Happy Holidays!

The library will be CLOSED Friday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Dec. 26 in observance of the holidays. We wish all our patrons a safe and happy holiday, with family and fun and books! See you on Tuesday, Dec. 27!

Happy New Year!

The Stratford Public Library will be closed New Year's Day Weekend, December 31, 2016 - January 2, 2017. Everyone have a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year!

Jan. 10: Buyer Beware! A Discussion of Consumer Protection

On Tuesday, Jan. 10. at 6:30pm, we welcome guest speaker Ahmed M. Soliman, Esq. to the Stratford Public Library for a discussion of Consumer Protection.

As buyers we all have encountered problems with purchases at one time or another. Are you aware of your rights as a consumer? As residents of the State are you familiar with the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act? How about the New Jersey Lemon Law? And just what does that COPPA Rule entail? Join us for a timely discussion of these and other issues relating to consumer protection. Bring some questions of your own to pose to our consumer expert at the conclusion of his talk.

Mr. Soliman is an experienced civil litigator who spent years at some of the largest law firms in the region, where he obtained his training and experience prior to opening Soliman & Associates.  Mr. Soliman is a former judicial law clerk and also worked as a journalist prior to becoming an attorney.

The program is free and open to the public, but please pre-register at the library or by calling (856) 783-0602.  For further information about this program, contact Library Director Alfred Encarnacion.

DONATION POLICY

In regards to donations to the library, while we very much appreciate your interest and generosity, regrettably we cannot accept library donations at this time.

THERESA SKOBODZINSKI, 1951 - 2016

The Stratford Public Library is saddened by the sudden death of Tuesday volunteer Theresa Rita Skobodzinski, on Saturday, November 19, 2016.

Theresa donated her time and energies to the library, and was also an active member of the library's Book Café.

She will always be remembered as someone who loved everyone and everybody, who treated every day as a new adventure, and who valued her time on this planet as few could.

She will be missed, and by many.

 

 

 

LEONARD COHEN, 1934 - 2016

A native of Canada who lived much of his creative life in the US, Leonard Norman Cohen was many things: Poet, novelist ("Beautiful Losers"), singer, songwriter ("Suzanne," "Hallelujah"), iconoclast, and above all, true original. The Stratford Public Library joins the rest of the literary world in mourning his loss, on Thursday, November 10. You can find books by and about Leonard Cohen at the Stratford Public Library. Please ask staff members for details, or call the library at (856) 783-0602.

HALLOWEEN PARTY PIX!

Here are some representative pictures of our young guests at the Stratford Public Library's Halloween Party on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Though only a comparative few won prizes, we think you'll agree that, in a wider sense, they were ALL winners. Please enjoy!

BOOK CAFE

One of our most popular regular programs is our Book Café. The second Tuesday of every month, at 1:00 P.M., the group gathers for an informal discussion, over coffee, tea, and light refreshments, of recently read books. These can be books from the Stratford Public Library or from your own personal collection, and no one particular title or genre is emphasized. For further information about the program, and to register, please call the library at (856) 783-0602. All are welcome to join.

VETERANS DAY

In honor of Veterans Day, the Stratford Public Library will be CLOSED  on Friday, November 11. The library will reopen on Saturday, November 12 at 10:00 AM. Have a safe Veterans Day.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

Just a reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 6, 2016. Please remember to re-set your clocks and change your batteries, if necessary.

COLUMBUS DAY CLOSURE

In observance of Columbus Day, the Stratford Public Library will be CLOSED on Saturday, October 8 and Monday, October 10. The staff wishes you a safe, happy holiday. Please enjoy your long weekend.

Barring inclement weather, the library will also be closed on Saturday, October 22, for the Stratford Fall Festival.

Sat. Oct. 8 & Mon. Oct. 10: Columbus Day weekend

The Library will be CLOSED Saturday, October 8 and Monday, October 10 in observance of Columbus Day.  The Library will reopen on Tuesday, October 11 at 12pm.  Any items that may show due dates of October 8 and October 10 are not due until Tuesday October 11.

Anna Dewdney, 1965 - 2016

The Stratford Public Library sadly announces the death of popular children's author Anna Dewdney. The author of the popular Llama Llama series of books died of brain cancer at the age of 50. She and her long-time partner had two children and lived in Chester, Vermont.

The Stratford Public Library has some of the Llama Llama books. For further information, please visit the library during regular business hours or call (856) 983-0602.

Services planned for Ruth Roderick, former Library Director

A viewing and visitation will be held Wednesday, September 28 from 7pm to 9 pm and Thursday, September 29 from 9am to 10am.  Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, September 29 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and Shrine -- St. Luke's Church, Stratford.  For more information, please visit the website for Zale Funeral Home.

