Tackle Do-It-Yourself Repairs Easily and Safely

Did your home or business suffer damages due to Hurricane Sandy? Or are there home improvement projects you've been meaning tackle around your home?  If so, we have the perfect resource for you. The Home Improvement Reference Center contains articles, photos, and videos designed to help you make repairs and improvements easily and safely.  The Home Improvement Repair Center database provides step-by-step instructions for projects, along with background information and basic tips on topics including electrical, plumbing, woodworking, outdoor projects, maintenance, and decorating.

You'll find articles on everything from emergency roof repairs and how to repair siding to decorating tips for small kitchens and removing old finishes from woodwork.

EBSCO Publishing generously donated this repair and renovation tool to the New Jersey State Library to support library card holders statewide in their efforts to recover from the hurricane.  The database will be available through June 30, 2013.

Click here to get started.

New Jersey Works!

Did you know there are job preparation and computer skills workshops being offered at public libraries throughout New Jersey ... and you are welcome to participate in them?  NJWorks@yourlibrary is a campaign developed by the The New Jersey State Library to provide resources to the unemployed and underemployed people in New Jersey in order to help with the economic recovery.  NJWorks@yourlibrary publishes a bi-weekly newsletter filled with FREE workshops and career tips!  You can subscribe to the newsletter or view a recent copy by clicking here.  You can also check out all the training opportunities available during the month of October by clicking here.

In addition, Susie has compiled lots of job searching websites into a single document called Job Resources on the Internet. Check it out and best of luck!

"Matawan/Aberdeen @ Night" photography contest winners

Congratulations to our winners!

The "Matawan/Aberdeen @ Night" photography contest was part of our 2012 Summer Reading Program which focused on the nighttime. We asked our patrons to submit photos taken at nighttime in either Matawan Borough or Aberdeen Township, and they delivered with some wonderful photos.  Our panel of judges had a very difficult task when selecting the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners who  each received a gift card from Best Buy.  The winning photos are displayed below, but all the submitted photos can be viewed by clicking here. Thank you to everyone who participated!!

1st place - Lake Lefferts by Kevin U

2nd place - by Katarina S

3rd place - Shadow Walker on Aberdeen Rd by Chris M

Popular ebooks just for you

Late last year the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library began purchasing popular ebooks just for our patrons.  These ebooks can be checked out through the eLibraryNJ website and are usually available to you with little or no wait time.  It can be difficult to figure out which ebooks we own as part of the OverDrive Advantage plan so below is a list of all the titles we've purchased since last year.  These ebooks were purchased based on the the number of Matawan Aberdeen patrons waiting to read each title.  If several of our patrons were waiting to read the ebook, we bought a an additional copy.  So the next time you're looking for something to read on eLibraryNJ, but you think the wait list is too long, go ahead and place a hold on the ebook so we'll know you are interested. If we see numerous people are waiting to read a particular ebook, we'll consider purchasing an extra copy.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
The English Assassin by Daniel Silva
Glory in Death by J.D. Robb and Nora Roberts
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Shelter by Harlan Coben
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
The Litigators by John Grisham
Then Again by Diane Keaton
The Thomas Berryman Number by James Patterson
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
Bio-Strike by Tom Clancy, Martin H. Greenberg, and Jerome Preisler
Call to Treason by Tom Clancy, Steve Pieczenik, and Jeff Rovin
Death Magic by Eileen Wilks
Eternal Lover by Hannah Howell
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Jack Kennedy by Chuck Wills
Lessons Learned by Nora Roberts
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The Husband by Dean Koontz
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
Soldier from the War Returning by Thomas Childers
Against the Law by Kat Martin
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Rules of Engagement by Stephanie Laurens

There's Still Time to Win Prizes!

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight TM

It's hard to believe we are less than a week away from wrapping up the 2012 Summer Reading program at the library!  We'll be celebrating the end of Summer Reading with a special "Beatles & Bubblegum" music concert this Friday, August 10.  The doors will open at 6:30 pm and the concert will begin at 7:00 pm.  There will be raffle prizes for children, teens, and adults!

The final weekly raffle prize and the grand prize winners for the adult and teen programs will be drawn on Monday, August 13 at 1:00 pm.  This means there is still plenty of time to finish and return a book for one last raffle ticket for the drawings. Remember, it only takes one ticket to win a prize!  The grand prize for both the adults and teens will be the new NOOK Simple TouchTM with GlowLightTM.

