Free Programs for Kids, Teens, and Adults

Check the Calendar for a quick overview of what's happening at the Library!

Adults

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Library will host a reading by local author Debra Galant.  Ms. Galant is the author of Rattled and Fear and Yoga in New Jersey. Her new novel, Cars from a Marriage, is due out in May.  When Ms. Galant visits the library on Thursday, March 18 at 7 pm, she’ll read from and discuss her humorous novels that satirize life in suburban New Jersey. 

Ms. Galant is a journalist, as well as, an author. The New York Times carried Ms. Galant’s column on suburban living for five years. She has also written for New York Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, Barron’s, Worth and other national magazines.  She is the creator of the popular local website Barista.net which covers news and events in Montclair and the surrounding area.

Advance registration is required for this free program.  Call 973-736-0198 to reserve your spot.  The library is located at 46 Mt. Pleasant Avenue in West Orange.

The West Orange Public Library partners with West Orange Encounter to present a five-week lecture series on Jewish History.  The series will explore the four thousand year history of the Jews from Abraham to Ariel (Sharon).  Participants will learn about the glory and despair that have defined the ebb and flow of Jewish existence since Biblical times. Through the lens of history, the lectures will provide an understanding of what Judaism has meant through different stages in history and will examine the complexities facing Judaism today.

West Orange Encounter is a new organization that focuses on bringing Jewish values and lessons to a new audience.  The lecture series is open to all. 

The series will take place at the Library on selected Thursday nights at 7pm. The dates for the lectures are April 8, April 15, April 29, May 6 and May 13.  Advanced registration is required for these free programs.  Call 973-736-0198 to register.

Join Dr. Bernard Ducoff on Wednesday, April 14 at 1:30pm at West Orange Public Library for a lecture that explores the pioneering leadership of Louis Brandeis. Learn how Brandeis transformed the business of law and developed the concept of pro bono practice. Brandeis is considered one of the great Supreme Court Justices. He served in the Supreme Court for over 20 years. Brandeis was also a key figure in reforming the American Zionist movement. 

Dr. Ducoff is a noted lecturer, educator, and editor.  He holds an earned doctorate in Historical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union and the University of California at Berkeley.  Dr. Ducoff served as the Executive Director of the Jewish Education Association of MetroWest New Jersey and as the editor of the international Journal of Jewish Education.

Call 973-736-0198 to register for this free program.

Florist Lisa Corrao reveals how to make beautiful arrangements with seasonal flowers. A few lucky participants will take home the arrangements that Ms. Corrao creates in the workshop. A former West Orange resident, Lisa Corrao has ten years of experience as a florist. Last year she opened her own shop, Talk of the Town Florist, in Boonton.

This program is sponsored by the Yvonne Crum Memorial Fund and is presented in memory of Library employee, Yvonne Crum.  Immediately preceding the flower arranging program, there will be a tree dedication ceremony on the Library’s front lawn.  A beautiful Thundercloud Flowering Plum tree was planted in front of the Library in Yvonne’s memory.  Yvonne was employed by the library for 23 years, working in the Circulation department and making book deliveries to homebound residents.  Her sunny disposition and heart of gold are missed by the library staff and community. 

The program takes place on Sunday, April 18 at 2 pm at the West Orange Public Library. Advance registration is required for this free program.  Call 973-736-0198 to reserve your spot.  The library is located at 46 Mt. Pleasant Avenue in West Orange.

Meets the first Monday of each month at 1:30pm. Check out a copy of the book at the Library, then share your insights and hear what others think about the book. See the Schedule for titles and dates.

Stop by for a film screening and light refreshments the third Friday of each month
at 2. Program is free; sign ups are not required.

Teens

Funding provided by the Neighborhood Preservation Program. The West Orange Public Library is in search of a new teen logo! Any West Orange card holders in grades 6-12 are encouraged to enter their original design in our contest. The teen whose design is chosen will receive a certificate good for the Spring Session of Art Classes at the Montclair Art Museum!

