Library News
Folk Music Jam Session Tonight
The Musicians & Friends’ Folk Jam Central Meetup returns to lead another folk music jam session on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 pm. Bring your own acoustic instrument or voice! Family Friendly.
Potential song list includes: Deck the Halls (D)
- Feliz Navidad (C)
- Everyday (D) -OR- Hey, Good Lookin' (C)
- Girl From the North Country (G)
- I Have a Little Dreidel (C)
- Lean On Me (C)
- Let It Be (G)
- Let Your Love Flow (D)
- Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (G)
- Jingle Bell Rock (C)
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (G)
- One Love/People Get Ready (G)
- Pretty Boy Floyd (D)
- Put a Little Love in Your Heart (A -> Bb)
- Ripple (G)
- Silver Bells (A)
- Stand By Me (G)
- Teach Your Children (D)
- This Little Light of Mine (G)
- Winter Wonderland (G)
Tech Week Returns
Join us this week for our annual Tech Week Programming series. The goal of Tech Week is to teach the community about new and emerging technology, as well as how you can use it in daily life.
Learn More
Tech Week begins on Sunday, December 8 with an open house of the library’s EB Create makerspace. EB Create features equipment that library customers can use, including sewing machines, video editing equipment and even a recording studio. In addition, library cardholders can check out several different kits, including a GoPro video camera, telescope and even a Roku streaming video device.
East Brunswick Public Library is also leading a music creation workshop using the free Sonic Pi software on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm. This class for teens and adults shows how you can compose your electronic music through this simple coding program.
Other programs include using the library’s Virtual Library (Tuesday, December 10, 2:00 pm), Photoshop help (Tuesday, December 10, 7:00 pm), building an online resume (Wednesday, December 11, 10:30 am), tech travel tips for seniors (Wednesday, December 11, 3:00 pm), password safety (Thursday, December 12, 4:00 pm), and Stitching to the Moon with sewable LEDs (Monday, December 16, 7:00 pm).
The library is also hosting its sixth annual Hour of Code events for teens (grades 7-12) on Saturday, December 14 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Partnering with the East Brunswick High School Code Club, this after-hours program includes several activities, including a QR code scavenger hunt, coding workshops and competitions, and hands on-robot building.
Seating is limited for the Hour of Code. Registration is required; to register go online to www.bit.ly/hoc2k19. Catering for the Hour of Code is provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from the Teen Friends of the Library.
The popular two-day Likeable STEM workshop (for teens in grades 6-12) returns on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Likeable STEM is a team of students, industry professionals and advisers who are passionate about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) who mentor and share information about STEM to younger students.
There are also several programs planned for children, including a Scratch Jr. coding lesson on Sunday, December 8 at 2:00 pm, a Family Green Screen Holiday Photo event on Monday, December 9 at 6:30 pm, and a Star Wars-themed STEM party with droid racing, lightsaber battles and crafts on Saturday, December 14 at 1:00 pm.
[Bold and linked events require registration.]
CANCELLED: Password Safety Workshop Thursday
This Thursday's "Better Passwords" lecture has been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Limited Seats in Thursday's Mocktails Workshop
There are a few seats left in our Mocktails workshop on Thursday, December 12 at 7:00 pm.
Register Now
"American Creed" Community Conversation Tonight
Join us for a screening of the PBS documentary "American Creed" on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00 pm, followed by a Community Conversation facilitated by Sylvia Chan-Malik, Ph.D., of Rutgers University
EAST BRUNSWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY TO SCREEN PBS DOCUMENTARY “AMERICAN CREED”
EAST BRUNSWICK–East Brunswick Public Library (2 Jean Walling Civic Center) and the East Brunswick Human Relations Council are hosting a screening of the PBS documentary American Creed on December 4 at 7:00 pm. The screening is followed by a Community Conversation facilitated by Sylvia Chan-Malik, Ph.D., of Rutgers University.