There is also time to enter the "Matawan/Aberdeen @ Night!" photography contest.  Submit your digital photos by midnight on Friday, August 10 so they can be judged by our panel.  The winners will be announced on Monday, August 13. Click here for contest rules and click here to see the submitted photos on flickr.  We have some very talented patrons!  

Good luck everyone!

Apps, apps, everywhere!

Let’s face it. Apps are everywhere. They’re on our smartphones, our tablets, and our televisions. Soon, they might even be loaded on our coffee pots and refrigerators.  Apps have the unique potential to make our lives more convenient and enjoyable. Some of us enjoy using our smartphones or tablets to peruse a digital download on the morning commute, yet would rather not endure the hassle of disclosing credit card information to the eBook distributor. But what if there was a way to download a book from the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library directly onto our smartphone or tablet without having to set foot in the library?   With the Freading app and the OverDrive Media Console app, consider your problems solved. Both of these apps empower you to borrow your favorite eBooks from our library - with no credit cards or fees of any kind. The only card you'll need is your library card.

OverDrive Media Console app

Freading app

The apps are enhanced for the high resolution displays already built in to your smartphones and tablets, making text appear more crisp than print. The Freading and OverDrive apps are available for free on the Apple App Store and the Android Market. To make it even easier for you we've put the links to these apps on the homepage of our website.

For the members of our library who are music enthusiasts, we have an app for you, too. Freegal is the perfect solution for music fanatics trying to stay within a budget. The application, also free on the Apple App Store and the Android Market, allows users to download three songs per week FOR FREE. The selection is truly remarkable, including the likes of popular artists such as Adele, John Mayer, The Fray, and The Script. The best part is that the mp3 files are yours to keep forever!

Freegal app

So what are you waiting for? Begin downloading eBooks and free music to your smartphones and tablets today! 

More good news! If you want to learn more about iPads and apps, we will be offering a class called Tips Tricks & Apps for iPad Users on Wednesday, July 25 @ 7 PM in the library.  To register for this engaging program, stop by the library, call Jill at 732-583-9100, or email Jill at jstafford@lmxac.org.

This post was written by Skyler Lutz and Jill Stafford.

Between the Covers!

Summer Reading Club officially began on Saturday, June 16^th and runs through Friday, August 10^th.  All Matawan and Aberdeen adults are eligible to register for the club and be entered to win weekly raffle prizes.  If you’ve never taken part in Summer Reading Club, here’s how it works. First, you’ll need to sign up for the club with your library card at the circulation desk. Don’t have a library card?  No problem.  It only takes a few minutes to be issued a new card; you just need to bring proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill, lease, etc.) for Matawan or Aberdeen (including Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach). When you sign up for the reading club you will be assigned a number and you’ll receive a new tote bag (courtesy of the Friends of the Library) to carry around your library books. Each time you return a book or audiobook you will be given a ticket for the weekly raffle. Write your assigned number on the ticket, drop it in the jar, and every Monday we will draw a ticket and the winner will receive a fun prize.  At the end of summer all the tickets will be put back in the jar for a chance to win the Grand Prize!

The Summer Reading Club theme for adults is Between the Covers (of books!) with a focus on nighttime.  In celebration of this year’s theme we will feature presentations by a couple of New Jersey authors who will discuss their publications and other inspiring topics. Helen Henderson will talk about the path to publication as well as her book, Windmaster.  Louis Coppola will give an anecdotal look at his years of service to a major television network while discussing his publication, CBS: The Chucklehead Broadcasting System, Celebrating 44 Years of Glorified Insignificance. There will also be a program introducing the genres of graphic novels and manga books.  In keeping with the theme we will host the program, Film Noir: The Stuff that Dreams Are Made Of, presented by Chris Messineo from the NJ Film School.  In addition, look for our monthly After Hours Music program, educational programs, and much more!  All events are free of charge but registration is required.

Finally, the library is hosting a digital photography contest, Matawan or Aberdeen @ Night. Check out our website for details.

GED® Online

Are you thinking about getting your GED but you don’t think you have the time?  Are you concerned that you don’t know where to start or how to prepare?  Matawan Aberdeen Public Library is proud to offer a free, comprehensive online GED test preparation course called GED^® Online.

This program offers 118 interactive lessons in all of the subjects that are covered on the GED test (writing, social studies, science, reading and mathematics).  User-friendly lessons cover all aspects of test preparation, from pre-assessment and skill-building to pre- and post-testing.   Pre-tests identify your individual strengths and weaknesses. Then lessons are tailored to meet your individual needs and allow you to develop study plans to help you address areas where you need additional practice. 

