learns of plans to build a high-speed rail line that will connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas, traveling right through the paranormal "triangle" in the desert, and he receives a mysterious invitation to ride the inaugural journey, he knows that there is trouble brewing. As Buck rides the high-speed train and the ghosts come out of the woodwork, he's in a life or death struggle, where everything is on the line. This book is an interesting horror-thriller, and it moves seamlessly despite being a collaboration between three different writers. There is a considerable amount of graphic violence on par with some movies (the writers wrote the screenplays for the Saw franchise if that gives you any idea) but if you are a fan of supernatural horror, you should definitely check Black Light out.

Send comments to: Tim

Staff recommends: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Everyone growing up wants to believe that there is a fantasy world where they can escape to; a place where there are magical creatures and where Kings and Queens rule. Quentin is an everyday teenager from Brooklyn, New York who believes that magic is real. When he accidentally steps between the real world and the magical world, he ends up at a school called Brakebills, where he is accepted in as a student of magic. As he learns spells, new friendships are formed and Quentin's dreams finally come true when Quentin and his friends reach the magical world of Fillory; a magical land they all dreamed was real. Along the way they find out the real back story to the Fillory novels, and the danger that lurks behind each corner. Taking inspiration from Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, The Magicians is a tale about friendship, and the magic and adventure they all encounter together. This is a fantastic read for anyone who loves the Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia series as you will be able to pick up on the influences quickly. The reading is fast and there is a lot of action and a little romance. This is the first book in the trilogy written by Lev Grossman.

Send comments to: Dennis

This Week at the Library

Info & Registration for Programs & Classes: Call 732-721-5600
*Indicates Registration Required
(J) - Children’s - ext. 5028
(YA) - Young Adult - ext. 5028
(A, SR) - Adults/Seniors - ext. 5033
(CC) - Computer Classes - ext. 5033
(LH) - Laurence Harbor: 732-566-2227

Monday November 14
10:00am: Pre-school Storytime Craft (J)
12:00pm: Bridge Club (A, SR)*
4:30pm: Chess Club (Gr 1-6)
6:30pm: Craft Club (A, SR)
7:00pm: Ladies Night Out Book Discussion(A, SR)

Tuesday November 15
2:30pm: Computer Basics (CC, A, SR)*
6:00pm: Bracelets and Armbands (YA)
7:00pm: ESL (A, SR)*

Wednesday November 16
3:30pm: Math Tutoring (Gr 6-12)
6:30pm: Chess Club (YA, A, SR)
7:00pm: MS Word 2007 Basics (CC, A, SR)*

Thursday November 17
1:00pm: Craft Club (A, SR)
1:00pm: Scrabble Club (A, SR)
2:30pm: Internet Basics (CC, A, SR)*
4:15pm: School Age Crafts (Gr K-3)
7:00pm: Original Book Discussion (A, SR)

Friday November 18
Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale
1:30pm: Senior Friday Movie (A, SR)
2:30pm: Learn to Use Your iPad (YA, A, SR)*

Saturday November 19
Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale
10:00am: Math Tutoring (Gr 9 & Beyond)

Send comments to: OBPL

A Librarian Recommends: Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

Madison Spencer is the chubby, precocious daughter of a pair of wildly narcissistic movie stars condemned to Hell for dying of a drug overdose. In this wicked satire of the afterlife, adult greed and teen drama, Madison finds out that Hell is often like the infamous teenage movie The Breakfast Club, as she joins forces with teen stereotypes: the jock, the rebel and the diva, in order to make her way through the afterlife. Starting every chapter with a snarky jab at Judy Blune's teen fiction nugget Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, Madison describes her time in Hell, working in the Satanic call center where telephone solicitations are placed to the living during the dinner hour asking inane questions about consumer products. Madison also recounts her brief life with her super wealthy and self-absorbed parents, a brutal send-up of the celebrity worship culture we live in in America today. As Madison travels through hell, she meets historical figures of the past, from the expected like Adolf Hitler to the unusual like Charles Darwin. Slowly Madison begins to change, and the quiet and servile child grows more brazen and literally discovers her true self... in Hell. This was a well done satire, and one of Palahniuk's more successful books. The narrative is a little choppy and underdeveloped at times (possibly over-edited do to the potential controversial subject matter) but he makes his characters convincing and believable, and the satire and in-jokes are quite amusing. While certainly not for everybody, any open minded reader looking for a sharply worded satire should enjoy this book.

Send comments to: OBPL

Museum Pass Program

Enjoy a Day at the Museum on us!