In the documentary film American Creed, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Riceand Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different points of view to investigate the idea of a unifying American creed. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deepening divides.
Baseball managerJoe Maddonbrings residents of his Pennsylvania hometown together after a controversial immigration ordinance threatens to tear them apart. In Seattle, civic entrepreneur Eric Liubrings community leaders together in spite of their political differences to solve problems. Mark Meckler, co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots and Joan Blades, founder of MoveOn.org, meet in her living room and form an unexpected bond.
At the heart of this film, Rice and Kennedy lead a moving discussion with first-generation college students about the question: what does it mean to be American today?
American Creed Community Conversations are film screenings and scholar-facilitated discussions that mirror the type of conversation Rice and Kennedy have in the film; one designed to engage Americans in reflection and dialogue about their own part in the American story, and in acting to shape that story for the better.
Chan-Malik is an Associate Professor of American and Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University. She is the author of the 2018 book Being Muslim: A Cultural History of Women of Color in American Islam.
Last Minute Seats in Tonight's Sewing Class 18+
Join us for one session of our Sew-Along for adults where will we make soup bowl cozies on Tuesday, December 3 at 6 or 7:30. Previous experience with a sewing machine required.
Register for Session I (6:00 pm)
Register for Session II (7:30 pm)
For ages 18 and older. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Note: You can only register and attend one session.
PREREQUISITES: You must know how to use a sewing machine, including threading, filling a bobbin, and sewing right-hand corners.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Early Closing On December 2
Due to inclement weather, East Brunswick Public Library will be closing today at 4:00 pm
Program Reschedule
The East Brunswick Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on December 17 at 7:00 pm has been rescheduled to 8:00 pm.
CANCELLED: LED Pet Collar Coding Class
Wednesday's LED Pet Collar coding program has been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience.
EBPL Boycotting Macmillan Publishers
Effective November 1, 2019, East Brunswick Public Library joins libraries nationwide by no longer purchasing eBooks published by Macmillan and its many imprints. More Info
Why is this happening?
Macmillan Publishers is changing its eBook licensing terms with libraries, allowing them to only purchase one copy of each new title for the first eight weeks after a book’s release. This policy is regardless of library size; a small rural library serving a community of 2,000, a large metropolitan system like New York Public Library or even a statewide program like eLibraryNJ (which East Brunswick Public Library participates in) can only purchase one copy of an eBook. After eight weeks, libraries will be allowed to buy additional copies, but at a higher price.
Limiting access to new titles for libraries in any format means limiting readers’ access to the materials they want to read. Such an arbitrary embargo sets a dangerous precedent. Macmillan’s policy now applies only to new titles, but what might they embargo next?
Currently, this limits the availability to new books from popular Macmillan authors Liane Moriarty, Louise Penny, J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts, Lisa Scottoline, Steve Berry and Brad Meltzer. MacMillan’s policy is disconcerting because it could influence other publishers to institute similar restrictions.
The business of purchasing eBooks is complicated for public libraries, especially when compared to consumer eBooks. There are several factors, ranging from release dates, licensing renewals and higher purchase pricing, that make this a big issue for libraries. Somerset County Library System put together this guide that explains why it is much more complicated for a public library to make eBooks available to their customers than it is for an individual to buy a copy of an eBook. (https://sclsnj.org/library-ebooks-vs-consumer-ebooks/)
What does this mean for East Brunswick Public Library customers?
New titles by authors published by Macmillan will only be available in print, and they will not be available as eBooks. It also means that some titles in our eBook collection will disappear. As licensing for Macmillan titles expire, they may not be renewed.
What can you do?
There are several different ways that you can show your concern.
- Add your name to the public petition at ebooksforall.org
- Tweet @MacmillanUSA with the hashtag #eBooksForAll
- Send a letter to John Sargent, Chief Executive Officer Macmillan Publishing 120 Broadway New York, NY 10271.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about how the Macmillan boycott effects East Brunswick Public Library, please email Stephanie Filippone, Head of Adult Services.