Ruth Roderick, former Director of Stratford Library

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Ruth Roderick, a former Director of our library and a great friend to all of us for many years.  She will be greatly missed.

The following was posted on Zale's website: Relatives and friends are invited to attend Ms. Roderick's viewing and visitation on Wednesday evening, September 28, 7 - 9 PM, and Thursday morning, 9 - 10 AM. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 AM on that Thursday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and Shrine - St. Luke's Church, Stratford. Internment will be on Friday at Swan Lake Cemetery, Providence, RI. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Stratford Public Library, 303 Union Avenue, Stratford, NJ, 856-783-0602.

Olga Hickmon

We are saddened by the loss of our longtime volunteer Olga Hickmon.  Olga supported the library for many years by generously donating her time and energy to our community of patrons.  She will be greatly missed by patrons and staff members.  There will by a visitation for Olga at the Constantino Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 23 from 9 to 10 am, followed by a brief service, and concluding with the burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. We extend our deepest condolences to Olga's family.

Aug. 5: Summer Reading Ends, Summer Olympics Begin!

Friday, Aug. 5 @ 2:30pm:  Our Summer Reading program is ending just as the Summer Olympics are opening in Rio! Come party with us--we will have some games, yummy treats and crafts. And bring in your reading sheets for one last chance to qualify for prizes. 

We are SO PROUD of our kids and all the reading they have been doing this summer! What a great reason to celebrate!

All are invited, but please register by contacting the library if you can, just to make sure we have enough for everyone.

Color Me Happy #2!

 

Stratford Public Library Presents Color Me Happy #2 on Wednesday, August 31 at 2 pm. 

Join us for a stress-free hour of coloring, chatting, and snacking on goodies. This program

is free and senior-friendly. Just bring a colorful imagination and we'll supply materials,

snacks and beverages. Remember that adults can have fun, too! Pre-register at the library

or call (856)783-0602.

HERE COMES THE SUN...MR. SUN, THAT IS!

On Wednesday, July 20, the Stratford Public Library will present a program on solar energy, featuring "Mr. Sun," Augustine Conte. Mr. Conte brings a lifetime of experience to this program, including training seminars for Ace Hardware and Home Depot. The program will be at 1:00 P.M., the event is free, but please pre-register. To do so, please either stop by the library, or call 856-783-0602 during operating hours. We hope you can join us for this unique, enlightening program.

APRIL POETRY PROGRAM

Here are some representative pictures of our very successful poetry program, last April 17, with guest poets Elaine Terranova and James Nicola, as well as Library Director Alfred Encarnacion, reading their poems and answering questions from the audience. An enjoyable, enlightening time was had by all present.

Summer Reading is coming! June 20 - Aug. 5

The Summer Reading Program runs this year from June 20 through August 5, and we have lots of exciting things going on!

Track your reading, and earn prizes!

Join us for movie & game nights, storytimes, all-day drop-in activities and crafts, and other exciting programs, including:

• Snack Right! (ages 5-12, Friday, July 8 at 2:30pm)
• Introduction to Karate (ages 5-12, Friday, July 15 at 2:30pm)
• Yoga for the Young (age 5-6 on July 22, and age 7-12 on July 29, at 2:30pm)
• Ready to RUN! (ages 8-12, Wednesday, July 27 @ 2:30pm)
• Summer Olympic Celebration (all ages! Friday, August 5 @ 2:30pm) 

See our calendar on this website for all events, and follow us on Facebook for day-to-day information about the library.

Questions? Ready to sign up? Contact the library at (856) 783-0602, or email us using the form on our webpage.  Please let us know which events you are interested in when you sign up.

We can't wait to see YOU at the library this summer!

Muhammad Ali

 

The Stratford Public Library joins America and the world in paying tribute to the late Muhammad Ali, three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, author, and humanitarian. The library owns several books on his life. These and all our other biographies may be borrowed during our regular business hours. For further information, please contact the library at (856) 783-0602.

We're Looking for a Few Good Women and Men!

   

 

Want to be part of a community resource?  Want to have access to the latest books & DVDs? Want an insider's view of how a library functions? If you answer "yes" to any or all of these questions then consider volunteering at the Stratford Public Library! You only have to be available a few hours each week to make a difference because we are a volunteer staff and need people to fill various shifts in order to keep our doors open & our library a thriving center. We are especially anxious to meet people who can work Thursday afternoons or Monday evenings. If you would like to give it a try please drop by the library or call Alfred Encarnacion, Director or Sydney Mason, Assistant Director at the library's main number (856)783-0602

Walt Fest, Art & Poetry Festival

National Poetry Month may be over, but you can still enjoy poetry! Celebrate the life and legacy of a local poetry giant and attend Walt Fest, an annual art and poetry festival to be held in nearby Laurel Springs on Saturday, June 4, from 11am to 3pm.  For more information, check out the Laurel Springs web page or the event's Facebook page.

