A Summer of Reading and So Much More

"Summer Reading" has officially begun at Bernardsville Library with featured attractions for youngsters, teens, and adults. The summer months ahead will be filled with giveaways, reading challenges, exciting day and evening programming, story times around town and at the community pool, and even a pop-up Air and Space Museum coming in mid-July!

Register your children (they don't have to be members of the library) for the Build a Better World summer reading program that entitles them to loads of fun activities throughout the summer while challenging them to meet reading goals. Of course, there will be incentives and prizes awarded on a regular basis for those children who meet their goals.

Teens have their own online summer reading club where they can write short book reviews of books they've read. By doing so, they will be entered into a drawing for prizes, some of which will be gift cards from local stores. And we never forget our adult readers! They're invited to enter our adult summer reading contest. All they have to do is borrow at least three books or book CDs to enter their names for prizes, including the grand prize - a gift basket containing a Kindle Fire HD with Alexa. Time to get reading!

Reach for the Top

The pinnacle of success in life is built upon a foundation of hard work; it's nearly impossible to achieve goals without it. Whether you're a student writing a research paper, an adult seeking career advancement, a foreign-language speaker learning English, or a curious mind expanding your knowledge base, the public library provides you with the tools and inspiration necessary to get to the top. Best of all, these resources are abundant and free to you. 

We think the first step on your way to success should be the acquisition of a library card. To become a member of Bernardsville Public Library, you must live, work, go to school or pay taxes in the Borough of Bernardsville or qualify through joint memberships with certain library associations. You also have the option of purchasing a nonresident card. Your Bernardsville library card accords you full access to what would otherwise be a very costly set of books, resources, subscriptions, and online services if you had to purchase them on your own. 

To further help you meet your goals, a good library website loaded with reference and research databases makes working from home possible when a library visit is not feasible. At Bernardsville Public Library, these databases are open to you 24 hours a day with the simple input of your library card number. Make yourself familiar with our website, bernardsvillelibrary.org, find out whether you qualify for a library card, and start laying the foundation for your next success in life. We're here to help.

Make a Date for NJ Makers Day

We're happy to announce that we will once again celebrate the growing Maker Movement by participating in the statewide NJ Makers Day event in March.  Please reserve time on Saturday, March 19, to bring your family and friends to Bernardsville Public Library for an exciting and varied program of displays, demonstrations, and hands-on exploration. Our NJ Makers Day presenters will keep young and adult intrigued by new innovations in technology, including robotics and creative circuitry. You'll have a chance to try out a MakeyMakey piano, play with microcontrollers, 3D pens, and button maker, and see a Finch Robot demonstration. Artists and crafters will demonstrate their skills including hand embroidery, finger knitting, and miniature book production. In addition, there will be a display of altered books to enjoy. For a full schedule of events at our NJ Makers Day event, please refer here: http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/nj-makers-day-2016/

VITA Proves Vital in Tax Season

Bernardsville Public Library is once again offering free tax preparation assistance for residents of the Somerset Hills. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is spearheaded locally by a group of dedicated volunteers who are trained annually by the IRS and the State of New Jersey to be able to handle a wide range of tax situations. They can assist you with the filling out of federal and New Jersey State tax returns, as well as Property Tax Reimbursement forms, PTR-1 or 2. Our VITA volunteers will also provide Spanish forms for Spanish speakers. Please call the library, 766-0118, to book an appointment in the library for free, confidential assistance with your tax preparation. This service is also available to home-bound area residents by appointment. Don't fear tax season, but don't delay getting vital assistance, either. Call today!

Will You Be One Of Our Makers In 2016?

Bernardsville Public Library is putting out a call for creative people - Makers - to participate in our Maker Day 2016, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 19, 2016. You might just be among the Makers who will be joining us!

Are you one of those people who likes to tinker with technology, to kick it up a notch with culinary tricks, to create a new angle on an old craft?  Maybe you know a thing or two about robotics, circuitry, 3D printing or motors?  Perhaps you're an artist with a different approach to your medium?

We're currently seeking Makers with novel, but practical ideas that can be demonstrated to an audience of all ages. We encourage you to present your special knowledge or skill in such a way that your audience can try it out, too, if possible. Please contact us right away at 908-766-0118 to express your interest in participating. We can't wait to hear from you!

