Scotch Plains Public Library January 2024
Balance Awareness with Yasmin Ofek
Fridays, January 5, 12, 19, & 26th from @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Join us Friday mornings on Zoom for a different approach to exercise!
All adults, and older adults in particular, are encouraged to take part in these classes, which are designed to address the loss of balance and strength that can occur as we age.
Hypertension Clinic
Friday, January 5 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
A public health nurse from the Union County Office of Health Management will be in the Adult Room to take blood pressure readings and share educational materials.
Saturday Storytime
Saturdays, January 6, 13, 20, & 27th from @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
The entire family is welcome to join us for this storytime each Saturday! Children and their caregivers can increase language development and comprehension with our stories, songs, and rhymes.
Bring Your Own Book Club
Monday, January 8 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Join us for the book discussion group with no assigned reading!
You choose your own books, and then join us at the Library to share your thoughts about your latest reads.
We’ll meet in the gallery space downstairs.
We read all kinds of books — old, new, fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, romance, etc.!
Monday Movie
Mondays, January 8, 22, & 29th from @ 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Adventurers Wanted: Dungeons & Dragons Club!
Monday, January 8 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
First meeting! • Run by teens • No experience needed • Snacks will be provided
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game where players use characters to play and embark upon imaginary adventures. The Dungeon Master or DM serves as the game’s storyteller, organizing the game, voicing unique NPC’s (non player characters) and managing epic encounters where players will learn to think creatively to handle different situations. The D&D Club is a great place to socialize in person with no computers or electronics needed!
If you already know how to, or want to learn how to play D&D, and are looking for others to play with, join our D&D Club! It’s open to grades 8-12.
Rediscovering an Artist: Roberto de la Selva and the Lost Murals at The Deserted Village
Monday, January 8 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
For many decades the work of a distinguished Latin American artist lay hidden beneath the wallpaper in a cottage in Feltville—Union County’s “Deserted Village. “
Eventually uncovered by volunteer maintenance workers, the colorful images depicting rural Mexican life displayed a compelling talent. Extensive research revealed them to be the work of Roberto de la Selva, a native of Nicaragua. De la Selva had at one time in the late 1920s been a guest of Edward Grassmann, who had purchased much of the Deserted Village in 1919. De la Selva would go on to become renowned as a bas relief sculptor in wood, working as part of the movement known as Mexican Modernism in which artists such as Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco celebrated post-Revolution social reform and the heritage of indigenous cultures.
The Library is pleased to host a special program to share the fascinating story of these unique murals and the artist who left his mark here in Union County . The panel of speakers will feature:
- Daniel Bernier, Director of Park Planning and Environmental Services for Union County, and resident caretaker of Feltville
- Priscilla Hayes, a writer and researcher dedicated to chronicling Feltville’s rich three-century history
- Alejandro Anreus, Ph.D, Emeritus Professor of Art History and Latin American Studies, William Paterson University
- Ron Burkard, a longtime collector of de la Selva’s art (joining us from Oklahoma via Zoom)
Drawing with Sandra
Tuesday, January 9 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Learn how to develop drawings from start to finish with local artist Sandra Cerchio. You’ll learn techniques for shading, contrast, texture, and detail.
Attendees should bring:
- Graphic Pencils (H, HB, & 2B)
- Drawing Pad 11” x 14”
- Wedge Erasers
- Blending Stump
Drop In Crafting
Tuesday, January 9 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Whether you want to learn a new skill, share tips with others, or just craft with company, you’re invited to bring your current WIP (work in progress) to the Library’s gallery space and create alongside others. We’ll have selections from our collection of books about a variety of crafts for inspiration. Registration is not needed.
You can also use this time to knit or crochet a hat for adults receiving cancer treatment at Overlook Medical Center, and you’re welcome to use our yarn and tools for this project. Ask at the Adult Services Desk for complete details.
Let’s Create Studio
Wednesday, January 10 @ 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Students in 3rd to 7th grade are invited to participate in this monthly hands-on creativity workshop. Each month will feature a new challenge or project.
This month’s we will be making optical illusions!
Registration is required and will open on January 1, 2024 to children who are residents of Scotch Plains only. When registering, please use the child’s card number. Cardholders from other neighboring communities will open on January 5, 2024.
Teen Advisory Board Meeting
Thursday, January 11 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Teen Advisory Board gives Scotch Plains teens a voice in the library and in the community. We want to hear what you have to say!
This will be a hybrid meeting: you can choose to attend in person at the library or virtually via Zoom. (We recommend attending in person, because there will be snacks.) Either way, please register using the form below.
All teens are welcome! Grades 6-12.
Library Closed
Monday, January 15
Little Listeners
Tuesday, January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, & 31st from @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Delight and stimulate your baby’s senses with short books, music, and movement activities. This baby program, which is designed for children from birth to 23 months and their caregivers, encourages early language development in a fun and engaging environment.
Read, Play, Learn!