The Friends of the Old Bridge Public Library have generously provided FREE passes for Old Bridge Public Library Customers to three of the area's most popular museums:

American Museum of Natural History (New York, NY)

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Brooklyn, NY)

Children's Museum of Manhattan (New York, NY)

Check out a pass to one of the museums with your library card, just like a book. Enjoy your visit with family and friends and then return the pass to the Library. Complete details of the Museum Pass program are listed here:

Send comments to: OBPL

Writer/singer to tell adoption story

Carol Barbieri, a writer, singer/songwriter and adoption-reform advocate, will offer a presentation titled “Mugshots on the Mantel” 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Old Bridge Public Library Main Branch, Route 516 and Cottrell Road.

Barbieri will offer her own adoption-reunion story. Prompted by her son’s diagnosis with a life-threatening heart condition, she began a search for her birth family and uncovered many secrets including her birthmother’s suicide, the family’s criminal past and the fact that she was living in the same town as the twin sister from whom she had been separated at birth. A musical performance of Barbieri’s adoption song, “Your Secret’s Safe With Me,” will follow the lecture.

For more information, call the library at 732-721-5600, ext. 5033, or email timnil@oldbridgelibrary.org.

Send comments to: OBPL

Don't miss Saturday's Baseball (October 29 @ 1:30 p.m.) program with renowned local author R.K. Vaughan:

A grandfather’s trips with his grandchildren to baseball parks around the country is the backdrop for the light-hearted but instructional telling of stories about some stellar baseball players. These stars also provided off-the-field examples for young people to follow in the way they lived their lives. The kids learn why these men are part of baseball lore and why they should be remembered as more than ballplayers. Courage, charity and concern for others pop up in the lives of all of these men who, except for one, are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And, as Grandpa says, “He could have been.”

About the Author
R. K. Vaughan, born in New York City, has been writing professionally for more than 40 years, including newspaper articles, CEO speeches and television commercials, as well as op-ed opinion essays that appeared in The New York Times and other publications. He also edited several cultural books and wrote a centennial history of Mobil Oil Corporation's operations in Indonesia. "Some Were Giants," is his third book since retirement. The others are a book of short stories titled "Yorkville Christmas and a novel, "And All Their Songs Are Sad." He and his wife, Joan, have four children and 15 grandchildren.

Send comments to: OBPL

Some teens are doing a book drive as part of their Pay it Forward project. One of their boxes is here in the library, in front of the reference desk.

Send comments to: Mary.

There's a display of staff pets dressed in their finest Halloween garb.

Send comments to: OBPL

Thank you for helping us be named one of the best Libraries in Central New Jersey.

Send comments to: OBPL

Mondays: October 17 & 24, from 2:30 - 3:30. Learn how to use your Nook or Nook Color and download free e-books from the Library. Please register by calling (732) 721-5600 ext. 5033. Send comments to: Maggie.

Free First Friday performance with Mike Kovacs on Friday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Old Bridge Public Library.

Send comments to: Darren.

The Central Library is Open for Old Bridge Day, Saturday, October 1st. Please note that there will be no on-site parking. There will be shuttle bus service from Old Bridge High School, or you may park at Sandburg Middle School and walk to the Library. Note: Please do not park on Cottrell Road or your car will be towed.

Send comments to: OBPL

The Old Bridge Public Library hosted a Job Seekers Seminar in conjunction with the Middlesex County Department of Workforce Development and The Old Bridge Economic Development Corporation.

Send comments to: OBPL

Looking for business information? Try Reference USA! Use the Reference USA database to find businesses based on employee size, sales volume, type of business and location. Find news articles on businesses and perform searches for papers and class projects. Find executives, corporate families and company descriptions. You can conduct powerful market research or select a location and do a radius search to look up the number of similar businesses in the area.

To access Reference USA, please do the following: Log onto the Library’s web site: www.oldbridgelibrary.org/ In the lower right hand corner of the Library’s web site, you will see a link for Jersey Clicks, clink on this link. From Jersey Clicks, click on the Reference USA icon. You will be prompted to enter your library card number, do so and you will have access to the database.

Send comments to: OBPL

Learn to Use Your Nook! On Thursday, September 22 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 27 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Michael Nail from Barnes and Noble will teach you how to use your Nook or Nook Color to download free eBooks from the Library.

Send comments to: OBPL

Saturday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m. Come learn about the cases of paranormal activity examined firsthand by Kim Kowalczyk, founder of Ghost Breakers Paranormal Research Organization. As a special treat Mr. Kowalczyk will bring some of the specialized equipment Ghost Breakers uses to record paranormal activity.