One Book Bernardsville

This month Bernardsville Library and its community will be enjoying a shared reading experience called One Book Bernardsville. We will be reading "The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken" by Laura Schenone, discussing the book at three different book group meetings, and participating in an interesting and varied assortment of programs related to Italian culture, cuisine, and ethnic history.

Our first program offers insights into the Italian community in Bernardsville which provided skilled artisans for the Mountain Colony estates they helped build at the turn of the 20th century. While the stately homes are known to many, the history of this Italian community, Little Italy, is less well appreciated. Learn about Bernardsville's Little Italy at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, and hear how you can connect to your own family's history through Ancestry.com, as well.

If you love Frank Sinatra standards, come back again the next day for a jazz singer's rendition of the tops hits when Maggie Worsdale sings Sinatra at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. This concert is funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library. On Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m., we offer a completely different musical program featuring world class tenor Salvatore Chiarelli. You'll find yourself entranced as Mr. Chiarelli sings a lovely selection of classical, popular, and traditional Neapolitan/Italian songs.

For a taste of Italy, attend our two free programs on cuisine and wines! Diane dePalma will teach us how to make ravioli and provide a tasting, too, on Saturday, October 24 at 2 p.m. Follow that up on Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m. with a free Italian Wine and Cheese Pairings program presented by Gary's Wine and Marketplace.

And to tie this all together, we will host the author of our One Book Bernardsville selection when Laura Schenone comes to the library to talk about her book and her quest for that lost family recipe. She'll be here on Wednesday, October 14, at 7 p.m., so feel fee to ask her a few questions. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing. We hope you'll attend at least a few of these wonderful free programs and that you'll enjoy discussing this book with your neighbors, the library staff,  and your own book groups. Please refer to the website for dates when we offer library book group discussions.

Takin' It To The Streets

Bernardsville Public Library is going on the road in September to sign up new members during Library Card Sign-Up Month. You could even say we’re “takin’ it to the streets” of Bernardsville to show you just how easy it is to get a library card!

Our information tables are popping up at such Bernardsville locations as Starbucks, Kings, Shoprite, and Penguin Ice Cream where staff members greet shoppers and acquaint them with the many benefits of having a Bernardsville Library membership. These benefits include full borrowing access to our incredible free resources; exciting, educational programming for children and adults; tools for online learning and homework help; numerous volunteer opportunities; and a career skills center.

As a thank you, new members will receive our library tote bag, information pamphlets, and tokens such as library cups, notecards, or rubber bracelets – something for everyone! But wait, there’s more! Did you know that you don’t necessarily have to be a resident of Bernardsville to get a library card? Anyone who works in Bernardsville, though not a resident, is entitled to a card, as are certain non-resident students. People from neighboring towns or towns in our library federation are also entitled to a card. All you need do is ask! Show us your ID, fill out a short form, and you’ll be a card-carrying member of Bernardsville Library in no time!

Soon in June! What's Coming Up

How concerned should you be that the precious resource, water, is endangered? In jeopardy not only from the physical effects of climate change, water reserves around the globe are now being depleted, polluted, privatized, and commoditized. Who has a handle on this? Find out at our free screening of the award-winning documentary, "Blue Gold: World Water Wars," on Sunday, June 7, at 2 p.m. in the Community Room. This viewing is sponsored by the Bernardsville Green Team. Please tell your friends about it.

Also coming up soon, Bernardsville resident Alan Winter will discuss his new novel, "Island Bluffs," which is set in a Jersey shore community. The book features fictional characters who are compelled by personal need and secrecy to act in extraordinary ways, but the story is based on true events that include bits of World War II history. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing by the author at this book talk on Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m. in the Community Room. This is a free event; please come!

 "Building a Confident Retirement: A Seminar at Bernardsville Library" will be presented on Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room by Keith A. Smith, a Financial Advisor and Certified Financial Planner™ at Smith & Associates, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. He will discuss how to bring your retirement dreams and goals more within reach; how to prioritize your retirement saving and spending plans to address what is most important to you; and how to identify risks that could throw your retirement plans off track. Sign up to attend and start now on the road to a more secure retirement! - http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/program/building-a-confident-retirement/.

