English for Beginners

You may download the Cycle 3 class schedule here. Registration is required.

This class is specifically for those new to the English language and is free, with all materials provided. Pre-registration is required and participants must be age 18 or older. Those interested in attending this class should fill out a registration form and return it to the library before attending the class. Email Jessica Hunsdon at nbenglishforbeginners@gmail.com or call/text 732-659-4359 with questions. You may send or leave a message in English or Spanish.

This program is funded by an American Dream Literacy Initiative grant. The American Dream Literacy Initiative, a grant offering of the American Library Association, is made possible by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Volunteer Opportunity

Information Sessions: Thursday, September 27, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 29, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. (choose one)

Cycle 4 of English for Beginners needs volunteers! Please come to an Information Session to find out more. Additional details will be posted soon.

ESL Conversation Groups

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The New Brunswick Free Public Library provides recurring ESL Conversation Groups on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The goals of this adult ESL program are to provide English language instruction to support further education and workplace training. Adult learners can improve their English language skills through an integrated literacy curriculum and the use of "real-life materials." Students must be over the age of 18 and have at least an intermediate understanding of and ability to speak English.

One group meets on Tuesdays and one group meets on Thursdays. You can attend one or both of these groups.

To join an ESL Conversation Group, please complete a registration form and return it to the library.

English Conversation Café

Summer session: Fridays, June 29 - August 17, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The Conversation Café is an informal conversation group for adult language learners. Participants engage in one-on-one or small-group conversations with Conversation Facilitators discussing a variety of topics. Conversation Facilitators are prepared to facilitate intercultural conversations through academic courses and professional development offered by the Rutgers Graduate School of Education.

To join a Conversation Café, please fill out a registration form and return it to the library.

This program is made possible through a partnership of the New Brunswick Free Public Library and The Conversation Tree: Community-Based Language Partnerships, a program created by Rutgers Graduate School of Education and The Collaborative Center for Community-Based Research and Service.

JFS ESL/Citizenship Classes

Thursdays* from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

June 14 – September 13, 2018; Oct. 4, 2018 – Jan. 17, 2019 (with no class on 12/27 & 1/3); Feb. 7 – May 9, 2019; May 30 – Aug. 29, 2019.

Do you need help preparing for your Naturalization interview? Learn what you need to know in order to pass your exam. The Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County offers Citizenship Classes at the library! These classes provide opportunities to learn about U.S. government and U.S. history and to improve English language skills, while preparing for the Citizenship Exam. Immigration and Citizenship application assistance provided as well.

Please call the JFS office at 732-777-1940 with any questions and to register.

Read and Play

Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Parents and other caregivers: bring your little ones for storytime and play at the library!

Open to ages 0-4

More Play Time

Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Join Ms. Luz from The Children's Center of Middlesex County for some additional play time immediately after the library's Read & Play Story Time. (Come to either or both!)

Open to ages 0-4.

PolarTrec Livestream Event

Thursday, August 23, 11:00 a.m.

See how geologists study glaciers in the mountains of Switzerland in a live-streaming event! Featuring Dr. Lauren Neitzke Adamo, PolarTREC Educator and Director of Rutgers Geology Museum, and Dr. Lucas Zoet, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

All ages are welcome, but content is geared toward middle school and up.

Garden Club

Monday August 27, at 10:30 a.m.

Listen to garden-related stories, do an activity, and see how the library garden is growing!

For children in grades K-6.

Kids' Community Council

Tuesdays starting September 11 at 4:00 p.m.

Are you in grade 5, 6, 7, or 8? Are you a resident of New Brunswick, and interested in making your community a better place? Are you free on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. to attend meetings? If you answered yes to all of these, come join the Kids' Community Council! We are New Brunswick kids who meet once a week to discuss issues important to us and help take care of the library. Snacks provided!

Please fill out the registration form which will be updated here as soon as possible, or pick up a copy in the Children's Room. Any questions, ask Ms. Chelsea.

~ Check out other tabs on this page to see what else the library has to offer, such as Annual Events, Movie Nights, and Makerspace programs!

PolarTrec Livestream Event

Thursday, August 23, 11:00 a.m.

See how geologists study glaciers in the mountains of Switzerland in a live-streaming event! Featuring Dr. Lauren Neitzke Adamo, PolarTREC Educator and Director of Rutgers Geology Museum, and Dr. Lucas Zoet, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

All ages are welcome, but content is geared toward middle school and up.

Summer Reading Collaboration Table

Mondays, July 2 through August 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Teen Room.

Discuss with your peers the book you are currently reading and get help with your Summer Reading Assignments. Students in grades 6 through 12 are welcome and Mr. Trevor will be available to help out!

Afternoon Movies

Certain Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room:
July 3: School of Rock (PG-13); July 24: La La Land (PG-13); August 14: Pitch Perfect (PG-13); September 4: Guardians of the Galaxy (PG-13).

Afternoon Teen Movies are open to all appropriate ages according to movie rating and are courtesy of a license generously purchased by the Friends of the New Brunswick Free Public Library.

Teen Tech Time

Certain Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Teen Room:
July 10: Google Drive; August 7 (date changed from July 31): Audacity (audio editing software); August 21: Internet Safety.

Come explore specific computer software, programs, and topics on library computers in the Teen Room “after hours”! This program is open to students entering grades 7 through 12.

Afternoon Game Time

Wednesdays at 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room

Come test your mettle and challenge your friends with one of the library's video games. We'll have “Dropmix” available on July 11th and 18th.

Open to tweens and teens.

Hour of Code

Thursdays in the Teen Room during Teen Room hours

Learn how to create your own website using HTML or your very own computer game through MIT's Scratch. Just come to the Teen Room during its open hours on Thursdays and sign in with the librarian there to start your Hour of Code!

