rn rtm rx̂ xxxxn rrrrxrxxi£

limelight__ _j__i__i__i— l— r ..-i—j — i—E D I S O N TWP. .PUBLIC L I B R A R Y N E W S L E T T E R

x. r ix x r ix m a a a acn rrrtx Volume 10, No.2 - March-April 1996

National Library WeekAPRIL 14-20, 1996

“AMNESTY FOR OVERDUE BOOKS” will be in effect throughout National Library Week. Bring them in between April 14-21 and owe us no fines.

THURSDAY, APRIL I8, I0 AM-8 PM FRIDAY, APRIL I9, I0 AM-4 PM

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, I0 AM-4 PM In May I995, our Reference Librarians formed a task force to

concentrate upon “weeding" - e.g. discarding unwanted books which are no longer current and/or popular-at all of our libraries. The books which have been

discarded will be offered for sale to the public at a library sponsored book sale during the last three days of National Library Week at the Main Library.

Our main objective is to “get rid of the old to make space for the new.” Therefore, we w ill not be accepting outside book donations for this sale. However, if you would like to donate your time to help out, please contact Library Director Susan Krieger at 287-2298.

MT— ■ ■ — ^ Have you joined our “Friends of theI I ’ I Library?” Applications are available

I ■ I I w l at all of our Circulation Desks.Our next meeting will take place on MONDAY, APRIL 1, 7 P.M. at the Main Library. Please join us!

m

“INVESTMENT PLANNING FOR YOUR LONGER LIFE” will be presented at the Main Library on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 pm. Topics to be discussed include the financial implications of retirement, the choices among investments, the importance of diversification, and a way to plan an investment strategy that can help you enjoy the retirement you always wanted. William Wolf, a Financial Advisor from Prudential Securities, will present this program.

Edison resident Raisa Rozenfeld who was born in Russia will present “ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES” at the Main Library on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 pm. Financial aspects will be discussed as well as educational and social resources that are available to new immigrants. This program will also be helpful to people who have been here for several years.

“IT’S YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW” has been rescheduled at the Main Library for March 27 at 7 pm. Blanche Krubner from the Environmental Protection Agency will provide information about hazardous and toxic substances in the community, how the public can obtain government materials, and how to use this information.

An assistive listening device can be made available to Hard of Hearing attendees. Please call ahead to request this service. To register for these free programs please call 287-2298 or TTY 777-7813. You also may sign up at the circulation desk.

Edison residents who are able to speak and understand English but need help practicing these skills in a conversational setting are invited to join the ESL Conversational Group at the North Edison Library, 777 Grove Ave. The group will meet Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 to 2:30 beginning on March 20 and running through May 22.

Preregistration is required in person on Wednesday March 13 from 12:30 to 2:30 at the library.

DISPLAYSDuring the month of March at Main Library, the Coalition for Animals which is based in Edison will be displaying a selection of materials related to animal issues. Much of the information will be concerned with the importance of a low fat diet.

In April, Audrey Angrisani, a local artist and member of the NJ Bead Society, will display some .of her creations at the Main Library. She will include beaded jewelry and metalwork leaves.The process of making jewelry will also be shown.

The Brownies will be displaying their artistic endeavors in March at the North Edison Branch.A collage of photographs of their favorite sports and hobbies will be presented.

Bernadette Wargo has continued to display her collections throughout the past few months. Her assortment of Santas was displayed at Christmas time and her American Indian collection was displayed in February. Her displays are both beautiful and interesting and we at North Edison truly appreciate the time she has spent beautifying our library!

3 .Brownie Troop #419 , Cadette Troop #763 and Cadette Troop #1144 are currently collecting new baby items to donate to needy mothers and their babies. Boxes are set up at the North Edison Branch and the Main Library to collect these items. Some useful items are plastic baby bottles, teething rings, diapers, baby shampoo and lotion and bibs - no glass items will be accepted. Please stop by and donate to this worthy cause.

IMMIGRATION TODAY

GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free The wretched refuse of your teaming shore Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Emma Lazarus, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty

All the people living in the United States are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Even the American Indians met by the first European explorers were descended from immigrants to North America; their ancestors had come from Asia.

