National Poetry Month Celebration - Virtual Poetry Reading

Monday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. (All ages welcome.)

In commemoration of National Poetry Month, April 2021, the New Brunswick Free Public Library and the Raritan Valley Federation of Libraries is publishing its first ever Virtual Annual National Poetry Month Celebration Anthology. Poets who submitted poems for the Anthology will be reading their work at the library’s Poetry Celebration via Zoom. Guests are invited to this virtual event, which is free and open to the public. Join the Zoom meeting using this link. A link to the virtual anthology will be added soon to our Poetry page. For more information, please contact librarian Jackie Oshman at 732-745-5108 ext. 10, or at joshman@lmxac.org.

Earth Day Craft: Upcycle No-Sew Luggage Tags

Saturday April 24, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Register for this program here.

Celebrate Earth Day with this virtual craft program and make a cloth luggage tag from your old shirt. Registration required to get the Zoom link. Please register and send an email to htang@lmxac.org if you'd like to pick up a material kit from the library. 12 kits are available, first come first served. If you are using your own supplies, you will need:

• 3 pieces of fabric (from old shirt) each cut to 4" x 6"
• 2 pieces of Heat N Bond Ultra cut to 4" x 6"
• 1 piece of Clear Vinyl, 2 1/2" x 4" (can be hard plastic cut from cosmetics, toy, or food packaging or soft plastic from shower curtain liner, underwear or bed linen bags)
• 1 Grommet
• 1 piece of ribbon, or a strip cut from a shirt, 12" x 1.5"

You'll also need a ruler, a pair of scissors (or pinking shears), an iron, and an ironing board.

The Cultural Phenomenon of Home DNA Testing

Tuesday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m.
Register for this program here.

This presentation by author Libby Copeland will explore the extraordinary cultural phenomenon of home DNA testing, which is redefining family history. It will draw on Libby Copeland's years of research for her new book The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are (Abrams, 2020), which The Wall Street Journal calls "a fascinating account of lives dramatically affected by genetic sleuthing." With more than 37 million people having been tested, a tipping point has been reached. Virtually all Americans are affected whether they have been tested or not, and millions have been impacted by significant revelations in their immediate families. Register for the Zoom meeting using this link. For more information, please contact librarian Jackie Oshman at 732-745-5108 ext. 10, or at joshman@lmxac.org.

Sewing Workshop: Redwork Embroidery Pillow

Saturday May 8, 3:00 - 4 p.m.
Register for this program here.

Join Pam Brooks for an afternoon of Redwork embroidery fun in NBFPL's Virtual Makerspace! (For ages 8 and up.) Use your own supplies or email htang@lmxac.org for a kit. 10 kits are available for registered program participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here is the list of needed supplies:

• Embroidery design (click here to download and then print)
• 1 skein of colorfast embroidery floss
• 1 embroidery needle with large eye
• 1 10" square of white 100% cotton fabric (pillow front)
• 1 8 1/2" square of white 100% cotton fabric (pillow back)
• Fiber Fill (Stuffing) -- about a gallon zip-lock bag full
• 1 Button
• White sewing thread
• Straight Pins
• Embroidery Hoop (4-6" diameter)
• Iron (not included in the kit)
• Sharp scissors (not included in the kit)

Optional:

• Thimble or band-aid to protect finger
• Needle threader

Make sure to register in advance for this program in order to get the Zoom link, even if using your own supplies.

Knitting/Crocheting Club

Thursday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Register in advance for this meeting here.

Do you like to knit and/or crochet? Or do you want to learn and already have your own supplies? Join the club -- now via Zoom! Everyone is welcome, from beginners to old pros. Work on your current project, or start a new one with tips from other attendees. Participants exchange knitting/crocheting ideas while enjoying pleasant conversation. (This is an informal group and not an instructional class.) Register here; once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.

The Knitting/Crocheting Club meets on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, please contact Librarian Joye Crowe-Logan at joye@lmxac.org

~ Check out other tabs on this page -- under "Event Details" -- to see what else the library has to offer! ~

~ ~ Visit the Explore LMxAC Calendar for information about events at other libraries in our consortium! ~~

Virtual English Conversation Group

Mondays 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., from January 25 to May 3, 2021.