Open to students in grades 7 - 12.

Teen Advisory Group

Fridays, July 20 and August 3 & 31, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room.

Interested teens: come help create teen-related programming, content, services, etc., for the library and find additional ways to help the community!

Kids' Community Council

Tuesdays starting September 11 at 4:00 p.m.

Are you in grade 5, 6, 7, or 8? Are you a resident of New Brunswick, and interested in making your community a better place? Are you free on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. to attend meetings? If you answered yes to all of these, come join the Kids' Community Council! We are New Brunswick kids who meet once a week to discuss issues important to us and help take care of the library. Snacks provided!

Please fill out the registration form at this link which will be updated as soon as possible, or pick up a copy in the library. Any questions, ask Ms. Chelsea.

~ Check out other tabs on this page to see what else the library has to offer, such as Annual Events, Movie Nights, and Makerspace programs!

Career Connections Workshop: From Volunteer to Career

Tuesday, September 25, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room.

In this workshop, attendees will learn how to transition their volunteer experiences and positions into potentially landing a job, while also keeping their skills sharp in the process of searching for a job. Learn the benefits of volunteering from the point of view of career advancement. Enjoy a free presentation and gain valuable insight on how to best advance your career through nonprofits.

This workshop is possible thanks to New Jersey Career Connections, brought to you by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Career Assistance

Mondays & Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.;

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (when the library is open).

Stop by our Reference Room and get assistance from our career counselors. They offer help with resume writing, career searching, and referral services. This program is possible thanks to New Jersey Career Connections.

Open to everyone. No registration is required.

Please note: There will be no Career Assistance on Monday, August 27, 2018.

Knitting/Crocheting Club

2nd Thursday of each month

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Do you like to knit and/or crochet? Or do you want to learn? Join the club! Everyone is welcome, from beginners to old pros. Just bring your current project, or if you are new to knitting/crocheting, a willingness to learn! Participants exchange knitting/crocheting ideas while enjoying pleasant conversation. (This is an informal, self-run group and not a strictly instructional class.)

For more information, please contact Librarian Joye Crowe-Logan at joye@lmxac.org

Computer Skills Tutoring

By appointment only during Rutgers semesters, October - April.

Looking for help with learning to use a computer? We have volunteers who offer one-on-one tutoring sessions to go over skills such as keyboarding and mouse fundamentals, basic word processing, and Internet and email essentials. Stop by or call the Reference Desk to schedule a tutoring session.

Volunteer tutors are sponsored by the Rutgers Give Where You Live Program.

~ Check out other tabs on this page to see what else the library has to offer, such as Annual All Ages, Movie Nights, Makerspace programs, and events presented by the Friends of the Library!

Summer Reading

Kick-Off: Saturday, June 23, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Summer Reading Fair (by invitation only): Saturday, August 18.

Come to the library to learn about the library’s Summer Reading programs for all ages! Kids, sign up in the Children's Room. Young Adults, sign up in the Teen Room. Adults, just ask for a bookmark when you're checking out library material!

Find out more about the Adult Summer Reading program here. Libraries rock!

Sewing 101: Earbud Pouch

Wednesday, September 26, at 6:30 p.m.

Stitch something special with local volunteer sewing expert Pam Brooks. On this evening, make a pouch to carry your earbuds.

Minimum age to attend is 8 years old. Please arrive on time to participate. Registration is suggested.

(Find more Sewing 101 events on our Makerspace Page. More event dates to be posted soon! )

Knitting/Crocheting Club

2nd Thursday of each month

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Do you like to knit and/or crochet? Or do you want to learn? Join the club! Everyone is welcome, from beginners to old pros. Just bring your current project, or if you are new to knitting/crocheting, a willingness to learn! Participants exchange knitting/crocheting ideas while enjoying pleasant conversation. (This is an informal, self-run group and not a strictly instructional class.)

For more information, please contact Librarian Joye Crowe-Logan at joye@lmxac.org

The Friends' Book Club

The book club usually meets on the fourth Monday of the month (with some exceptions) at 1:30 p.m. next door in the Henry Guest House. (Please ask inside the library if you have questions about the location.) The only requirements are to have read the book and be willing to discuss it. The library will often have copies of the Book Club book set aside for the upcoming discussion: just ask at the front desk.

Download a copy of the Friends' Book Club Schedule for 2018-2019 here.

• Sept. 24 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman:
  A heartwarming story of what happens when a couple with two young children moves next door to a cranky old man.
• Oct. 22 - The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto:
  A New York Times notable book for 2004, it is a history of the Dutch founding of Manhattan.
• Nov. 26 - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee:
  The story of a Korean family, first in Japanese occupied Korea and then in Japan from before WWII to the late 80s.
• Dec. 10 - Soul of America by Jon Meacham:
  A perspective on American history when we have chosen kindness over paranoia and rancor.
• Jan. 28, 2019 - Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout:
  A collection of short stories.
• Feb. 25 - Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders:
  The Man Booker 2017 winning novel about Lincoln's grief at the death of his son Willie.
• Mar. 25 - Grant by Ron Chernow:
  Even those who think they are familiar with Ulysses S. Grant's career will learn something from this.
• Apr. 22 - The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by The Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
  In 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama's home in India. They explore the nature of joy, obstacles to joy, and their daily joy practice.
• May 20 - Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday:
  A comedy of manners set in Manhattan as well as a tragedy about an Iraqi-American family which poses deep questions about free will, fate and freedom, the all-powerful accident of one's birth and how life is alchemized into fiction.
• June 10 - The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:
  A set of philosophical essays expressing a deep humanity.