Library Open on Saturdays in the Summer

      Need a book for the pool or vacation?  Now you have an extra day to visit the library and get one!  For the first time, the library is open on Saturdays in the summer.  Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Full Saturday hours (9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) resume on September 6.

Online Cranford Newspaper Archive Covers 111 Years of Cranford History

      A digital archive of keyword searchable Cranford newspapers spanning 1894 to 2005 is now available to the public at the Cranford, Clark and Garwood public libraries, and will also be available soon at the Cranford Historical Society.  Archived newspapers include the Cranford Chronicle (1894-1918; 1945-2005), Cranford Citizen (1898-1921) and Cranford Citizen & Chronicle (1921-1944).  The issues are in Portable Document Format (PDF), which preserves the original appearance of the pages.  Each newspaper can be searched all at one time, or by a single decade or year.  Articles, including photos and illustrations, can be printed or saved to disc.  Project funding was made possible in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs.

      Cranford resident Jean Kreiling donated two copies of her recently published book to the library.  Entitled Cranford Kaleidoscope: Photos of Cranford, New Jersey, the book contains more than 70 photos and photo art studies of various Cranford locales.

New Computer Basics Resources

      Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of the Cranford Public Library, the library recently added 12 large print books and 12 DVDs to its collection, all of which cover various aspects of computer basics.  Subjects include basic computer knowledge, the Internet, email, AOL, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 

From the Teen Zone

Great Ways to Enjoy the Summer!
      1. Join the Teen Summer Reading Book Club!  Read books, attend fun programs and win prizes!  The program is open to teens 12 to 18 years old, or entering grades 7 to 12.  Registration runs through August 15.  Register on the second floor of the library.  The program ends with a pizza party celebration on Wednesday, August 20. 2. Teen Movies on Wednesdays, July 2 to August 27, at 1:00 p.m.  See the library’s teen page for listings (cranford.com/ library/teens.asp)  3. Fun Fridays  from July 11 to August 29.  Visit the library for a craft workshop, book discussion, or some other fun.  Check the Web site (listed above) for upcoming activities.  4. Taekwon-do Fun, July 14 at noon.  Learn about Taekwon-do, a modern martial art featuring fast, high and spinning kicks.  Presented by Cranford’s own Taekwon-do Center.  5. Twilight Lock-In, August 1 & 2, 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.  If you love the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, you’ll love this great event!  Registration is required!  6. Teen Makeover, August 4, 10:30 a.m.  Stylists from Sophi’s Colour Lounge will demonstrate hair and make-up techniques.  Registration is  required!  7. Caricatures, a regular summer feature, on August 14 at 2:00 p.m.  Have your caricature drawn while watching the artist at work.  8. Magic Show on August 26.  Watch for starting time.  Doug the Magnificent, a huge hit each summer,  will perform amazing feats of magic.

From  the  Children's  Room

Catch the Reading Bug This Summer!

       The deadline to sign up for this summer’s children’s summer reading program is July 11.  Participants read or have books read to them, keep track of reading time, and earn tickets and weekly prizes.  The tickets can be used at the summer reading carnival on Wednesday, August 6 (rain date: August 7).  The program is open to all Cranford children.

Musical Fun with Presley & Melody

      Popular musical performers Presley & Melody return to the library with their "Catch the Reading Bug" family show on Monday, July 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center.  Free tickets for Cranford residents will be available at the Children's Department desk beginning Monday, June 23.

Eyes of the Wild: Animal Friends

      Eyes of the Wild will present "Animal Friends," a program that introduces preschoolers to a variety of animal friends.  Older siblings are welcome too.  The program will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Center.  Free tickets will be available for Cranford residents at the Children's Department desk beginning Tuesday, July 1.

Bugs, Magic & More!

      Full Effect Productions returns to the library  with a new magic show on Monday, July 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Raddin Room.  Free tickets will be available to Cranford residents at the Children's Department desk beginning Monday, July 7.

Bugs of Blackwood

      Piccirillo Sciencetelling will bring their program, "Bugs of Blackwood," to the Library on Friday, August 1, at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Center.  Free tickets for the event will be available to Cranford residents at the Children's Department desk beginning Friday, July 18.

News from the Friends of the Cranford Public Library

 Classic Film Series
      The Friends’ Classic Film Series continues with: Gigi (1958, 119 min.) on July 1; The Pawnbroker (1964, 120 min.) on July 8; Scarface (1932, 93 min.) on July 15; The Bank Dick (1940, 73 min.) on July 22; Green for Danger (1947, 91 min.) on July 29; The Heiress (1949, 115 min.) on August 5; A Man for All Seasons (1966, 120 min.) on August 12; The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956, 120 min.) on August 19; and You Can’t Take It With You (1938, 126 min.) on August 26.  Shows are at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center.

International Film Series
      Tour the globe via the Friends’ International Film Series.  Shows are at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center.  Coming up: In July (2000, 99 minutes), a comedy from Germany, on July 14, and Electric Shadows (2004, 93 minutes), a period drama from China/Hong Kong, on August 18.  Both show dates are Mondays.  Admission is free and all are welcome.

Molière  &  Shakespeare
      The Friends are pleased to sponsor two performances by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Next Stage Ensemble.  The Ensemble will present one-hour adaptations of Molière’s The Learned Ladies  on Wednesday, July 16, and Shakespeare’s Richard II on Wednesday, August 6.  Show times are 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim, 338 Walnut Avenue, Cranford.  Admission is free and all are welcome.

Documentary Film Series 
      The Friends of the Library’s new monthly documentary film series continues with In the Shadow of the Moon (2007, 96 min.) on July 21 and Wordplay (2005, 94 min.) on August 25.  All dates are Mondays.  Show times are 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center.  Admission is free and all are welcome.

Summer Used Book Sales
Choose from thousands of children's and adult books, CDs and videos at the Friends’ summer used book sales.  Dates are Thursday, August 14, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Thursday, August 21, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The sale will be held in the Friendly Book Cellar, which is located in the library basement. Proceeds benefit the library.