UPDATE: Our English Conversation Group is not meeting in person until further notice. However, you are welcome to join us virtually via Zoom.

This virtual group meets weekly via Zoom. Each week the group will discuss a topic in English to help improve their conversational skills. This program is intended for adults who know some English and want to improve their language skills. Please call 732-745-5108 ext. 20 or email kavita@lmxac.org with any questions or requests for more information.

**If you are interested in volunteering to lead or assist our Virtual English Conversation Group, please contact Kavita Pandey at kavita@lmxac.org before registering.

Register

Virtual English Conversation Café

Thursdays in April, 2021, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.

The Conversation Café is a conversation group for emerging bilinguals or multilinguals over the age of 18. Community participants have opportunities to engage virtually in one-on-one or small-group conversations discussing a variety of topics. The Conversation Cafe Café is offered in English. Topics were determined based on general needs/wants of participants; each week has a different topic.

• Thursday, April 1 - Topic: Getting to know each other
• Thursday, April 8 - Topic: Telling our stories
• Thursday, April 15 - Topic: At the Doctor’s Office
• Thursday, April 22 - Topic: Multicultural Perspectives on Children’s Literature

Conversation Facilitators are prepared to facilitate intercultural conversations through professional development and academic courses offered by The Conversation Tree: Community-Based Language Partnerships.
To join the Conversation Café, please complete an online registration form; the Zoom meeting links will be provided once you register.

Register

For more information, please contact Librarian Kavita Pandey at kavita@lmxac.org or 732-745-5108 x20.
This program is made possible through a partnership of 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, and the New Brunswick Free Public Library.

Virtual Citizenship Class

Mondays 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom from January 25 to March 15, 2021.

The New Brunswick Free Public Library has again partnered with The Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County to offer Citizenship Classes, this time via Zoom. Do you need to improve your English and pass the Citizenship Test? Do you need help with your Naturalization Application? This free virtual Citizenship class is available for beginner and intermediate English learners who are legal Permanent Residents (Green card holders). During the class, you will work with certified teachers and dedicated tutors to improve your English. The teachers are Board Certified to represent you with your citizenship case.

To register, please call John Tello at 732-777-1940 (se habla Español). Zoom link will be provided once registered for the class. For questions, feel free to call librarian Kavita Pandey at 732-745-5108 x29 or email at kavita@lmxac.org

Lego Challenge

April Lego Challenge: Build a tree!

Join our monthly Lego Challenge on Facebook! A new challenge will be posted on the library's Facebook page at the beginning of each month. After you build your creation, post a picture of it in the comments below the Lego Challenge post!
Don't have Legos at home? Contact Ms. Karen at kstuppi@lmxac.org or 732-745-5108 ext. 13 to make arrangements to pick up a small bag of random Legos.

Read and Play

Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.

Our beloved Read & Play program is now virtual, via Zoom! Register using our read-and-play-form to receive a link via email to our weekly Zoom Room.

For kids ages 0-4 and their caretakers. Call 732-745-5108 x13 with any questions.

¡Cuentos y Canciones!

los jueves a las 4 p.m.

Acompañanos de la plataforma Zoom para una programa de cuentos en español para niños/niñas y sus guardianes. ¡Registrate ahora! Llame al 732-745-5108 con preguntas.

Friday Fun Day!

Fridays at 3:00 p.m.

Every Friday afternoon, all are welcome to join Ms. Karen online for a virtual game of Kahoot or Bingo or maybe a Scavenger Hunt! Children under age 8 may need the assistance of a parent or older sibling. Register using this form; advance registration is required.
On April 23, we will be playing a game of Jeopardy with questions and answers all about Spring!

Outdoor Story Time

Mondays, May 3 - 24, at 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy the spring weather by listening to stories outdoors! Bring a blanket, wear a mask, and join us on the lawn in front of the Henry Guest House, next to the library. (Weather permitting.)

