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The Library sponsors many free programs of cultural and
scientific interest to all ages. The following list highlights some of
the most popular “regulars” for 2008. |
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The Library has audio books in both CD and tape cassette formats. They circulate for 3 weeks. Renewals are welcomed (3-time limit). There is a limit of 25 CD’s per person. Overdue charge: 5 cents, per day. If you like I-Pods you’ll love our Playaway book collection! Fabulous titles on a Pod-sized device. Take it biking, take it baking, take it ANYWHERE! Check them out.
Get the latest info on programs, blood drives, emergency closings, fundraising progress and more on our blog. Click the link on our homepage, or bookmark www.PlainsboroLibraryNews.blogspot.com
With the exception of October and December, benefit book sales operate from 10-4 on the last weekend of every month. All proceeds go to keeping the library open on Sundays! (and we’re proud to boast that Plainsboro is the ONLY library in New Jersey open on Sunday mornings!). Saturday prices: Hardbacks, $1. Paperbacks, $.50. Miscellaneous media and art at bargain prices. Sunday is “Stuff-a Bag” day for the fabulous price of $3.00. Come early. Use our bags or bring your own! Dates for 2007 sales are: April 28–29, May 26-27, June 30 - July 1, July 28-29, August 25-6, September 29-30, October 20-21 (please note time switch), November 24-25, and December 26–30 (Please note this is a full week of $3. clearance bargain bags!).
In conjunction with New Jersey Blood Services, bi-monthly blood drives are conducted on site. Dates for 2008 are January 6, March 9, July 13, September 14 and November 9 from 10:30-3:30. This is a drop-in service. No advanced appointment is necessary. Babysitting is provided.
The Library has an active collection of over 1,500 CD’s which circulate for 3 weeks. Renewals are welcomed (3-time limit). There is a limit of 25 CD’s per person. Overdue charge: 5 cents per day.
Little things mean a lot! Grab one of our Change for Change cups and make a habit of filling it with your loose change. Then drop it in our vortex, or deposit it directly at PNC or 1st Constitution Bank. Every penny goes toward building our new library, opening in 2009!
The Library supports learning for adults and children alike with a wide variety of CD Roms. These may be borrowed for three weeks and renewed up to three times.Overdue charges are 5 cents a day.
The Library offers an active chess environment. There is a table for spontaneous in-house play, and regularly scheduled groups to gain playing time. Currently, advanced adult players meet on Sunday afternoons in the history room from 1–5 p.m. For details, e-mail plainsborochess@yahoo.com
Take a quick overview of the Children’s Room at the Plainsboro Library! We offer a vast array of
exciting programs for kids of all ages. Stop in for a Storytime, bring your 18-24 month old to Lapsit Nursery Rhyme Time, or sample one of the other special story programs. There’s family storyhour every Saturday throughout the year at 10:30 a.m. Enroll in one of our drama classes, Improvmania for kids 9 & up, and Improvmania Too for kids ages 6-8. Robotics and chess are regular offerings for kids 9 and up! Special programs throughout the year feature the to directory listings for arts and sciences just for kids!
The Library maintains a number of computers for public use. Internet usage is free and does not require advance registration. Please ask for assistance at the Reference Desk if a terminal is not available upon arrival. Priority is given to those doing research. Database research is free and efficient. The library maintains a variety of popular databases tailored to local needs for report research, investments, taxes, health, and law. These terminals are located in the Reference area. Word processing programs are available in standard Office formats. Files may be created and stored on disks and jump drives; retrieved from disks and jump drives; and/or printed. Library staff is not able to instruct newcomers in the complex use of these programs. Science and Math programs for pre-K-middle school are mounted in the Science Center at all times. Check the circulating CD ROM’s for copies of similar programs. Computer classes and tutorials are offered in the use of the Library’s catalogue, databases, and Internet navigation. Call for detailed information about times. No charge.