The early immigrants were mostly Northern Europeans and slaves brought from Africa. By the end of the Colonial period, large numbers of non-British Europeans were migrating across the Atlantic.

In the I920’s Congress passed a series of laws creating an immigration quota system designed to freeze the proportions of people of ethnic heritages living in the United States. The quota was assigned country by country in numbers matching their population in 1890. Immigration from southern and eastern Europe was limited. Asians and Aficans were almost excluded. As Europe’s economy grew after World War II, fewer people emigrated so quotas went unfilled. In 1965 President Johnson revised the ethnic mix, and Asian and Latin American immigration soared.

Six states - California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey-hold two thirds of all immigrants but only one third of America’s native-born population. A lot of people would like to see some costs now paid locally shifted to the federal government. California, in particular, pays more for immigrant-related services than any other state at a time when their economy is weak.

We have long prided ourself on being a nation of immigrants-a melting pot where people from all over come to find a better life. The question of how many and what kind of immigrant to admit is one of today’s most important issues.

SEVERAL GOOD BOOKS TO READ ON THIS TOPIC:

Archdeacon, Thomas J. Becoming American. New York: The Free Press, 1985.

Andryszewski, Tricia. Immigration: Newcomers and their Impact on the United States. Brookfiled, Connecticut: Millbrook Press, 1995.

Martha Gartner - Reference Librarian

The bookmobile is just ending our “American Indian Tribute.” We took it to the patrons,Library Board, and finally to the schools. We’ve served cornbread, shown a movie and given tours in costume. I think it is the best and most educational work we have done, and everyone has been very appreciative.

Now that our biggest project is over, we will begin our Spring Contest on March 18th. Everyone will receive an entry form and they must match a storybook character with the correct egg.This contest will end March 29th.

By the time you read this, I will have retired and gone off to Flordia for some sun and relaxation.

I would like to thank a few people for making fourteen years seem to fly by:

First, the patrons, many whom I have gotten to know personally. They have put up with failed generator problems and budget problems and have always been there to support us. I will miss them.

Second, the bookmobile staff. They are a talented, close-knit group who works under all kinds of adverse conditions and never complains. They tolerated my crazy ideas and helped them become a reality.

Third, the library staff who have helped through the years with research and new books. They have shown support for our programs.

Fourth, The Board. The Library Board members who have shown support for us from the very beginning and have never refused a request. They also supported us through the recent budget crisis.

Lastly, my assistant Maryellen who has been a fellow worker and friend for all these years. She puts up with my crazy ideas and even comes up with some of her own. She works harder and faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. Without her we could only be a good bookmobile; with her we have become the best!

The great and personal service that the bookmobile performs has been and I hope will always be something that Edison Library should be very proud of.

Jane Jennings Bookmobile Coordinator

Haue your younger children been wanting to try our automated card catalog?

Rre they hauing trouble because they can’t type or spellyet?

You’ll be glad to meet our new Kid’s Catalog located in our Juuenile Department. Children can now:

— search for books on their fauorite subjects by clicking on uarious pictures that will lead them to a final list of suggested titles.

— see a map of the Juuenile department showing where they can find the book they want.

i

P ic tu reBooks

Young A d u ltF ic t io n

| P aperbacks

N o n fic t io n

You ■ a m here

|A d u lt Books*>

6 .

Spring MorningAlice M. Barber

I hadn’t meant to stay so long.I just came out to see The nest of baby robins In the chinaberry tree.

But then, a bright winged butterfly Came drifting up the way,And a small green frog by the water’s edge; Well, I never meant to stay.

I know I should be doing At least a hundred things,But have you ever noticed A bird’s throat when it sings?

Or watched the way the wind Comes briskly up the road,And pausing for a moment Sets down for you its load

Of wild rose scent and sweet grass And pines warmed by the sun?On such a lovely day as this,How can my work get done?

Township of Edison

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY340 PLAINFIELD AVENUE

EDISON, NEW JERSEY 08817