Tuesday, January 16, 23, & 30th @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Thursday, January 18, & 25th @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Read, play, and learn with us! This program is an interactive experience for toddlers aged 18 to 35 months and their caregivers. Development and literacy is encouraged through reading, singing, and playing. Join the fun as we enjoy classic picture books, learn songs and rhymes, and explore play and movement activities.
Afternoon Book Club
Tuesday, January 16 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Afternoon Book Club will discuss The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho.
Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is more to life than his humble home and his flock. One day he finds the courage to follow his dreams into distant lands, each step galvanised by the knowledge that he is following the right path: his own. The people he meets along the way, the things he sees and the wisdom he learns are life-changing.
Preschool Play
Tuesday, January 16 @ 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Our interactive storytime program will help your 3 to 5 year old child get ready for kindergarten while having fun. First we’ll share some stories, songs, and activities together. Then, we welcome you to stay, play, and enjoy the library’s toys and exploration stations.
Terrific Twos
Wednesday, January 17, 24, & 31st @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Travel the path to literacy at our fun and engaging program designed just for two-year-olds. Caregivers will interact with their children through books, music, and movement activities while exploring letters, sounds, and counting!
Books and Beyond
Wednesday, January 17 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Books are only the beginning! Students in Kindergarten to 2nd grade are invited to this program which will feature a non-fiction book and then continue to a hands-on related activity.
This month we will be reading Thump Goes the Rabbit: How Animals Communicate and creating telephones!
Sensory Storytime
Thursday, January 18, & 25th @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am
This sensory-friendly program is an inclusive storytime for children 1 to 5 years with sensory challenges such as difficulty sitting still, being in large groups, and those on the autism spectrum. Using movement activities, books and play, this interactive storytime encourages literacy and social opportunities for all.
Evening Book Club
Thursday, January 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Evening Book Club will discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. They will meet on the Library’s lower level.
A debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium-and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance 30 years ago.
Pajama Storytime
Monday, January 22 @ 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Children are invited to join us for a fun and exciting nighttime storytime! Grab your favorite stuffed animal and wear your pajamas for a fun evening of stories and songs. This program is geared for children ages 1 to 3 but all are welcome! ASL interpretation will be provided.
Gaming Club
Tuesday, January 23 @ 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Students in Grades 3-5 are invited to stop at the library to play retro games on the library’s switch, play board games and more.
Registration is required and will open on January 15, 2024 to children who are residents of Scotch Plains only. When registering, please use the child’s card number. Cardholders from other neighboring communities will open on January 19, 2024.
What’s Current in Electric Vehicles?
Wednesday, January 24 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join a representative from AAA Northeast for this informative virtual program covering what consumers should know about owning and operating electric vehicles.
AAA will get you up to speed on:
- the history of electric vehicles
- the types of electric vehicles, how they perform, and expected battery range
- what you need to know about electric vehicle charging
- buying an electric vehicle.
Drop In Crafting
Thursday, January 25 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Whether you want to learn a new skill, share tips with others, or just craft with company, you’re invited to bring your current WIP (work in progress) to the Library’s gallery space and create alongside others. We’ll have selections from our collection of books about a variety of crafts for inspiration. Registration is not needed.
You can also use this time to knit or crochet a hat for adults receiving cancer treatment at Overlook Medical Center, and you’re welcome to use our yarn and tools for this project. Ask at the Adult Services Desk for complete details.
Proctored ACT Practice Exam
Saturday, January 27 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Prepare for the ACT by taking this free proctored practice exam, offered by Above the Grade!
Please note: Students should bring #2 pencils, erasers, and a test-approved calculator. They may also bring a snack and drink to consume during the break.
Family LEGO Club
Saturday, January 27 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Open to the entire family, this LEGO club encourages children and their grown ups to work together in order to design and build unique creations in the Children’s Room of the library.
The library will supply the blocks, you supply the imagination!
Family LEGO Club
Saturday, January 27 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Open to the entire family, this LEGO club encourages children and their grown ups to work together in order to design and build unique creations in the Children’s Room of the library.
The library will supply the blocks, you supply the imagination!
Plant Swap
Monday, January 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Library and the Scotch Plains Garden Club invite you to take part in a Plant Swap!
Do you want to add some variety to your houseplant collection? Are you overrun with baby spider plants? Bring a plant for someone to adopt, and choose a new one for yourself! You’ll also get to meet other plant enthusiasts and share growing tips.
Just follow these guidelines for a fun and productive event:
- Bring a small houseplant or 1-2 cuttings.
- Plants should be pest-free and reasonably healthy.
- Please bring only as many as you’re willing to bring home, and don’t take more than you brought, so there’s enough for everyone.
- A limited amount of soil and containers will be available for transplanting.
The Scotch Plains Garden Club is a diverse group of men and women coming together with a mission to beautify Scotch Plains. For more information about the club and upcoming events, please check out their website at scotchplainsgardenclub.com.