The Library welcomes donations and memorials from individuals and businesses alike. The Library is a registered 501-C3 organization and can give letters acknowledging the charitable gifts for tax purposes. Among the treasured contributions received in the past have been gifts of time, talent, money, books, sculpture, video recorders, slide projectors, birdbaths and artwork for resale. In addition, the Science Center, which hosts a very active “take apart” center, invites you to save your broken equipment for “scientific investigation.” Old phones, toasters, fans, mixers, mechanical toys—ALL are enthusiastically accepted. Sorry, we can not use dysfunctional t.v.s and computer monitors for this purpose. For your convenience, donated materials can be brought to the staff entrance by the book drop, where there are no steps, and a cart awaits inside to assist with heavy loads. Sorry, magazines cannot be accepted. To explore specific options, call the Director at 609-275-2899.
The Library has a collection of DVDs to complement our video collection. These circulate, free of charge for 2 days. There are no renewals. Overdue charge: $1.00/day.
Two different styles of ESL classes are offered at the Library. Structured lessons are offered by the Continuing Education Department of the West Windsor-Plainsboro School district. For dates and details of registration call: 609-716-5034. Free informal conversation classes are held every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. No registration is required.
Food and paper products are gratefully accepted on behalf of the Middlesex County McFoods program and the Plainsboro Food Pantry. Leave them in the open chest just inside the plaza entrance to the library.
Major efforts have been made to satisfy local demand for print and media materials in Mandarin, Hindi, Gujarati and Korean. Materials in all languages are available on bulk loan through New Jersey State Library.
The Gallery at Plainsboro Public Library features the works of local and regional professional artists in a variety of media. Artists interested in showing their work should call the Director at 609-275-2897. Work shown in The Gallery is not subject to commission.
All those who live or work in Plainsboro are eligible for a Plainsboro Library card. A document with the home/work address will be required upon application. (Most anything will do—a lease, bill, driver’s license, work badge, letter of employment). Even wee children are encouraged to get their very own library cards! Mercer County Library System Reciprocity: All card holders in the Mercer County Library System may obtain a reciprocal card by presenting their MCL System card. Likewise, Plainsboro card holders may obtain a reciprocal card for the Mercer County Library System, by presenting their Plainsboro Library for barcoding at any branch in the Mercer County Library System. Plainsboro Public Library is a member of the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium (LMXAC) and Middlesex Union Reciprocal Associated Libraries (M.U.R.A.L.) All card holders in the LMXAC System may borrow directly from member and M.U.R.A.L libraries. We are also a member of New Jersey’s Open Borrowing Program, which includes direct borrowing from 51% of the state. Ask for details at the Circulation Desk. LMXAC and M.U.R.A.L. members include: Berkeley Heights, Carteret, Clark, Cranbury, Cranford, Dunellen, Edison, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Highland Park, Hillside, Jamesburg, Kenilworth, Linden, Long Branch, Manville, Matawan, Metuchen, Middlesex County College, Middlesex, Milltown, Monroe, Mountainside, New Brunswick, New Providence, North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Plainfield, Roselle, Roselle Park, Sayreville, Scotch Plains, Somerville, South Amboy, South Brunswick, South Plainfield, South River, Spotswood, Springfield, Union and Westfield.
See into the far corners of the world with our collection of international games. Africa offers mankala. Japan teases with their version of chess—Shogi. China challenges with Go. Games circulate for 2 weeks. Renewals are welcomed (5-time limit.) Overdue charge: 5 cents per day.
Registration is not necessary for use of Plainsboro Library’s Internet terminals. When all stations are occupied, check with Reference and they will give notice to an Internet user on your behalf. You will be guaranteed access within 20 minutes. No charge for access or for printing.
The Library has two rooms which may be used for meetings and programs which are free, educational and open to the public. The History Room is a small, elegant seminar room which seats twelve around a conference table, and maxes out at approximately 25 people. The Community Room can accommodate 50 people seated auditorium style and 100 people standing, and has a small kitchenette with h/c water, sink, counter and a small refrigerator. There is no charge for either room. Equipment available: Overhead, slide projector, screen, podium with microphone, VCR, CD/tape player, tables and chairs. Food may be served. The Community Room is maintained as “open” space. If chairs and tables are set up, they must also be returned to their storage places.
