The Newark Public Library announces
January programs
Press Release January 3, 2006

The Newark Public Library, 5 Washington Street, announced its schedule of programs for the month of January, including those commemorating “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” and the “Saturday Programs @ the Branches” series of entertaining and educational children’s programs funded by the Newark Public Schools. (The latter are noted with a “**” in the listing.) The library also extended its Photo by Dorer exhibition to Saturday, January 21. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the number listed with the program description, or visit the library’s home page at www.npl.org for adult programs and Kids' Place for children’s programs.

The library has extended its major exhibition—entitled Photo by Dorer: American Photographer and New Jersey Chronicler, on view on the second- and third-floor galleries of the Main Library—through January 21, 2006. The show was co-curated by John T. Cunningham and the late Charles F. Cummings, with curatorial assistance by Brad Small, and technical photographic assistance from Richard Koles and Barbara Moss. Local historian Elizabeth Del Tufo and Ralph Tohlin also contributed important historical research. The exhibition was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information on this exhibition, call (973) 733-7776.

The Springfield branch, 50 Hayes Street, continues its SAT Prep Program on most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Each free session comprises Preparation for SAT Tests, Financial Aid Workshops, College Essay Writing, and Scholarship Searches. Assistance will be given in completing SAT, college, and scholarship applications. Classes will be offered on Wednesdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, and on Saturdays from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The Community Foundation of New Jersey provided the funding for this program. For more information, please call the Springfield branch library at (973) 733-7736, or Lyndon Brown, the instructor, at (973) 623-8699.

Free computer classes in English and Spanish are being held in the Technology Training Center, which is located on the third floor of the Main Library. Class size is limited to ten participants. Some classes are designed for first-time computer users (Mouse Clinic, Typing), while others are for those with more computer literacy (Word Processing, Publisher, Email, Internet, PowerPoint, Creating a Résumé). For more information on the calendar of classes for January, please call (973) 733-3603, or visit www.npl.org/Pages/Computers/.

Each Wednesday evening, from 6:00 to 8:00, is “Chess Night” at the Madison branch, 790 Clinton Avenue, (973) 733-8090. Patrons—third-graders to adults—are invited to “play it, learn it, teach it.”

Following are more programs.

January 4, 11, 18, 25
The Van Buren branch library, 140 Van Buren Street, is holding “Using the Internet” computer classes from 6pm to 7pm. Call (973) 733-7750.

January 6, 13, 20, 27
The Van Buren branch library, 140 Van Buren Street, is holding “Friday Morning Story Time” at 10:30am. Call (973) 733-7750.

“Bingo is Back” at the Van Buren branch library, 140 Van Buren Street, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Call (973) 733-7750.

January 7
The Main Library, 5 Washington Street, presents Martha Richardson in “How a Spice Island Village Fair Became a Village Family Affair,” at 1pm. Martha Richardson, a local New Jersey author, shares her first children's book, and then teaches everyone how to pitch marbles! Call (973) 733-7797.

January 10
The Main Library, 5 Washington Street, will hold a program, entitled And Let Our Voices Sing, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It features the Mayhem Poets, who will introduce the audience to “slam” poetry. The program begins at 10:30am and is suitable for young audiences in grades 3 to 5. Call (973) 733-7797 to reserve space for school groups.

The library and the Newark History Society are sponsoring a panel discussion and gallery tour of the library’s Photo by Dorer exhibition. Panelists are John T. Cunningham, who will present “Harry Dorer the Man,” and Richard Koles, who will present “Harry Dorer the Photographer.” The discussion will be held in the Main Library’s Centennial Hall, 5 Washington Street. Brad Small will host the gallery tour. The event begins at 6pm. Call (973) 736-3195.

January 11
The Branch Brook branch library, 235 Clifton Avenue, is showing a film that is entitled “Meet Our Friend Martin.” Learn more about Dr. King at this 5pm program. Call (973) 733-6388.

January 14
Vailsburg branch library, 75 Alexander St., will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Lisa Lou’s Anti-Gravity Show, at 11am. Call: (973) 733-7755.

Come and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through story time and the creative arts, from noon to 1pm. Hear a story and then create a poster. Groups and individuals will create their own poster in honor of Dr. King using art supplies from the library. Everyone who participates will be entered in a raffle to win a prize. Main Library Children's Room, 5 Washington Street. Call (973) 733-7797.

January 16 through 21
Schoolchildren may show their appreciation for Dr. King at the Vailsburg branch library, 75 Alexander Street. Children can express their thoughts, from 3:30pm to 5:00pm, in a poem, drawing or essay. Call (973) 733-7755.

January 18
The Newark Public Library will hold a memorial tribute to Charles F. Cummings on Wednesday, January 18, 2006, from 6pm to 8pm. (Mr. Cummings, Assistant Director for Special Collections and Statewide Outreach, passed away on December 21, 2005.) The tribute will be held in Centennial Hall of the Main Library, 5 Washington Street. Those wishing to share special notes of remembrance are requested to email them to njreference@npl.org.

January 21
A program from the Hooray for Children series, entitled Raps, Rhymes ’N Reasons, featuring Sharon McGruder. The 2pm program will be held in the Main Library’s Centennial Hall, 5 Washington Street. Call (973) 733-5642.

The Clinton branch library, 739 Bergen St., will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event that features Craig Babcock as Dr. Think, Man of Imagination, at 11am. Call (973) 733-7754.

The North End branch library, 722 Summer St., will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Science of Magic Show With Mr. Fish, at 11am. Call: (973) 733-7683.

The Roseville branch library, 99 5th St., will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Seven Quilts for Seven Sisters, A Day in the Life of a Slave, at 10:15am. Call (973) 733-7770.

The Springfield branch library, 50 Hayes St., will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Seven Quilts for Seven Sisters, A Day in the Life of a Slave, at noon. Call (973) 733-7736.

The Madison branch library, 790 Clinton Avenue, will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Steve Johnson’s Magic Variety Show, at 11am. Call (973) 733-8090.

The Van Buren branch library, 140 Van Buren Street, will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Musical Legends Presents Jazz 4 Kids, at 11am. Call (973) 733-7750.

January 28
The Branch Brook branch library, 235 Clifton Ave., will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Musical Legends Presents Jazz 4 Kids, at 11am. Call (973) 733-6388.

The Weequahic branch library, 355 Osborne Terrace, will hold a “Saturday Programs @ the Branches”** event, entitled Rosa’s Ride, featuring Flying Ship Productions, at 11am. Call (973) 733-7752.

Create a winter craft and hear some winter stories at the Main Library Children's Room, 5 Washington Street. Saturday, from 11:00-noon. Call (973) 733-7797.

Simple science experiments are the theme of Winter Weird Science, a children’s program to be held from 2pm to 3pm in the Main Library Children’s Room, 5 Washington Street. Call (973) 733-7797.