Celebrate National Library Week With Us

This year, April 12-18th marks the period when U.S. libraries and their associations celebrate National Library Week. It's a time when communities acknowledge the importance of libraries to their well being and when individuals make a point to visit their public or academic libraries.

During National Library Week, libraries around the country present special programming and activities to promote their services. If you haven't visited your local library recently, this is the week to see what's new and to learn how libraries can improve your quality of life. You may be surprised to discover how much fun may be had there, too!

At Bernardsville Public Library, we'll be offering programs for children and adults that range from decorating Minion cupcakes or mixing up Oobleck to learning about the world of mediums or doing handcrafts in a communal setting. As a special treat, we are also holding a photo identification contest using photographs from our Local History Collection. Those contestants who can identify all ten photos will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card! This isn't anyone's idea of an old-fashioned, hidebound library; instead, we're a center for our community. During National Library Week, we hope you'll celebrate our close partnership with you.

Bernardsville Public Library To Participate In NJ Makers Day 2015

Select New Jersey libraries, museums, schools and commercial spaces will be providing public makerspaces on March 21st for the first statewide NJ Makers Day 2015, and Bernardsville Public Library is proud to be hosting one of these makerspaces.

As stated by its organizers,  “The ultimate goal of NJ Makers Day 2015 is to enhance community engagement and develop connections among New Jersey residents by collaborating with libraries, museums, small businesses and others to promote and explore new opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and hands-on learning experiences.”

We at Bernardsville Library are quite familiar with the maker movement, having hosted our own exciting Maker Day in September of 2014. For our participation in NJ Makers Day 2015, we will once again be utilizing much of the library’s layout to accommodate various exhibits and mini-makerspaces. These makerspaces will include interactive opportunities to explore squishy circuits, pop-up book crafting, and origami, among other things.  Bernardsville Library Director April Judge notes, “We are committed to finding ways to help people to learn new skills and to work collaboratively on exciting hands-on projects.”

Please mark your calendars to attend our free NJ Makers Day 2015 event on Saturday, March 21 between 11 a.m and 4 p.m.  For further information and updates, please refer here.

Is TheThought of Tax Prep Taxing You?

We've had our fun with various festive holidays, but now it's time to get those tax documents ready for state and federal filing deadlines! Once again, Bernardsville Public Library will offer free tax assistance to local residents through the VITA program.

This Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program known as VITA utilizes local volunteers who are trained to help you in the filing of state and federal income tax returns, extensions, and estimated tax payments. Our volunteers have just completed a training update and will be accepting appointments starting in February.  Call the library at 908-766-0118 for a free one-hour appointment with a VITA volunteer and breathe a little easier. For more information, please refer here: http://bit.ly/15PdqFM.

"I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to."

In October, Bernardsville Public Library will host a month-long community reading event known as One Book Bernardsville.  The memoir A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson has been selected as our One Book.  To become better acquainted with the author, please view the enjoyable video posted below.

Bill Bryson's 1989 book, The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America, begins with the words "I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to."  That opening line also kicks off this video about the author's childhood.  Aired in the United Kingdom on Melvyn Bragg's South Bank Show in 2006 (South Bank Show – Bill Bryson itv.com/southbank,) the video features Bryson's recent return visit to his hometown to discuss what it was like growing up in Iowa. Included in it are numerous charming clips from home movies his father took.  Bryson's mother appears in it as well as high school friend, "Katz," who accompanied Bryson on part of his Appalachian Trail hike. That attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail is recounted in our One Book Bernardsville selection, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, to be read and discussed by the community during the month of October. Please click here for information about A Walk in the Woods and about the One Book Bernardsville events our library has planned throughout October. Now, enjoy the video!

Senior's Day 2014

We are pleased to announce that our 12th annual Senior's Day event will be hosted once again by the Friends of Bernardsville Public Library on Friday, June 6, at 10 a.m. in the Community Room.  Our guests will be treated to a free continental breakfast and entertainment provided by Gordon Thomas Ward.  Mr. Ward will present an original musical program - "Story-Songs of History" - using anecdotes, multiple instruments, and vocals to transport the listener on an enchanting journey through time.  Seniors are bound to enjoy this program as well as the opportunity to socialize.  There are no restrictions as to town residency or library membership; any senior may attend!  The only requirement is that attendees sign up in advance.  Please call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up or register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/program/seniors-day-2/.