Free notary service is available during the week and on most Sunday afternoons. Please call in advance to confirm availability.
If you like I-Pods, you'll love your Playaway book collection! Fabulous titles on a pod-sized device. Take it biking, take it baking, take it ANYWHERE! Come see!
Reference service is available whenever the library is open. We look forward to helping you in the library, on the phone or by email. Just ask! We can help you locate books and resources or guide you through more advanced, specialized queries. Databases available for use in library: Fulltext: New York Times since 1851, Newark Star-ledger, Times of Trenton, Electric Library, SIRS, SIRS Gov't Reporter, Standard and Poor's Corporate Descriptions, NJ Statutes, NJ Administrative Code, Masterplots Fulltext and/or citations: Ebscohost Masterfile, Infotrac General Reference, Infotrac Health Reference Center, Poemfinder, Novelist, Informe (Spanish language articles). Other exceptional digital resources include Standard and Poors. Most databases are accessible remotely via the Library's webpage, www.lmxac.org/plainsboro by providing a Plainsboro Library barcode number. Our resources go far beyond the walls of Plainsboro Public Library. We are connected to larger reference referral networks and inter-library loan services. If we don't have the materials or answers here, we'll borrow them from/ or refer you to places that do!
Thanks to the kindness of Siemens Corporation, which has given both money and talented mentors, the Library maintains an exciting program in Lego Mindstorm Robotics. The program offers hands on mentoring for children and adults alike. Advanced students may be invited to join the Robotics Club. In March 2005, The State of New Jersey recognized Plainsboro Public Library as the outstanding community organization offering innovations in Science and Technology for women. Registration is required. Call 609-275-2897 for details.
Each year the Library presents two scholarships to Plainsboro resident high school seniors in memory of Board member and WW-P High School South Librarian Rosalie Pratt. Click here for details and application: The Rosalie Pratt Memorial Scholarship
The Children's Room features a mini hands-on Science Center. Awarded the American Library Association's prestigious Fyan award for innovative programming, the Center features a take apart center, a weighing center, microscopes, whisper phones, computer programs, science videos for circulation, and a year round emphasis on science workshops. In 2008, the Library will offer four techno-science challenges: The Pringle Packing Challenge; The Annual Egg-dropping Competition (kits available at the Library after July 4); The Cardboard Canoe Race on Plainsboro Pond (look for details at the Library in July/August); and the Newspaper Chair Competition.
From February through April 15, the Library offers free tax assistance workshops in collaboration with the local chapter of AARP. Please call or come by for details about the service. 609-275-2897.
Need a typewriter to complete that application? The Library has them for public use! How very retro!
The Library has an active collection of over 1,500 popular and educational videos which circulate, free of charge for 2 days. There are no renewals. Overdue charge: $1.00/day. There is also a growing collection of "stack" videos on specialized topics which are shelved together with the books and which circulate for three weeks.
Interested in a lifetime investment? Give some time to the Library and see how many lives your gift touches. Everyday, volunteers contribute to the remarkably cost effective, innovative service at Plainsboro Public Library. From “reading the shelves”, to organizing community wide festivals, to manning the technical needs of the vast Interlibrary Loan System, to selling books at the monthly sale, volunteers play MAJOR roles. If you've been wanting to get out and “get involved,” call the Volunteer Coordinator at 609-275-2897. Do it today!
Part science. Part Fun. And ALL benefiting the library's fundraising effort for our new library. Save your change, and come study Kepler's laws right here at the library as they coast relentlessly down into the black hole! Our goal - a community effort by young and old to raise $10,000 in change.
The Plainsboro Literary Group hosts monthly reads on the last Monday of every month for writers who wish to share their works in progress and receive informal feedback. There are no restrictions as to format. Prose, poetry, plays, reviews are all welcome. Selections should be 10–15 minutes in length. Visitors may listen and discuss, if they prefer not to read. Nibbles and conversation at 6:30 p.m. Readings at 7:00 p.m. sharp. |