Library News
Friends Yard Sale May 22
Join the EB Friends of the Library for a Yard Sale on Monday, May 22.
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USCIS Naturalization Information Session Thursday
Kelly Ayala, USCIS’s Community Relations Officer for the New Jersey area, will discuss the naturalization process for interested permanent residents on Thursday, April 29th at 6:30pm.
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Deadline for AAPI Art Exhibit Extended Until Tuesday
EBPL and the East Brunswick Arts Commission are seeking artists from our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities for a 2D exhibit in May during AAPI Heritage Month.
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“With such a large and diverse AAPI population, we want to support, lift, and celebrate local artists in this important exhibit,” said Melissa Hozik, Adult Programming Librarian. “We look forward to showcasing this community.”
Art must be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 27th so it can be hung and ready to go prior to May 1. It needs to be brought to the Information Desk (when you enter the lobby, turn right and walk all the way back to the glass walls). You will be asked to complete a form to keep with your artwork.
Art can be photography, painting, or drawings no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches, and must be able to be hung by mini binder clip or can be mounted on foam core (the library will provide the latter). These are then hung on a rod system, so they cannot be heavy. Right now with interest, please limit your submissions to 1-2 items.
Images must follow the library’s exhibition guidelines—the exhibit wall is viewable by all ages and is located to the right of the Passports Office. In accordance with community values, please refrain from emphasizing undraped human forms in your exhibit.
The library does not carry special insurance for exhibits. Exhibitors are advised to check their homeowner’s insurance policy to determine the extent of their off-premises coverage.
The library is a nonprofit institution. If the items in your exhibit are for sale, please give a price list and the contact information you want to use to the library representative. All prospective customers will be referred directly to you. No items should be removed until the close of the exhibit without permission from a library representative.
The library reserves the right to reschedule exhibits, with advance notice to exhibitors, when the library or Township require the use of library exhibit space.
For more information, email programs@ebpl.org.
Sindh Cuisine Talk Tuesday
Join Geeta Gwalani, who will talk about her cookbook, "Aromas of Sindh Cuisine" this Tuesday, Apri 27th at 7:00pm
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Friends Chipotle Fundraiser Saturday
Support East Brunswick Friends Of The Library at their Chipotle Fundraiser on Saturday at 609 State Route 18 in East Brunswick on Saturday, April 17th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
Access Flyer & Promo Code
View flyer & promo code here.
"Building Bridges: Combating Anti-Asian Racism" Panel April Tuesday
East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen, the East Brunswick Human Relations Council and East Brunswick Public Library team up to present the Facebook Live program “Building Bridges: Combating Anti-Asian Racism” on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 pm.
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COVID-19 Vaccine
The East Brunswick Community Arts Center has been selected as a COVID-19 vaccination center. More Info
East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen announces that the East Brunswick Community Arts Center located at 721 Cranbury Road has been selected as one of the six future regional vaccination centers operating through the Middlesex County Health Department. However, Middlesex County cannot open this location for vaccinations until the vaccine is allocated for the site from the state. Township and County officials are allocating all necessary resources so the site can open as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
Information will be shared as it is received. The expanded Middlesex County vaccine site locations include:
- East Brunswick Community Arts Center
- Monroe Township Senior Center
- The Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center in New Brunswick
- Middlesex County Office of Health Services in Piscataway
- Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville
- Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School in Perth Amboy
WHO IS ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE RIGHT NOW?
- Healthcare workers, sworn first responders (police & fire), Long Term Care residents and staff.Individuals at High Risk –Individuals aged 65 and older
- Individuals aged 16-64 with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus. These conditions include Cancer, Chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down Syndrome, Heart conditions, Obesity, Severe Obesity, Sickle cell disease, Smoking, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressed and solid organ transplants.
HOW DO I REGISTER
- Registration is available on the NJ State Website https://covidvaccine.nj.gov You will receive a return email that CONFIRMS your registration. When an opening becomes available at one of the state vaccination sites, you will receive an email that lets you schedule an appointment at one of those locations.
