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Volume A, No. 2, March - April 1990

Something to crow about!On February 21, 1990, the Edison Township Public Libraries entered the Age of Technology! At long last, our automation project has come to fruition. Our automated circulation system allows us to interact with 35 other libraries in the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium. This system provides access to more than 1.5 million books and 6,000 periodicals available at member libraries throughout the county.As with any new computer system, we may occasionally run into "snags". We appreciate our patrons' patience and support as we make this exciting transition from old to new!February 1990 also brought us a new bookmobile! See page A for details!

National LibraryW eek-April 22-28 «

AMNESTY P0R OVERDUE BOOKS" will be in effect throughout National Library Week, so look in your closets and under the kitchen sink for those library books! Bring them in between April 23-28 and owe us no fines!

/̂itends JUewsIt's been over two years already since the Friends of the Edison Township Public Library officially re-organized.Our nominating committee - Shirley Maier, Eleanor Stokley &Leona Raeuber - are working on a slate of officers to present at our next general meeting (the date of which will be announced). If you are willing to serve, please call Betty Lau at the Main Library, 287-2298. Our heartfelt thanks to our former officers - President Anne Dalin, Vice-President Shirley Maier, Treasurer Doris Moskel and Secretary Edna Sherber - for their gifts of time, effort and dedication.

We need your active support in order for our Friends group to continue. If you are interested in finding out more about helping out, please contact Mrs. Betty Lau at the Main Library. Application forms are available at all of our libraries' Circulation Desks.

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PROGRAMS

FINANCIAL SEMINAR: Patricia Powell and Robert Tilson, Financial Planners with IDS American Express, will present a Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar on Monday, March 12 and Thursday, March 22, 7:00 PM at the North Edison Branch Library. Some of the issues to be discussed include: how to minimize impacts °f inflation; how to maximize retirement income; how to reduce taxes in retirement, and how to avoid estate taxes. Please register for this program in

ASTRONOMY: Edison resident Charlie Kapral will present a special Astronomy program on Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 PM at the Main Library. Mr. Kapral will discuss "Astronomy from Solar System to Quasars". Please register for this program in person or by call 287-2298.

VITA: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is available at the Main Library on Tuesday evenings from 5 - " 5 : 3 0 PM and on Saturday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 PM now through April 7.

I 9040 Department of the Treasury— Internal Revenue Service

U .S . In d iv id u a l I n c o m e T a x R e t u r n (B)

For the year j^n - Dec 31 1989 or ot^er ta* year beginning . 1989 ending , 19 0M B No. 1545 0074

LabelUs» IRS label. Otherwise, please printor type.

Your first lamp and initial last name

If a joint return, spouse's first name and initial last name

Home address (number and street). (If a P.0 bo*, see page 7 ol Instructions.)

City, town or post office, state and ZIP code. (If a foreign address, see page 7 )

Apt. no.

Your social security number

Spouse’s social security number

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, tee Instructions.

DISPLAY

Ray Leavitt has a charming exhibit of collectibles ranging from stamps to wood carvings on display at the Main Library during the month of March. ^ Q T Q F

NOTE:The library will be closed on April 13 and 14 in observance of Good

Friday and Holy Saturday.

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CHILDREN'S CHATTER

By Carolyn N. Cullum

We are fortunate to live in a society where there is an abundance of good reading material for our young people (both boys and girls). Many parents come to the library requesting assistance in locating books of interest to boys and books with strong male characters featured in them. For those lucky people two of our children's librarians, Judy Mansbach and Carolyn Cullum, have developed a list of just such books for your convenience.These titles, for boys 7-11 years of age, include such books as:

HARVEY THE BEER CAN KING By Jamie Gilson

To Harvey Trumble, winning the Superkid contest seems a sure thing. After all, what other 6th grade boy can claim a hobby of collecting beer cans. His hopes begin to fade though when his rival Quint Calkins helps Harvey negotiate a trade for some valuable cans and things suddenly begin to go wrong.

THE CASE OF THE WANDERING WEATHERVANES: A MCGURK MYSTERYBy E. W. Hildick

Science expert Brains Bellingham has nearly perrected the ultimate electric weathervane--but now it has been stolen. McGurk discovers that missing weathervanes are only part of the story that includes kidnapping and an international spy ring, in what could be his trickiest case yet.

DR. DREDD'S WAGON OF WONDERS By Bill Brittain

Folks said it seemed like a curse had fallen on Coven Tree. Wells were running dry, livestock suffered, etc. Rain had become more valuable than gold. Then a miracle happened: Dr. Dredd and his Wagon of Wonders came totown, and among his "wonders" was a young boy called Bufu the Rainmaker. But when the rain stopped again people began to wonder what it would cost to get some more. Only Bufu knew.

