|
Plainfield Public Library February 2020 |
|
|
|
From the Desk of the Director...
The Census is coming!! Plainfielders don’t be left out. The Library is prepared to help you to fill out the forms and be counted. Start date is Census Day, April 1, but it is not too early to be informed about what the census is and what is at stake if you don’t let yourself be counted.
The Census in the US has been around since 1790 when Congress mandated that the entire population of the country be counted. The census comes every ten years and over the past couple of decades, Union County and Plainfield has been underfunded due to residents not registering and being counted. Federal funds, grants and support to the state, county and local communities are impacted by the count. By filling out the census questionnaire you will help the city, county and state receive more money for services in our community.
The census is also a key tool for those who love to do genealogy and trace their families. Though the questions have changed through the years, important pieces of information can be found. The 1880 census was the first census to list the relationship between the head of household and each person living in the house. The 1910 census lists the number of years a couple was married, while 1900 lists naturalization status.
The beauty of the census for those who are concerned for their privacy is that after the census is complete, all personal information is closed for 72 years. In two years the 1950 census will be open for the first time for research.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the census or any Library issues, we are here for you!
Mary Ellen Rogan
|
|
|
Celebrate Black History Month Program: Arcia Stokes, James Austin Jr. and New Jersey Orators
Saturday, February 8th
ALD Room, 10am
The Friends of the Plainfield Public Library (FOPPL) will sponsor their annual Black History Program on Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM in the Anne Louise Davis Room. This event is open and free to the public. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the event.
The program will feature opera singer, Arcia Marie Stokes, a dynamic vocalist who is well versed in all genres of classical, gospel and R&B music.
The Black History Program will also feature Jazz Pianist, James Austin, Jr. Mr. Austin is originally from Chicago and is a noted jazz artist and bandleader.
Lastly, the Friends will feature members from the New Jersey Orators. They have performed for FOPPL in the past and the venue allows these students an avenue to deliver original and compositions from noted authors.
This year’s program is sponsored in part by the Plainfield Cultural and Heritage Commission.
|
|
|
Food For Fines
Generous patrons donated an amazing 478 lbs of food to help those in need during the Library's Food For Fines event over the holiday season. A big Thank You to everyone who took part and gave so generously! |
|
|
 Head Wrapping 101 returns to Plainfield Public Library, led by Dove Love Design. Last year's event was packed, so sign up with Dove Love Designs ASAP to find out more! |
|
|
Adults Craft Too! - Wooden Centerpieces
Tuesday, February 4th
Room 2, 7-8:30 pm
Make a centerpiece for your table with our free, easy crafting program. This month's Adults Craft Too event will see participants create an eyecatching decoration for parties and gatherings.
Like all our Adults Craft Too events, we'll be using online tutorials from Creative Bug. If you'd like to check out this valuable online resouce yourself, access is free through the library databases page with Library membership.
Check out the poster below for details of more crafty programs coming your way soon! All the programs are free and supplies are provided.
Keep on craftin'!
 |
|
AARP Tax Preparation Aides - From February 11th
Volunteers from the AARP will once again be providing Tax Preparation help at the Library. Appointments are necessary and may be made by calling the Plainfield Senior Center on (908) 753-3506.
AARP's first session at the Library is slated to be on Tuesday, February 11th. Please consult the Senior Center at the above number for available appointments here and at the Senior Center.
For further details on tax aide locations and which documents you should bring, please visit the AARP's information page. |
|
Friday Flix's Finch-y February
Afternoon Films for Adults programming continues into February as Friday Flix sees a new blockbuster showing every first Friday of the month, at 2pm in the Anne Louise Davis (ALD) room.
This month's offering is an adaptation of the Donna Tartt novel, if seeing the movie
and reading the book is your thing.
The Goldfinch (2019): " A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art." (IMDB) Starring Oakes Fegley, Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman. Showing February 7th at 2pm in ALD.
See you at the movies!
|
|
|
Relaxation Through Meditation
Tuesday, February 4th
Anne Louise Davis Room, 7-8:30pm
Join us for a free session to learn more about relaxation through meditation with Umesh Bhatia's free talk and guided meditation workshop.
|
|
Dismantling the Racism Machine
with Karen Gaffney, Ph.D.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
10:30 am in the Anne Louise Davis Room
What are some key myths that white people are taught that perpetuate systemic racism? There is a false but popular belief that race, including whiteness, is biological when it’s actually an invention, an idea that was created during colonial America. Exploring the concepts from Karen’s new book
Dismantling the Racism Machine: A Manual and Toolbox, participants will look at how the public understands—and doesn’t understand—race and racism.