Send comments to: OBPL

On Tuesday, September 20th at 10:00 a.m., The Old Bridge Public Library will be hosting a Job Seekers Seminar in conjunction with the Middlesex County Department of Workforce Development and the Old Bridge Economic Development Corporation. Speakers include Library Director Sara Hansen and keynote speaker Jane Z. Brady. To register or for more information, please call Gail Lemaldi at the Old Bridge Economic Development Corporation, (732) 607-7920.

Send comments to: Sara.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend: both the Central Library and the Laurence Harbor Branch will be closed Saturday - Monday for Labor Day Weekend. Send comments to: OBPL

Divorce: What Every Woman Should Know: On Wednesday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. There will be two speakers at the Library to discuss divorce issues and support services available to women.

Send comments or questions to: Anita.

The library is closed today, Monday August 29th, due to post-hurricane issues. We currently plan to open again tomorrow at our regularly scheduled time.

Send comments to: OBPL

Mayor Gillespie has ordered an evacuation of the Laurence Harbor area @ 4pm. We will be closing the Laurence Harbor Branch Library @ 3:30.

Send comments to: OBPL

FYI From Old Bridge Township: PUBLIC NOTICE EMERGENCY REGIONAL SHELTER CARL SANDBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL located on Route 516 & off Route 9 North WILL BE OPEN ON AUGUST 27, 2011, SATURDAY AT 4 P.M. If you live in a FLOOD ZONE please take the appropriate precautions. For additional information go to the NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT web site at http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/

Send comments to: OBPL

First Friday, September 2 @ 6:30 p.m.: Kati Beddow Brower and Friends - Swing and Jazz, Free and Open to the Public! Swing and Jazz focusing on the great women of Jazz and their signature songs. So get your dancing shoes on and start hoofin'! The band includes Kati Beddow Brower on vocals, Everald Williams on saxophone, Bill Henry on keyboard and George Manry on drums.

Send comments to: Darren.

Beginning on Tuesday, September 6; the Old Bridge Public Library and the Laurence Harbor Branch will have new hours of operation.

New Central Branch Hours as of September 6, 2011:
Monday 10:00am–9:00pm
Tuesday 10:00am–9:00pm
Wednesday 10:00am–9:00pm
Thursday 10:00am–9:00pm
Friday 10:00am–5:00pm (first Friday of each month, 10am-9pm)
Saturday 10:00am–5:00pm
Sunday 1pm-5pm

New Laurence Harbor Branch Hours as of September 6, 2011:
Monday 1:00pm–5:00pm
Tuesday 1:00pm–8:00pm
Wednesday 1:00pm–5:00pm
Thursday 1:00pm–5:00 pm
Saturday 1:00pm–5:00 pm

Send comments to: Sara.

The Chess Club had another excellent evening - please come out and join us if you're interested, Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Ask for Lynn. Or call (732) 721-5600 ext. 5033.

We made monsters out of felt! You didn't even need to know how to sew! Grades 6-12 Call 732-721-5600 x5028 for more fun programs.

Send comments to:Mary

Teens Taking Action is doing a drive for the Old Bridge Animal Shelter. The donation box is by the book donation area. It is a big orange box that says 'Animal Shelter Drive' on it. The drive is running from Monday August 15 to Saturday August 27th. The shelter has requested the following items:

• Wood burning stove pellets found at AGWAY, Dill's, and Wal-mart (or any type of pellet litter)
• Canned KITTEN/PUPPY food
• Canned CAT/DOG food
• Metal litter pans
• Nupro Supplement
• Antibacterial ointment
• Pedialyte
• Disposable bowls
• Paper towels
• Disinfectant wipes (Lysol Wipes)
• "Havahart" cat traps

Please Note: The kennel cannot accept any open bags of dog or cat food or treats. Currently they are not accepting USED towels, blankets or linens, due to recent insect issues. They also cannot accept used toys, bedding, cat condo's etc.

Send comments to: Mary.

ESL Classes: Learn to speak better English in small groups led by trained volunteers. Free 13-Week Program on Tuesdays from 7:00 8:30 p.m., starting September 20, 2011. This program is currently open to Old Bridge residents only. Applications will be available at the Adult & Information Services Desk after September 1st.

Send comments to: Dena.

Looking to clear some of that clutter that has been building up around the house? Check out this informative flyer by the Library's own Nancy C. Click on the picture to enlarge. This flyer is also available in print at the Library.

Send comments to: OBPL

Are you interested in Genealogy research? Get started with this excellent flyer made by an OBPL staff member. Click on the pictures to enlarge. This flyer is also available in print at the Library.

Send comments to: OBPL