Who Do You Think You Are?

I have recently started watching a very interesting show on NBC on Friday nights: Who Do You Think You Are? where Hollywood stars are led (by archivists and genealogists) through their families' histories, and along the way, they uncover big secrets or major twists.  So far, I have seen just two episodes: one that follows Rosie O'Donnell to her ancestors' homeland in Ireland, and one featuring Steve Buscemi's great-grandfather's story during the Civil War. 

What does this have to do with the library?  Plenty!  As more and more people become interested in seeking out their own histories, genealogy resources have become more important.  Here at MAPL, we have several options for those embarking on a search of their own.

For those with families with a history in the Matawan/Aberdeen area, the first stop might be to go to our digitized newspapers, The Matawan Journal (1869-1973) and The Independent (1972-2000).  These papers are available from our library's website (http://www.matawanaberdeenlibrary.com/) and contain obituaries and news stories that may be extremely helpful.  The Independent is fully searchable, and because it was digitized from the actual newspapers using the latest grayscale technology, the information is quite clear and very readable.  The older data in The Matawan Journal was digitized from microfilm, which makes it a little harder to navigate, but it is certainly still a viable resource. 

For those whose families lived (or spent time) outside of the area, I would direct them to two databases we subscribe to through Newsbank: America's Genealogy Bank and America's Obituaries and Death Notices.  The Genealogy Bank notes that they have 300+ years of over 1,000 newspapers and other documents available for searching.  Both of these databases are available from our website with a Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library card (go to http://www.matawanaberdeenlibrary.com/, then click on the AVAILABLE RESOURCES link on the left; the electronic resources are listed in alphabetical order). 

Lastly, as I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, MAPL also hosts a Genealogy Club.  The group meets on the first Thursday of each month at the library at 7pm.  If you are looking for helpful hints or new strategies to assist you in your search, Barb and Diane, our genealogy gurus, would be happy to share their knowledge.  Registration is requested, please see a staff member at the Adult Services desk for details.

I hope that you have the opportunity to use the resources I listed above.  If you need assistance or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me: kpaone@lmxac.org.

Are your taxes done yet? Need some help??

The AARP and Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library have teamed up again this year to offer free tax preparation assistance.  The AARP volunteers are here at the library on Mondays and Tuesdays through April 12, from 10am to 4pm.  Appointments can be made at the front desk either in person or by phone [732-583-9100] and there is still time available in the next few weeks.  Call or stop by today!

So far this tax season, our volunteers have completed 150+ returns and they hope to do 150 more before April 12.  We thank them for their hard work and dedication!

Coming Soon: Our New Teen Space!

Anyone who knows me is aware of my affinity for teenagers -- up until six months ago, I worked with teens on a daily basis, and I've been doing so, in one capacity or another, pretty much since I was a teenager myself.  I find teens to be incredibly insightful, interesting individuals and enjoy spending time with them -- especially talking about books. 

So, it is with great pleasure that I announce that MAPL is going to be embarking on a project to create a space for our teens!  The area (yet to be officially named) will reside in a space in the balcony, just outside the elevator and at the top of the stairs.  It will seat 16, in a combination of cafe tables with stools and comfortable chairs with ottomans, and will house all of our teen materials, including magazines, Playaways, graphic novels, and fiction (nonfiction is interfiled with our adult nf, only steps away!). 

The planning phase has been a group effort -- I have been working closely with our head of Youth Services, Chrissie McGovern, and we received fantastic input from a great group of her teen volunteers. 

We have the Friends of the Library to thank for this wonderful new addition to the library -- they have VERY generously agreed to finance the furnishings for the teen area!  We hope to have everything in place in June, and the Friends will be hosting a grand opening reception at that time. 

And adults, don't think I've forgotten about you!  During this balcony transformation, we are also planning a re-arrangement of the area where our CD collection is currently housed.  There will be a nice, new seating area there for you to enjoy.

Volunteers help to make a library work!

It is no secret that here at MAPL, we have a wonderful staff.  I am often reminded by patrons of their friendliness and helpfulness, and I am repeatedly impressed by their creative ideas and work ethic.  It is, however, a bit of a secret that there are many people behind the scenes that volunteer their time to the library, and I think it's time that they are recognized. 

Shirley Hicks has been volunteering at the library for 21 years!  Shirley works quietly, and unseen to most, spending a few hours a week covering new books and making small repairs to damaged older books.  I recently had an opportunity to spend some time with Shirley on a Saturday morning, and thank her in person for what she does.  What amazing dedication!

Our Youth Services department is fortunate to have a fantastic group of teen volunteers who work with our librarians on a multitude of tasks.  Currently, Arvin, Nishant and Gabriel spend their Tuesday afternoons photocopying, cutting out items for craft projects, and pitching in wherever they are needed.  Recently, we put out a call for some teen input into a project we're planning, and were pleased to have a nice turnout (and great feedback!).  Other teens seeking community service hours have done shelf-reading projects, and members of the high school's Key Club have assisted in the set-up of Friends of the Library book sales. 

Speaking of the Friends -- we are so grateful to that group for their support of the library.  The Friends of the Library have purchased furniture and other supplies for the Youth Services department, they have provided tote bags and tee shirts for the summer reading club, and they have supplied our staff with refreshments for our staff development days.  We hope to be working with the Friends on many other future projects.

Many members of the community give of their time to provide programs and services to the library.  Mary and Michele and their other volunteer teachers offer a conversation class to area residents who speak English as a second language.  These ladies have made a real difference in the lives of those who attend the class.  A new addition to our program schedule, the Genealogy Club is run by two local enthusiasts, Barbara and Diane.  Another community member, Belinda, will be moderating a parents' book group in the spring.

On Mondays and Tuesdays through April 12, our AARP tax volunteers will be meeting with patrons to assist them in preparing their tax returns.  This annual service, headed up by Mr. Soni, has been taking place at MAPL for many years.

And last, but not least, of course, is our Board of Trustees.  Some aren't aware of the fact that our Board is made up of volunteers who not only commit their time to monthly meetings, but also serve on committees that meet and work between the regular Board meetings.  The Board serves a vital role in the proper functioning of the library, and being on the Board can be a time-consuming task.

I hope that I haven't missed anyone!  My personal thanks to all of our volunteers for all that you do to help me and my staff better do our jobs and make the library an important part of the communities we serve.  Your work is appreciated, and so are you.