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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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