Just stop in at the Information Desk at the library, or contact an Adult Services Librarian or Computer Technician at 732-583-9100, to create a “student” account for you.  Once your account is created, you will be able to access the resource from any location (https://www.wgcontemporary.com/login.html), and you’ll be on your way.

Take advantage of this amazing free program and start working towards getting your GED today!

This post was created by Susie Benanti.

Small Business Resource Center

Do you dream about starting your own small business?  If so, did you know the NJ State library has recently purchased a new resource just for you?  Small Business Resource Center was purchased for New Jersey libraries as part of a new statewide campaign called NJ Grows Biz, an initiative to help small businesses get started and succeed.

This powerful online business and marketing tool can be accessed through the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library or from your home 24/7 - all you need is a library card.  The database is a wealth of information that can help you get started with any type of business, whether you want to start a coffee house or open your own daycare facility.  A basic search of your business topic you’ll get full-text information from Business Plans Handbook, including competition, market analysis, financial plans, and much more. Your searching will also yield full-text, up-to-date articles from top industry magazines, and even professional organization and associations you might be interested in joining.

There is a “How To …” section that includes information on How to Start a Small Business, How to Write a Business Plan, and How to Market or Advertise Your Business, just to name a few.  Not sure what type of business you would like to start?  The list of business types will provide plenty of ideas.

Click here to get started or stop by the library and we'll be happy to show you how to use the database!

Freading - a new ebook service!

How many of you have become a little frustrated because of the long wait for ebooks in eLibraryNJ?  It's okay, you can admit it.

The Matawan Aberdeen Public Library is now offering our patrons a new service called Freading.  Freading allows you to download ebooks without having to be put on a wait list!  Because Freading allows simultaneous check outs of the same ebook, you will never have to wait for someone to return the book first. 

What are some of the other benefits of Freading?

• There are over 20,000 titles to choose from in many different genres. 
• It's compatible with with many devices such as the Kindle Fire, the Nook devices, Kobo, iPad, and many more.
• Freading works on Adobe Digital Editions, just like eLibraryNJ, so there is no need to download additional software.

How does Freading work?

You can access the site by clicking the Freading icon located on the homepage of our website, or you can just click here. Once you login with your library card you'll be able to use your tokens to download books.  Tokens?  Each ebook is worth 1, 2 or 4 tokens, assigned by the publisher and clearly displayed on the book cover. You'll receive 4 tokens per week to use to checkout books so you can checkout 1 ebook worth 4 tokens or 2 ebooks worth 2 tokens each, etc. Any unused tokens roll over to the next week, but all tokens expire at the end of every month.  The checkout period is 2 weeks and you are able to renew the ebook one time.

Give Freading a try and let us know what you think!

Getting "Fiscally Fit"

Many thanks to all of you who participated in our Financial Literacy survey throughout December!  The winner of the 2 GB MP3 player with Flash Drive is Sheila K.  Congratulations, Sheila!

The survey asked the question, "Which seminar topics would you like to see offered by The Society for Financial Awareness?" The outcome of the survey showed the majority of you are interested in learning about the following 3 topics:

*Getting "Fiscally Fit"
*Financial Blunders - Lessons We Never Learn
*Legal Lessons for Life

On Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 pm we are very fortunate to have Bruce Yenk, President of the Greater Central Chapter of the Society Awareness, presenting Getting "Fiscally Fit" at the library.  This program will cover such topics as the basic principles of cash management, accumulating wealth, the importance of having a financial blueprint, and roadblocks to financial success. To register for this valuable seminar please stop by the library, call 732-583-9100, or email Jill at jstafford@lmxac.org.

Look for the other two seminars to be offered later in 2012!

Music - A Year in Review

In July 2011 we launched our Friday night After Hours music program here at the library.  I've had a wonderful time hosting the events and  I hope you've enjoyed them as well.  For those of you who weren't able to attend the programs or are just learning about them now, I would like to offer a quick recap of our 2011 performances.


We opened the series with Craig & the Frenchman.  Craig and Philippe played acoustic guitar and sang folk songs in both English and French.  Here is an interview written about the duo prior to their concert.  In August, Caryn Lin brought her electric violin to the library and filled the space with unique sounds that delighted everyone, especially the children who got the opportunity to create their own sounds on the electric violin in front of the entire audience.

