So You Want to Write a Novel

Saturday, December 7, at 10:30 a.m.

Learn the four pillars of fiction in this 90-minute workshop with award-winning author Preslaysa Williams. We’ll discuss creating characters, the basic elements of plotting, crafting believable settings, and creating a theme that captivates readers. Bring your laptop and/or notebook and be prepared to write your own story! Free and open to the public.

About Preslaysa Williams: Preslaysa Williams’ debut novel, Healing Hannah’s Heart, released in September 2019. Preslaysa grew up in New Brunswick, NJ, and that’s the setting of her debut novel. She writes contemporary romance and women's fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Proud of her heritage, she loves sharing her culture with her readers. She is currently earning her second graduate degree, a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. She holds an undergraduate degree in Spanish Language & Literature from Columbia University. Preslaysa is also a professional actress and a homeschool mom who often wears mismatched socks.

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.

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

~ 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!

English for Beginners

Fall 2019 cycle: September 30 - December 12. Registration 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 nbenglishforbeginners@gmail.com or call/text 732-659-4359 with questions. You may send or leave a message in English or Spanish.

Volunteer Opportunity

The English for Beginners program offers regular opportunities for community volunteers to be trained as small group leaders in various English Language Programs. Please visit this page for current opportunities, or email Jessica at Jessica.nbfpl@gmail.com or Akisha at akisha.nbfpl@gmail.com or call/text 732-659-4359 with questions.

*NEW* Exploring English through Storytelling

Wednesdays, October 2 through November 20, 2019, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Exploring English through Storytelling is a pilot program designed in collaboration with Rutgers Graduate School of Education for adult intermediate speakers of English. Interactive class sessions will explore popular children’s literature in English as we write stories and build vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, and grammar skills. We will discuss stories, analyze narrative elements, and develop both our written and oral storytelling voices.

Space is limited, registration is required. Please RSVP to Lia or Marija at nbenglishforbeginners@gmail.com or call/text 732-659-4359 in English or Spanish.

English Conversation Group

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

The New Brunswick Free Public Library provides a recurring English Conversation Group on Tuesday evenings. The goal of this program is to provide English language conversation practice 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." Participants must be age 18 or older and have at least an intermediate understanding of and ability to speak English.

To join the English Conversation Group, please complete a registration form and bring it with you on the evening you would like to attend.

English Conversation Café

Fall 2019: Mondays 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Fridays 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Monday evenings Sept. 30 - Dec. 2; Wednesday mornings Sept. 18 - Nov. 20; and Friday mornings Oct. 4 - Nov. 22.

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. Participants must be age 18 or older. All levels welcome.

To join a Conversation Café, please fill out a registration form and return it to the library. You may also e-mail conversationcafes@gmail.com or call/send a text to 732-659-0590. For a schedule of all the Fall 2019 Conversation Cafés held at the library, download this PDF.

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.

Teen Conversation Café

Saturdays, October 5 - November 23, at 3:00 p.m.

Teens in grades 8-12 can join this English Conversation Café for free! English-speakers of any level are welcome. To join, please complete a registration form at the library. (You may also download an application here to print and fill out.) For more information, please contact Teen Librarian Trevor Hotalen at thotalen@lmxac.org or call 732-745-5108 ext. 20.

This program is possible thanks to a partnership with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

JFS ESL/Citizenship Classes

October 7 – December 23, 2019; January 6 – March 23, 2020; April 6 – June 22, 2020, & July 6 – September 28, 2020.
Mondays* at 5:30 p.m. (*Some Mondays during these date ranges are holidays for which the library is closed; no meeting will take place on those dates.)

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.

Kids’ Community Council

Tuesdays, October 1 – December 10, *except November 19*, 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!

Reading Buddies

Wednesdays, October 9 - November 20; sessions at 3:30, 4:30, & 5:30 p.m.

Students entering grades K-5 can practice weekly reading with a “Big Buddy” this fall! Registration required.

Call 732-745-5108 x16 or visit the Children's room to register!

¡Cuentos y Canciones!

Wednesdays, November 6 & 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Acompañanos para una programa de cuentos en español para niños/niñas de 2-4 años y sus padres. ¡Registrate ahora llamando al 732-745-5108 x16 o visita el Salón de Niños!

Join us for this story time in Spanish for children ages 2-4 and their caregivers. Register now by calling 732-745-5108 x16 or visiting the Children's room!

Young Athletes

Thursdays, November 7 - 21 and December 5 & 12 at 4:00 p.m. for ages 6-7.