- Starting Monday, Jan. 25 from 8 AM until 8 PM the state will have 250 agents registering residents via phone at 855-568-0545
- Individuals who cannot register online, or who have more detailed questions, should call the Middlesex County Health Department Call Center at 732-745-3100
EB Grow Seed Library Open for 2021 Season
With local gardeners getting ready to start their spring plantings, we're opening the EB Grow seed library to the public after being shuttered in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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EB Grow began in 2018 as a joint project between the library and the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission. Housed at the library, the goal of the seed library is to introduce residents to gardening, provide education on seed-saving, and encourage patrons to develop a passion for sustainability and hands-on learning.
“EB Grow unfortunately was unable to give out seeds in 2020 due to the library closure through the pandemic. During that time, many in our community turned to gardening as a stay-home hobby” said Melissa Hozik, Adult Programming Librarian and EB Grow’s coordinator. “We are excited to offer a limited selection of curated garden packs to inspire you to start growing a garden.”
Gardeners can view and request one of the three curated garden packs online at www.ebpl.org/ebgrow. This collection includes easy-to-grow seeds that do well in New Jersey’s climate. Each pack has a different theme, including garden salads.
“You do not have to be a resident of East Brunswick to use the seed library,” Hozik added. “Our only request is that gardeners save seeds from their own crops or donate unused seed packets back to ensure the collection for future gardeners.”
In addition to the EB Grow seed library, East Brunswick Public Library circulates a special seeds starting kit through the EB Create lending kit program to its cardholders. The kit includes grow lights and heating mats to help jumpstart plants. Kits can be borrowed by library cardholders for two weeks.
The library is also hosting the upcoming gardening program, including “Starting Seeds Indoors: Are You Ready for 2021?” with Middlesex County master gardener Vivian Morris on Tuesday, April 6 at 7:00pm. This program will be held virtually, and is free and open to the public.
View the seed library and place your request by clicking here.
Virtual Film Festival Ends in April 21
We are holding our first-ever Virtual Film Festival, featuring four films focusing on climate change. The Festival runs through April 2021.
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The Option Green Virtual Film Festival is part of the ongoing partnership between the library and the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission. Each year, the two organizations host free events on environmental topics led by experts in the field. The film series is funded by the American Library Association's "Resilient Communities: Libraries Respond to Climate Change" pilot program.
The films will be available for online viewing. Participants can sign up for these free screenings online at www.ebpl.org/optiongreen. Links to view the films will be sent to ticketholders at the start time of this event, and will expire 48 hours later. Following each screening, there will be an ongoing, discussion on the EBPL Discord server. Attendees will receive the link in their ticket.
Watch trailers:
Chasing Ice, Jan. 19-20, tells the story of National Geographic photographer James Balog's journey to the Arctic to document Earth's changing climate. The film won the 2014 Emmy for Outstanding Nature Programming. It runs 75 minutes and is rated PG-13. [RESERVE TICKET HERE]
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change, Feb. 16-17 is directed by Academy Award-nominee Josh Fox. The film shows the consequences of climate change across 12 countries on every continent. It runs 127 minutes and is rated TV-14. [RESERVE TICKET HERE]
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, March 16-17, is Is based on the true story of 13-year-old William Kamkwamba, who finds inspiration from a science book. He builds a wind turbine to save his famine-ravaged village in Malawi. This film is rated TV-PG and runs 113 minutes. [RESERVE TICKET HERE]
Fire and Flood: Queer Resilience in the Era of Climate Change, April 20-21, examines how the LGBTQ communities of Puerto Rico and Santa Rosa survived Hurricane Maria and wildfires, in late 2017. The film explores the vulnerability of LGBTQ communities to climate disasters. This film is not yet rated but runs 102 minutes. Trailer not available. [RESERVE TICKET HERE]
The Option Green Virtual Film Festival is sponsored by the East Brunswick Public Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive, and the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission.
Super Bowl Lecture Tonight
Join us for a lecture on, "The Super Bowl. How America’s Top Sports Event Was Created In The Aftermath Of The AFL All Star Game Boycott" on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00pm
Click Here to Join