Craig Hoek and Philippe Dardour



Caryn Lin giving violin lesson to young patron

Jazz reigned in September and October.  First, Shenole Latimer educated and entertained us with his program, "What's all that Jazz About?" In October, Nelson Riveros and his band had everyone wishing they knew how to salsa when they played their intoxicating Brazilian Jazz music.

Shenole Latimer

Nelson Riveros and his Brazilian Jazz Band

In November Giovanni Padovano aka, "The Ironbound Crooner", serenaded us with his own original music and the stories behind the lyrics. Our last concert of 2011 got everyone in the holiday spirit as The Festive Flutes played one familiar holiday tune after another.

Giovanni Padovano "The Ironbound Crooner"

The Festive Flutes

We are excited to continue our Friday night After Hours Music program into 2012.  Our first concert will be on Friday, February 10th at 7:00 PM.  We're kicking off the year with a bang as we welcome  our very own Matawan Regional High School Jazz band to the library.  Please join us in supporting these aspiring musicians and I'm sure they're surprise you with their talents! 

Selected Links - a new feature!

Have you ever wanted to find good, quality information on an important topic, yet your search engine keeps turning up commercial sites or useless information?  In order to help you locate high quality results we have created a section on our website called Selected Links.  You can find Selected Links under Helpful Reference on the left-hand side of our homepage, or you can simply click here.

Selected Links is divided into four different categories:

• Health
• Legal Resources
• Business & Finance
• Seniors

If you hover over any of the four categories you’ll see a drop down menu with an assortment of excellent websites on that topic.  For example, since it is tax season you might be looking for information about New Jersey tax forms.  If you hover over Business & Finance you’ll see the State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury.  Click on this link and you’ll be taken directly to the Division of Taxation where you’ll find everything you need to know about filing your New Jersey taxes.

The internet contains tons of outstanding websites on countless different subjects but we have purposely kept Selected Links small to give you a chance to explore the links without feeling overwhelmed.  Let us know if you like this feature and we'll be happy to expand it to include many more topics and websites in an easy to use format.

It's Real on Reel: A Documentary Series

Many of the DVDs that circulate from our library entertain, but we also have a growing collection of instructional and documentary films.  Matawan Aberdeen Public Library is sharing some of these films in a series we are calling “It’s Real on Reel: A Documentary Series”.  Okay, we don’t have the reels, but films often still involve reels for theater display, so I’m sticking with the title.

Documentary is a slippery term. It used to be about depicting things as they are, or in the case of historical events, as they were, in a supposedly truthful or objective manner.  Documentaries were observational, acting as a “fly on the wall”.  Now, more and more documentary filmmaking is all about ethics, politics and an aesthetic approach, and as such it is a highly subjective or personal matter.  The films we have chosen for this series more closely fit this approach.

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (Monday, January 23) chronicles Joe Cross’s journey, figuratively and literally, as he adheres to a strict juice diet, while also traveling across America, speaking with Americans about diet, nutrition and health. Joe is morbidly obese and suffers from an auto-immune disease. While on his trek, he meets Phil who is even more overweight and suffers from the same auto-immune disease. The changes in both men’s lives are amazing to watch.

Inside Job (Monday, January 30) has producer/director Charles Ferguson speaking at length with journalists, politicians, and financial insiders in order to offer a clearer picture of the economic meltdown that hit America starting in 2008. Academy Award winner Matt Damon narrates this unflinching look at the deep-rooted corruption that has left millions of middle-class Americans jobless and homeless as the major corporations get bailed out while paying millions in bonuses.

Page One- Inside the New York Times (Monday, February 13) examines the transformation of the media industry at its time of greatest turmoil. Editors and publishers grapple with challenges like the Internet, small screen computers, and readers' expectations that news online should be free. Page One gives an up-close look at the vibrant cross-cubicle debates and collaborations, tenacious jockeying for on-the-record quotes, and skillful page-one pitching that produce the "daily miracle" of a great news organization.

Gasland (Monday, February 27) documents Josh Fox's cross-country odyssey to find out if the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - is actually safe. Fracking is personal to him since he has been offered large money for fracking rights on his land. Josh learns of things gone horribly wrong, from illness to hair loss to flammable water, and his inquiries lead him ever deeper into a web of secrets, lies, conspiracy, and contamination. Unearthing a shocking story about a practice that is understudied and inadequately regulated, GASLAND races to find answers about fracking before it's far too late.

While these filmmakers’ motivations were personal, they cover topics that impact us all. All films are going to be shown on a Monday at 7:00 pm so please join us as we screen these real reels.

Jeanette Walker- Adult Services Librarian