Teen Tuesdays

April 6 at 3:00 p.m. - What are you reading?
April 13 at 3:00 p.m. - How's it going?
April 20 at 3:00 p.m. - Book vs. Movie
April 27 at 3:00 p.m. - Teen Advisory Group

You can register for one or all of these Teen Tuesdays! (Each program has its own registration link.) When registering, you will need to provide an email address so we can you send the Zoom meeting link. Details and registration links are listed here:

• Register for "What are you reading?": All teens are welcome to join this virtual program to discuss what books they are reading and what draws them to the titles they pick.
• Register for "How's it going?": This program is a chance for teens to meet up virtually and discuss everything going on in the world today.
• Register for "Book vs. Movie": This session we will be picking which book and movie we will be discussing at next month's meeting and what we all look for when comparing a movie to the book it was based on.
• Register for "Teen Advisory Group": All teens are welcome to attend and discuss the programming and books they would like to see at the library. The library is happy to sign off on these meetings as a form of community service for those who need it.

Friday Fun Day!

Fridays at 3:00 p.m.

Every Friday afternoon, all are welcome to join Ms. Karen online for a virtual game of Kahoot or Bingo or maybe a Scavenger Hunt! Children under age 8 may need the assistance of a parent or older sibling. Register using this form; advance registration is required.
On April 23, we will be playing a game of Jeopardy with questions and answers all about Spring!

Friday Fun Day!

Fridays at 3:00 p.m. (All ages welcome.)

Every Friday afternoon, all are welcome to join Ms. Karen online for a virtual game of Kahoot or Bingo or maybe a Scavenger Hunt! Children under age 8 may need the assistance of a parent or older sibling. Register using this form; advance registration is required.
On April 23, we will be playing a game of Jeopardy with questions and answers all about Spring!

National Poetry Month Celebration - Virtual Poetry Reading

Monday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. (All ages welcome.)

In commemoration of National Poetry Month, April 2021, the New Brunswick Free Public Library and the Raritan Valley Federation of Libraries is publishing its first ever Virtual Annual National Poetry Month Celebration Anthology. Poets who submitted poems for the Anthology will be reading their work at the library’s Poetry Celebration via Zoom. Guests are invited to this virtual event, which is free and open to the public. Join the Zoom meeting using this link. A link to the virtual anthology will be added soon to our Poetry page. For more information, please contact librarian Jackie Oshman at 732-745-5108 ext. 10, or at joshman@lmxac.org.

Virtual Holi Festival

Available at this link; originally streamed on Saturday, April 3, 2021 from 3:00 to 5 p.m.

The Library celebrated its 12th annual and 1st virtual Indian Holi Festival in partnership with New Brunswick Cultural Center and Rutgers Indian Graduate Student Association. This celebration of the Indian Festival of colors was offered virtually via YouTube/Facebook, for free and open to all ages. There are several music and dance performances, a painting tutorial, and a delicious Indian food demonstration by Majwani restaurant! All supplies for the painting tutorial as well as dry Holi colors were provided by registration and appointment.

For more information, visit this page or contact librarian Kavita Pandey at kavita@lmxac.org or 732-745-5108 x20. You can also watch our promo video here!

This project is funded with support from the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, with support from the Folklife Program for New Jersey at the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Our additional program sponsors are South Asian Total Health Initiative, Navrang Dance Academy, Sowparnika Dance Academy, Taalim School of Indian Music, Mejwani Indian Restaurant, and WRSU 88.7 FM Rutgers Radio.

Option Green 2021 Programs

Documentary Discussion: "Decoding the Weather Machine" with Dr. David A. Robinson (went live on January 13 at 7:30 p.m.)

Sustainable Agriculture Projects in Zimbabwe with Dr. Tait Chirenje, Stockton University (went live on February 9 at 7:00 p.m.)

Disparate Environmental Impacts: Causes and Solutions to Environmental Injustice with Dr. Maritza Jauregui, Stockton University (went live on March 11 at 7:00 p.m.)

The New Brunswick Free Public Library is proud to be a community partner for the Option Green: Climate Change & Community virtual event series, a partnership between the East Brunswick Public Library and the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission. Please visit the EBPL's webpage for details.