THE TROUELE ON JANUS By Alfred Slote

Jack Jameson and his robot buddy Danny One are off on another secret mission for Dr. Leopold Atkins, inventor of the famous, almost human, Atkins Robots! This time Jack and Danny One are headed for the planet Janus, ruled by a 12 year old king, Paul IV. Dr. Atkins suspects foul play on Janus, masterminded by Faul's uncle, the duke. The duke has ordered an Atkins robot made to look like his nephew. But WHY?

For a copy of this list visit the library's Children's Department. A similiar list featuring strong girl characters is presently in the works.

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BOOKMDBILEby Jane Jennings

Bookmobile Coordinator

The big day finally arrived! On February 20th at 9:10 AM, our shiny new bookmobile drove into the library parking lot. It was one of the most exciting moments for all of us that I can remember. It is bright, comfortable, warm, and has lots of improvements over the old bookmobile. I know all of our patrons will love it and we're anxious to get out and show off a little. Thebooks are all in their new home, shelves arelabeled, and all that remains is the paperwork to be completed. Eventually we will be able to link up to the library computer with a radio wave system called Biblio-link.

With all of this excitement, I still felt sad seeing our old bookmobile being driven away. The old Gerstenslager served us well for seventeen years and was full of memories, laughter andtears. I spent eight years on this vehicle andalternated between love and hatred for most of those years.

We are on to bigger and better things, as it should be, but I will never forget our old faithful blue monster.

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REFHtFMCE DESKMartha Gartner

Reference Librarian

HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS have become front page news. They affect us all and we have become keenly aware of the threat hazardous chemicals pose to Edison Township, our homes and our lives. It is therefore important to provide sources of information that spell out in detail which chemicals are hazardous, how to detect them, how to protect ourselves, and how to dispose of them.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed a draft statement for a research facility in Edison that will study methods of ridding the nation of hazardous waste. It would be located in EPA's Region 2 Raritan Arsenal. In order to encourage citizen involvement they have documents available at the library to interested persons until March 19, 1990. Ask at information desk.

3&EPA d r a f tENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY ANDENGINEERING (E-TEC) FACILITY IN EDISON, NEW JERSEY

We have also received this month an outstanding reference source which provides key information and critical data on 380 hazardous chemicals ior which regulations have been handed down by federal agencies. It is in an easy to-use and up-to-date looseleaf form that is updated yearly. Ask at info desk.

R604.7 Norback, Craig T. .The Hazardous Chemicals on File Collection, 3 volumes.Facts on File, 1989.

Other books available on this subject are:

304.2 McP. McPhee, JohnThe Control of Nature. N.Y. Farrar Straus Giroux, 19H9.

R639.9 Dur. Durrell, LeeState of the Ark. N.Y.: Garden City, 1987.

R333.73World Directory of Environmental Organizations. Claremont,CA: California Institute of Public Affairs, I9H9.

363.17 Gay Gay, KathlynSilent Killers: Radon and Other Hazards. N.Y. Watts, 19«o.

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We are happy to present to you, our new magazines

! • GUITAR PLAYER • PRINT • SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDSi • HISTORY TODAY • SASSY • WALKINGI• KARATE KUNG FU ILLUS.• NADA BOAT APPRAISAL (Reference)• NADA REGISTRATION & TITLE (Reference)

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HOURS FOR THIS EDISON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC L IB R AR IES

(Mrs.) Susan M. Krieger, Director

Telephone: 287-2298

Telephone: 738-0096

Monday... Tuesday.. Wednesday Thursday. Friday... Saturday.

Telephone: 548-3045

MAIN LIBRARY 340 Plainfield Avenue

Children's Room: 287-2351ADULT & CHILDREN

Monday................ 9 A.M. to 9 P.M,Tuesday............... 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.Wednesday............. 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.Thursday..............9 A.M. to 9 P.M.Friday................ 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.Saturday.............. 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.

CLARA BARTON BRANCH 141 Hoover Avenue

Children's Room: 738-0748ADULT & CHILDREN

12 P.M. to 5 P.M........7 P.M. to 9 P.M.12 P.M. to 5 P.M........7 P.M. to 9 P.M.10 A.M, to 5 P.M.12 P.M. to 5 P.M........7 P.M. to 9 P.M.10 A.M. to 5 P.M.12 P.M. to 5 P.M.NORTH EDISON BRANCH

777 Grove AvenueChildren's Room: 548-4759

ADULT & CHILDRENMonday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A.M. t o 9 P.M,Tuesday............... 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.Wednesday............. 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.Thursday.............. 9 A.M, to 9 P.M.Friday................ 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.Saturday.............. 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.