This free, inclusive program sponsored by the Special Olympics helps children to: improve gross motor skills, celebrate what your child CAN do, improve social and language skills, learn to play with a purpose, and develop skills for future preparation in sports. All children must participate with a parent or adult guardian. All participants must wear athletic shoes.

*Please note: Registration is full as of 10/28.* For more information, please email kstuppi@lmxac.org.

Manga Club

Monday, November 18 and December 9, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Children and teens in grades 4 through 12 are invited to join us in the Teen Room to talk about their favorite manga titles and what makes these books so great. On special occasions we will watch anime episodes through the Library’s Crunchyroll account.

Kids' Lego Club

Friday, November 22, at 3:30 p.m.

Compete in a Lego relay race! Two teams will race against each other to build the same Lego structure, but each player can only add 1 piece at a time. Work quickly and accurately to win!

For children in grades K-6.

Holidays Around the World

Saturday, December 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Join us for stories, crafts, games, and snacks as we travel to Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Austria, Colombia, and Germany to celebrate a variety of holidays and festivals.

For kids in grades K-6. Registration required; please stop by or call the Children's Room (732-745-5108 x16).

~ 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!

Manga Club

Monday, November 18 and December 9, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Children and teens in grades 4 through 12 are invited to join us in the Teen Room to talk about their favorite manga titles and what makes these books so great. On special occasions we will watch anime episodes through the Library’s Crunchyroll account.

Kids’ Community Council

Tuesdays, October 1 – December 10, *except November 19*, 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!

Afternoon Game Time

Wednesdays, November 6 & 20 and December 4 & 18, from 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, or have some fun with another type of game.

Open to tweens and teens.

Teen Zone

Wednesday, November 13 and December 11, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room.

This program is for teens in grades 7 - 12. It is a place and time for teens to try different activities and hang out with friends. Come join us!

Hour of Code

Thursdays in the Teen Room during Teen Room hours.

With this self-directed program, you can learn how to create your own website using HTML or your very own computer game through MIT's Scratch. Or explore other possibilities! 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 through 12.

Friday Afternoon Magic

Fridays, November 1, 8, & 15, and December 6 & 20, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Young adults in grades 6 through college interested in playing Magic the Gathering are invited to meet up in the Teen Room and play a few games.

Teen Conversation Café

Saturdays, October 5 - November 23, at 3:00 p.m.

Teens in grades 8-12 can join this English Conversation Café for free! English-speakers of any level are welcome. To join, please complete a registration form at the library. (You may also download an application here to print and fill out.) For more information, please contact Teen Librarian Trevor Hotalen at thotalen@lmxac.org or call 732-745-5108 ext. 20.

This program is possible thanks to a partnership with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

~ 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!

Visual Arts Contest and Exhibit

The New Brunswick Free Public Library proudly presented its 2019 Visual Arts Contest (with a submission deadline of October 18) and Exhibition, accompanied by free visual art workshops (which took place in September). Please visit the Visual Arts page for more details.

The Opening Reception for the Exhibit was Friday, November 15, and the artwork will be on display in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room until December 3, 2019. Please call 732-745-5108 x20 or visit the Reference Desk with any questions or to arrange to view the exhibit (as the Community Room is not open to the public unless there is a meeting or event in it).

Funding for this program is generously provided by Johnson & Johnson, Inc. with the goal of fostering and expanding the dynamic local arts scene. The Middlesex County Office of Arts & History (MCOAH) facilitates the funding process.

Photography Contest and Exhibit

The New Brunswick Free Public Library presented its 12th Annual Photography Contest and Exhibit, with the theme "Love and Unity," in the Spring-Summer of 2019. For more details, please visit the Photo Contest page here.

Sewing 101

Stitch something special with local volunteer sewing expert Pam Brooks.

Wednesday, December 18, at 6:30 p.m. - Come make a holiday stocking on this December evening!

Registration is suggested: please call 732-745-5108 x20 to sign up. Minimum age to attend is 8 years old. Please arrive on time to participate.

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

Book Sale

The Friends sell a wide array of items at incredibly low prices; books of all kinds, for all ages, as well as DVDs, CDs, and more! Proceeds benefit the library. Only cash and checks are accepted.

Tentative dates for the next Book Sale are as follows:
Friday, April 17, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. &
Saturday, April 18, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Friends' Book Club

The book club meets one Monday per month (except during the summer) at 1:30 p.m. in the Henry Guest House, next to the library. (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.

Please download a copy of the Friends' Book Club Schedule for 2019-2020 here.