Virtual Multicultural Festival

Available at this link; originally streamed on Saturday, December 5, 2020, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The Library held a Virtual Multicultural Festival in cooperation with New Brunswick Cultural Center Inc. This program was free and open to all ages. The festivities included music and dance performances, arts, crafts, and a free raffle. We showcased cultural celebrations from several countries such as Mexico, Hungary, India, China, Peru, Caribbean and many more. You may still use this link to view this vibrant virtual event!

Grant Funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of Department of State. Our additional program sponsors are Navrang Dance Academy, Events USA Now, Holy Family Parish, and American Hungarian Foundation.

"Escape the Library" Challenge

Ongoing virtual program.

We've created a virtual "Escape Room" for you to have a little fun with while testing your knowledge of the NBFPL. See if you can successfully Escape the Library! (Answer each question correctly to move on to the next one until you've completed the challenge.)

Please visit the Photo Contest page to see information about, as well as photos and the presentation from, the New Brunswick Free Public Library's 2020 Virtual Photography Contest, as well as previous year's presentations.

Please visit the Visual Arts page to see information about, as well as photos and the presentation from, the New Brunswick Free Public Library's 2019 Visual Arts Contest.

Earth Day Craft: Upcycle No-Sew Luggage Tags

Saturday April 24, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Register for this program here.

Celebrate Earth Day with this virtual craft program and make a cloth luggage tag from your old shirt. Registration required to get the Zoom link. Please register and send an email to htang@lmxac.org if you'd like to pick up a material kit from the library. 12 kits are available, first come first served. If you are using your own supplies, you will need:

• 3 pieces of fabric (from old shirt) each cut to 4" x 6"
• 2 pieces of Heat N Bond Ultra cut to 4" x 6"
• 1 piece of Clear Vinyl, 2 1/2" x 4" (can be hard plastic cut from cosmetics, toy, or food packaging or soft plastic from shower curtain liner, underwear or bed linen bags)
• 1 Grommet
• 1 piece of ribbon, or a strip cut from a shirt, 12" x 1.5"

You'll also need a ruler, a pair of scissors (or pinking shears), an iron, and an ironing board. Be sure to register in advance, even if using your own supplies.

Knitting/Crocheting Club

Second Thursday of the month (upcoming dates: May 6, June 10, July 8) at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Register in advance for this meeting here.

Do you like to knit and/or crochet? Or do you want to learn and already have your own supplies? Join the club -- now via Zoom! Everyone is welcome, from beginners to old pros. Work on your current project, or start a new one with tips from other attendees. Participants exchange knitting/crocheting ideas while enjoying pleasant conversation. (This is an informal group and not an instructional class.) Register here; once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.

The Knitting/Crocheting Club meets on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, please contact Librarian Joye Crowe-Logan at joye@lmxac.org

Sewing Workshop: Redwork Embroidery Pillow

Saturday May 8, 3:00 - 4 p.m.
Register for this program here.

Join Pam Brooks for an afternoon of Redwork embroidery fun in NBFPL's Virtual Makerspace! (For ages 8 and up.) Use your own supplies or email htang@lmxac.org for a kit. 10 kits are available for registered program participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here is the list of needed supplies:

• Embroidery design (click here to download and then print)
• 1 skein of colorfast embroidery floss
• 1 embroidery needle with large eye
• 1 10" square of white 100% cotton fabric (pillow front)
• 1 8 1/2" square of white 100% cotton fabric (pillow back)
• Fiber Fill (Stuffing) -- about a gallon zip-lock bag full
• 1 Button
• White sewing thread
• Straight Pins
• Embroidery Hoop (4-6" diameter)
• Iron (not included in the kit)
• Sharp scissors (not included in the kit)

Optional:

• Thimble or band-aid to protect finger
• Needle threader

Make sure to register in advance for this program in order to get the Zoom link, even if using your own supplies.

Book Club

Monday, April 19, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

The Friends of the New Brunswick Free Public Library Book Club will discuss City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert via Teleconference phone call. This Book Club is open to everyone: To register, please call the Reference Desk at 732-745-5108 x20. Log-in information will be sent out to registrants before the meeting.