Caldwell College Service Learning Project ROCKS!

Poet Marcia Ivans played to a FULL HOUSE last month, thanks to Caldwell College students (l-r) Marina Vasilic, Kathleen Hastings, Brian Singer, Krista Ruggero and Diana Lopez, shown in this picture with Ms. Ivans. And, what better time than now - Thanksgiving! - to express our gratitude to Caldwell College, and Professor Mary Ann Miller, for allowing us to be part of this collaboration for the past three years. Talk about "win win"! And, as we shared with the students working with Ms. Ivans, as well as those working with poets Laura Freedgood and Jessica de Koninck, maybe they will consider a catering or bakery business on the side? What GREAT cookies and treats were provided for the reception! Forget about saving calories pre-holidays -- absolutely delish treats to accompany brilliant poetry in October and November.

It's not easy being Green - but Green was the word of the day this past week-end!

As in what was happening ON the Green as well as the Green Fair!

While my husband & I were visiting our daughter for “Parents’ Weekend” my colleagues were extremely busy upholding our library mission statement – in ever-changing, expanding and creative ways. The fall means not only our traditional “Always the First Sunday in October” Street Fair but also the CMA (“Caldwell Merchants Association”) Fall Fest with Scarecrows and pumpkins and more community fun. We at the Library felt the best way we could be supportive was to extend our hours on Saturday so that we were open for the duration of the Fair (noon to four). Our bathrooms were valuable – but apparently so was our electricity! So, once again, the library is happy to report that “in a pinch” as well as for daily consumption, the library can serve you. (Special thanks are due to Marsha, Emily and Nicole, for adding extra hours to your days, for the benefit of your community.)


Sunday meant the annual “Green Fair” as conceived and created years ago by the Caldwell Environmental Commission. Caldwell College provided a lovely venue – and large enough to accommodate all the vendors and tables and non-profits – including the Caldwell Public Library. Again, my colleagues – in this case our teen library assistants, Emily and Mary-anna – “tabled” (as the college kids call it now, I learned this week-end!). And, I understand they tabled very ably. The Library recycled and reused by sharing some materials from our “Book Sale” shelves – as well as provided an environmental bibliography.


Thanks to all who attended both events and to all who worked so very hard on both events. (With my own personal thanks to my colleagues who made it possible for the library to have such a rich, and relevant, role as well.)



-Karen

Last Friday's Caldwell Day was Most Excellent!

Thank you again to all the wonderful volunteers from Caldwell College who spent hours last Friday working on our shelves, planting flowers in the front and back of the Library, assisting some of our patrons on the computers - for very kind, patient and informative "one on one" training sessions - and for countless other assists.

And, hopefully, our library "pitching" during the day resulted in 8 new visitors to CPL, and a host of additional "win win" ideas. Key Note speaker, Joy Rodino, joined Professor Joanne Jasmine in showcasing our "Young Adult" collection and updating it's "eye appeal" -- since we all know that many readers indeed DO "judge a book by it's cover!"

And, if you want more info on the day, click here for more pictures and a wonderful rundown -- from Caldwell College's own website.

Friday, March 5, 2010

"Footprints on the Sands of Time"

Wow oh WOW! Was yesterday ever a banner day for The Big Read of Longfellow in the Caldwells. (Really, a banner week - if we look to Tuesday evening's inaugural "Local Poets Take on Longfellow!" which was most excellent. Thank you again poets (disguised by day as Library Directors) Gabriella Radujko and John J. Trause.

Anyway, back to yesterday, first, at 11 a.m. a full house was captivated by Poet/Caldwell College's Lifelong Learning Institute Teacher Carrie Howson, as she shared stories of the famous "Saturday Morning Club." Even if you missed yesterday's program, pen in next Thursday's 11 a.m. talk right now. Thank you Carrie!

The pictures you see on this page were taken in the afternoon, when 20 teenage students from James Caldwell High School, students in English Department Chair, Sue Callaghan's class, joined with 16 vibrant adults and heard their stories, and took notes, asked questions, and started on a legacy writing project. Above you see Mildred Fitzburgh of Caldwell, and William Nikel of West Caldwell, being interviewed. This program was a collaboration of the library, Caldwell LIVE, and in partnership with the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education. Cannot wait to read these stories -- and again, please, oh please, be part of The Big Read of Longfellow.

Author Brad Parks on The Power of Storytelling

On Tuesday, January 26, author Brad Parks will be speaking at Caldwell College's Werner Hall at 7pm. This presentation by the former Washington Post and Star Ledger reporter is part of an ongoing collaboration among the Caldwell Public Library, Caldwell College and Mount St. Dominic Academy.

Parks, the author of a new mystery series set in New Jersey, will give a talk entitled “The Power of Storytelling: A Writer’s Journey from Journalist to Novelist,” that will touch on both his fiction and non-fiction work.

A book-signing of his new book, “Faces of The Gone” will immediately follow the talk. Copies will be available for purchase that evening.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Karen Kleppe-Lembo at (973) 226-2837.

About the Author: Brad Parks’ debut novel, a mystery/thriller titled FACES OF THE GONE, was released from St. Martin’s Press on December 8, 2009. A reformed newspaper reporter, Brad spent a dozen years covering news and sports for The Star-Ledger and The Washington Post. His work has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the National Headliner Awards, the National Association of Black Journalists and others. Most recently, he won the New Jersey Press Association's enterprise award for a four-part series on the 40th Anniversary of the Newark Riots.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, he lives with his wife, Melissa, and two young children and is currently at work on the next Carter Ross adventure. www.bradparksbooks.com.