May 4: Adult Coloring Event

Please join us for a stress-free hour of adult coloring, chatting, and snacking on goodies.  This event is free and senior-friendly.  Just bring a colorful imagination and we will supply the materials, snacks, coffee & tea.  Please register by calling the library at (856) 783-0602.

AUTHOR VISIT

 

On Saturday, May 14, at 2:00 PM, the Stratford Public Library welcomes author Dr. Carol Vallone Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell is the daughter of the late Jack Becker, long-time Library Trustee. An expert in the area of women in leadership positions, she is the author of Breaking Through Bitch: How Women Can Shatter Stereotypes and Lead Fearlessly. If you are interested in attending what promises to be an interesting, insightful presentation, please register by calling the library at 856-783-0602, or stop by the circulation desk during library business hours.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK FESTIVITIES!

As you can see, we had any number of refreshments ready to go for National Library Week. Volunteer Pat was at the ready to keep those refreshments coming!

CONGRATULATIONS, ROSE MARIE BENJAMIN!

The Stratford Public Library congratulates Rose Marie Benjamin, winner of our prize basket in our National Library Week drawing. We hope you enjoy your "goodies."

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

The Stratford Public Library joins in celebrating the birthday of William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, on Tuesday April 26. You can borrow any of Shakespeare's plays, including "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," from our library. Just ask any staff member for help.

 

Here are two great moments from Shakespeare, both performed by the legendary Sir Laurence Olivier:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px5hvNWoVLE

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ks-NbCHUns



NATIONAL POETRY MONTH CELEBRATION

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

AND STRATFORD LIBRARY IS CELEBRATING WITH A SLEW OF NEW POETRY COLLECTIONS

FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT

WE’RE FEATURING ELAINE TERRANOVA & JAMES B. NICOLA, TWO CELEBRATED POETS, AT A SPECIAL POETRY READING ON SUNDAY, APRIL 17^TH AT 2PM IN THE LIBRARY

Elaine has published 6 books, including the Walt Whitman award winning Cult of the Right Hand

James is a poet, playwright, actor, and creative writing instructor who has 2 books of poetry and a book on the performing arts to his credit

COME OUT AND MEET THESE TWO DYNAMIC POETS UPCLOSE & PERSONAL

THE READING WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BOOKSIGNING & RECEPTION

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED AND ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS FREE EVENT

TO MAKE IT A TRULY “POETIC” EXPERIENCE EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS WILL RECEIVE A FREE POETRY BOOK

HAPPY EASTER!

The library will be closed Friday, March 25 - Saturday, March 26, in observance of the Easter Holidays. The library will re-open at noon on Monday, March 28.

Our staff wishes you a safe and joyous Holiday Weekend.

Don't forget to look UP at the library....

...to be inspired by two uplifting mottos proposed by two of our patrons: Heather Brown and Mary Snyder.  We are so grateful to local artist Karen Baxter who generously donated her time and amazing talent to decorate the wall above the stacks in the adult area of the library.  Ms. Baxter previously painted all the beautiful murals in the children's department; we are very excited to add some of her art to the adult area in the library.  Come on in and check out the new look! Between the colorful mottos and the comfortable new furniture, we think you'll enjoy your reading experience here.

Roll Out the Rug!

Our refurbished reading area is getting better by leaps and bounds! We just received our new area rug, and it really adds to the overall ambience, yet another example of the Stratford Public Library finding new ways to provide a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere for our patrons.

TAI CHI REMINDER:

 

MARCH IS TAI CHI MONTH AT THE LIBRARY

THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE 3 REMAINING SESSIONS

THE CLASSES ARE FREE & NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NEEDED

CALL US TODAY AT (856)783-0602 OR JUST DROP BY

OSCAR WINNERS!

The Stratford Public Library would like to add its congratulations to this year's Oscar winners and nominees. Among this year's winning and nominated films which our patrons may borrow are Bridge of Spies, Martian, Creed, The Danish Girl, Room, and Spectre. You will also find many past winners and nominated films in our collection. Please ask any staff member for assistance, or call (868) 783-0602.

Feb. 27: A MAGICAL time was had at our Houdini Lecture and Magic Show

Many thanks to Professor Lorraine Moran of Camden County College, and her husband John Moran, who entertained, amazed and educated a nice crowd at our library this past Saturday afternoon.  Professor Moran presented a fascinating discussion on Harry Houdini, while Mr. Moran offered the group some real sleight of hand to brighten up their weekend.  A great time was had by all!

Our events at Stratford Library are free and open to all.  Watch our calendar to see what's coming up next, and come join us at the library!