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When will the library reopen?
The library is actively preparing for the stages of re-opening.
Governor Murphy has stated that the re-opening of public libraries, ordered closed in Executive Order 107, will be considered in the state’s Phase Two plans. Once that order is amended, the first service to be opened will be making hard copy materials for available for pickup. The second phase will be the gradual re-opening of the building, with restrictions as necessary, following best practices and state-wide directives. We will follow all recommended guidelines and are actively monitoring health guidelines and developing protocols.
In the meantime, rest assured that preparation is well underway - and that online resources will always be available and online programming will continue.
Our priority in all stages is the safety and health of staff and public and the extension of library services. The library appreciates the support of the Village, the Administrator and Village departments for their close cooperation.
The Library continues to offer phone hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10am-3pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-8pm, and to answer any question via email librarian@sopl.org. Wifi is available 24/7 outside of the library building. There are books and other online resources also available 24/7 and a schedule of online programs of all sorts available from the library website www.sopl.org. We look forward to seeing you soon.
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The South Orange Public Library Board and staff fully support the Executive Board of the American Library Association (ALA) and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) in condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all People of Color:
"Wherever it resides, racism leads to degradation. It weakens our institutions and destroys our communities and is one of the greatest obstacles to the American Library Association’s mission 'to enhance learning and ensure access to information to all.'”
Read the full statement here.
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Library Programs
Attend online or call in. Ask us for log-in details.
Call the Library 973-762-0230
Speak to a staff member Mon/Wed/Fri 10-3 and Tues/Thurs 10-8.
Storytimes
Tuesdays & Fridays 11am Stories w/ Ms Keisha on Facebook Live
Wednesdays 10am Zoom Storytime w/Ms. Beth and Ms. Meti
Thursday, June 11 and June 25 7 pm Pajama Storytime on Facebook Live
Read-Alouds will resume in July
Teen Programs
2nd Wednesdays 4pm Spine Crackers, middle school book group (online or call in)
4th Wednesdays 4pm Teen Library Advocates (TLA) (online or call in)
Thursdays 4pm Teen X Change (online or call in to talk to the teen librarian)
Discussions
Wednesdays 1pm Writing Group (online or call in)
Thursdays 2pm Book/Movie Group (online or call in)
June 18: Educated, by Tara Westover
June 25: "Sister Kenny" (1946), starring Rosalind Russell
Fridays 1pm Special Conversations w/ Special Guests (online or call in)
June 12 & June 19: Seton Hall Professor of English John Wargacki, introducing poems for our moment
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The Libby app is now available in the following languages:
Spanish
French
Geman
Italian
Russian
Swedish
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
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The latest thematic programming from Kanopy
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST SOCIAL AND SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE
We believe in change through education and information, which is why we’ve curated a collection of films that highlight the historical social and systemic injustice towards the Black community, including the documentary based on James Baldwin’s rhetoric, I Am Not Your Negro; the film providing an unflinching look at the Ferguson Uprising, Whose Streets?; and the 3-part series examining racial biases, Race: The Power of an Illusion.
PRIDE MONTH:
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Happy Pride Month! We’re celebrating the culture, contributions, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community with a curated collection of bright cinema, including Tongues Untied: Giving a Voice to Gay Black Men from Marlon Riggs, a well-known filmmaker who highlights issues within the gay community, the Black community, and where those two worlds intersect; United in Anger: The History of Act Up, an extremely relevant film offering essential history by people who lived through it; and Born in Flames, a radical work of queer feminist filmmaking that has lost none of its power or clarity of vision in 40 years. Celebrate Pride all month long with our digital toolkit, complete with social media assets and programming guides. |
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Behind the Scenes
with Anne Simms, reference librarian
A Librarian working form home seems weird, but it’s impressive what our staff can do and the services they continue to provide, even with the library building closed!
Some of you might have seen my posts on various local group chat forums (Next Door, SOMa Lounge) encouraging folks to contribute to our local history project, Our Stories. I am one of a few Reference Librarians who run this project where we help collect links, emails and photos of items and happenings that community members create during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Governor Murphy’s stay-at-home order carved out a block of time that allows some of us to find a little extra time to create art, poems, music, or creative writing, that capture our community thoughts during this pandemic. It’s my job to encourage, push and cajole folks into contributing copies of those creations to our local history wiki, Our Stories.
If you have items, videos, or other things that you created during this pandemic (and it’s an on-going project, just like this pandemic) please send them in and continue to send things in that you think need to be captured for local history. Did you make a great sign for a Black Lives Matter rally? Email us a picture: ourstories@sopl.org or tag us on any social media forum, #soplourstories. Did you write a song, a poem, create a dance, make some cool sidewalk chalk art? Send it in!
Contributions don’t have to be on the light side either. They can be representative of your feelings and thoughts during a frightening time. We need all kinds of examples of living during a pandemic.
I am also spending time inside the South Orange Library helping get the space ready for the eventual return of the public to the library. It’s strange and too quiet in the library but that will change sooner than we know. See you all soon!
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