Winners will be announced during National Library Week (April 11-17)!

If you're in grades 6-12 and want the Library to serve you better, you are in luck!
What do you want to see on our shelves? What kind of programs are you interested in? Join the Library's new Teen Advisory Group (TAG) and come to our monthly meetings to raise your voice. Make choices, make friends, and make a difference.

TAG meets the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30-8:15 pm. If you are interested in volunteering, please stop by the Library and fill-out an application. 

Next Meeetings:

April 7, 2010-7:30-8:15pm

Monday, January 25 - March 29 from 6:30-8:30pm. Chess enthusiast and instructor John Haggerty will tutor teens that are interested in improving their game or learning for the first time. This free program is funded by the Neighborhood Preservation Program.

Teen Tech Week is an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association. Its purpose is to encourage teens to take advantage of libraries’ non-print resources. The West Orange Public Library celebrates Teen Tech Week with thousands of other libraries and schools across the nation. The 2010 theme is "Learn Create Share @ Your Library.”  The West Orange Public Library is offering up three special programs in March to celebrate! All programs are for those in grades 6-12. Advance registration is encouraged.  Call 973-736-0198 to reserve your spot in each program.

Rock out playing Nintendo Wii’s Rock Band on the big screen! 

Recycle broken CDs and DVDs to help create a mosaic sign for the Teen Space!

Chill out at the Library with an introduction to yoga. Participants will learn the basics of yoga. No prior experience is necessary. Classes take place on Fridays from 4-5pm, March 19 – April 30 (no session April 2). Registration is required; space is limited.  Call 973-736-0198 to sign up.
                                        

Read N' Chat for grades 6-8. Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm. Click here to find out what we'll be reading this year.

Talk It Up! for grades 9-12. Meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm. Click here to see what we'll read this year.

Kids

Children’s Book Illustrator Adam Gustavson Visits the Library

This year’s Wintertales series wraps up with a visit from children’s book illustrator, and West Orange resident, Adam Gustavson. Mr. Gustavson recently illustrated The Yankee at the Seder.  Learn how he became an illustrator, see some of his artwork and watch him draw for you. There will be a book signing following the program. Mr. Gustavson’s visit to the Library takes place on Wednesday, March 24 at 4:30pm.

This program is recommended for children in grades K-5. Registration is required. Please call the Children’s Department at 973-736-0198 to register for this free program.

National Library Week is an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians. The celebration takes place each April. This year, The West Orange Public Library celebrates National Library Week with a magic show for kids! Mark the Magician (Mark Zachariais) will perform “Mysteries of the Library” on Monday, April 12 at 4pm. The performance will demonstrate why the Library is the most magical place on Earth! Participants will receive a Magic Library Card complete with instructions for a magic trick on the back. This program is recommended for children in grades Pre-K - 5.  Registration is required for this free program.  Call the Children’s Department at 973-736-0198 to sign up.

Saturday, May 1 is Free Comic Book Day at the West Orange Public Library!  Time Warp Comics of Cedar Grove has donated a variety of Gold Sponsor comics for us to give away for free! 

If it has been a while since you’ve read a comic book, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the variety available. Choose your favorite free comic book when you visit the Children’s Department on May 1, while supplies last!

The comic book is an original American art form that was created in the early days of the twentieth century.  The medium has grown considerably since Superman, the Man of Steel was introduced in June 1938. Comics are still fun to read and feature a wide range of diverse storylines that capture the imagination of the readers.  Free Comic Book Day has been celebrated annually the first Saturday in May since 2002.

Bring the whole family to the Library and enjoy a half-hour storytime on Wednesdays, January 20, February 17, and March 17 @ 7pm. Appropriate for all ages. Sign-ups are not required – just drop in!

SOS: Speaking of Stories for grades 4 and 5 meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4:30. Parents are welcome too! Click here to see what we'll be reading.