Karen Gaffney, PhD, is the author of
Dismantling the Racism Machine: A Manual and Toolbox (Routledge, 2018), an accessible introduction to race and racism with tools for action. She’s an English professor at Raritan Valley Community College, where she teaches courses on composition, gender, and race. She facilitates anti-racism workshops in the community and at conferences, and she runs a blog with resources, Divided No Longer, which works to call out white supremacy, understand it, and dismantle it.
This program is free and open to the public.
This NJCH Public Scholars Program is co-sponsored by Plainfield Public Library and the Historical Society of Plainfield. |
|
|
Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit
Anne Louise Davis Room
On Display until March 2, 2020
The 2019 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is now on display at Plainfield Public Library.
“The Teen Arts program provides the youth of Union County with an opportunity to showcase their creative abilities to the public,” said Freeholder Chairwoman Bette Jane Kowalski. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I congratulate the artists selected to be a part of this touring exhibit as well as all the students who participated in this year’s Teen Arts Festival.”
The exhibit is located in the Anne Louise Davis room on the lower level of the Library. It is free and open to the public during regular Library hours, but will not be accessible if the room is in use for a program or meeting.
|
|
Children's Programs for February
February is Black History Month and the Children's library has fun and informative activities for kids, as well as crafts, movies, stories and more!
02/03 until 02/28 Black History Scavenger Hunt Children's Room
02/08 Storytime with Barry Goode 12pm Children's Room
02/10 Easy Reader Book Club With Ms J 4pm Room 2
02/12 Children's Movie Gnomeo & Juliet 3:30pm ALD Room
02/13 Valentine's Day Crafts 3:30pm ALD Room
02/18 STEAM: Light and Shadow Workshop 3:30pm Room 2
02/20 Black History Jeopardy with Ms T 3:30pm Room 2
02/24 Stories with Ms Rosa 6pm Children's Room
02/26 Family Movie Pride 3:30pm in ALD Room
For more details about storytime, crafts, and fun things for kids, please consult the Children's Calendar for details (see below). Click on the calendar for more detail.
|
|
|
Introduction to Genealogical Resources at the NJHGC
Saturday, February 1st
10:30am in Room 2
This month's meeting of the Library's genealogy club will be followed by a lecture from James Lewis, Head of the North Jersey History & Genealogy Center (NJHGC).
Mr. Lewis will present an overview of the genealogical resources available in the NJHGC at Morristown & Morris Township Library.
New members are always welcome!
This program is free and open to the public. Call 908-757-1111 x136 for more information.
Learn more here. |
|
Thursday, February 13th
10:30am in Room 2
(lower level)
The next meeting of the Memoir Writing Club is Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 10:30 am in Room 2.
The optional topic for February is family celebrations from the past. These could be birthdays, holidays, graduations, or mortgage burnings. Were they frequent and fun? Formal and fancy? (Hopefully, not fully forgettable.) Have you followed the same style as an adult or did you go for an opposite style?
New members are always welcome!
This program is free and open to the public. Call 908-757-1111 x136 for more information.
Learn more here. |
|
Girls Who Code - Kickoff Event
Tuesday, February 11th, 2020
4pm in Room 2
Learn more about the forthcoming free STEM workshop for girls and sign up to join the Girls Who Code club. Sponsored by NCNW Plainfield-Scotch Plains Section in partnership with Plainfield Public Library.
 |
|
|
More Teen Programs for February!
Join us for a range of fun activities for teens this February, from gaming to crafting to STEAM projects using Arduinos and more!
Super Smash Bros. Gaming - Saturday, February 1st, 1:30pm in Room 2
Fast and furious gaming fun.
Create Your Own Scented Oil - Tuesday, February 4th, 3:30pm in Room 2
Combine essential and carrier oils to make a one-of-a-kind scent.
Exquisite Monsters - Thursday, February 6th, 4pm in Room 5
Work together to make a giant monster-themed print.
Girls Who Code Kickoff - Tuesday, February 11th, 4pm in Room 2 (See article above)
Girls' club to learn more about creating and applying computer code.
Magic Doodles - Thursday, February 13th, 4pm in Room 5
Team drawing workshop using out-there creative prompts to make wacky drawings.
Girls Who Code - Tuesday, February 18th, & 25th, 4pm in CLC (See above)
Arduino Projects - from Thursday, February 27th, 4pm in Room 5 (see poster for additional dates)
Combine electronic know-how with tailor made code to make computer powered machines that work, sense and react.
 |
|
|
.
Library Opening Hours
Please note that the library will be closed on the following date in February 2020:
Monday, February 17th (Presidents Day)
________
Main Library Hours
Monday – Thursday
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Children's Library Hours
Monday – Thursday
11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Donate to the Plainfield Public Library
The Library needs your help!
To make a donation online via Paypal, please click on the "Donate" button below. For more information or to contact the Administration office, call 908-757-2305.
|
|
|
 | | |
|  |
|
|
|
|
