Thursday, July 25, 2013

Networking with LinkedIn

Are you linked in? Do you have an account with LinkedIn, the business-oriented networking site with millions of members? Whether or not you already have an account, if you want to learn more about how to use it, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 pm.

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 225 million members and growing rapidly. This seminar will provide an overview of what it is and how it can benefit you. For example, LinkedIn helps people manage their professional identity; build and engage with a professional network; access knowledge, insights and opportunities; and find jobs, people and business opportunities. Taught by Programs Plus, a software training company.  

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Film Screening: “KORAN BY HEART”

“Koran by Heart,” a documentary which follows three 10-year olds who leave their native countries to participate in one of the Islamic world’s most famous competitions—a test of memory and recitation known as The International Holy Koran Competition—will be shown in a free screening at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, August 8 at 7:00 pm

The movie follows the 2009 competition, which had 110 contestants ranging in age from 7 to about 20, and was broadcast live around the Arabic world as it is each year.  The children compete on the pronunciation, recitation and perfected memorization of the hundreds of pages of the Koran.  The three stars are a 10-year-old from Tajikistan named Nabiollah, who memorizes the Koran in Arabic, which he does not otherwise speak or read and while he is functionally illiterate in Tajik, his own language; Rifdha, a girl from the Maldives, who studies advanced science and math, speaks several languages and yearns to be an undersea explorer; and Djamil, an imam’s son from a poor village in Senegal who travels to Cairo by himself as a representative of his entire nation.

After the film, M. Ali Chaudry, President of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, will be on hand to discuss the subject and answer questions.  An original handwritten manuscript of the Koran along with some 15-20 original calligraphy pieces by the same artist will be on display at the library a few days before and after the film screening.

“Koran By Heart” came to Bernardsville Library’s collection as part the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf grant awarded to the library earlier this year by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.  The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf consists of twenty-five books, three feature films, a one-hour collection of short films, and a one-year subscription to Oxford Islamic Studies online.  This collection of materials aids the library in its mission to connect the community with trustworthy resources and tools for engaging in discussion. 

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

Friday, July 12, 2013

Learn All About Crowd-Funding @ Bernardsville Library

Are you a budding entrepreneur who needs to find investors? Crowd-funding is the way things are done these days when it comes to raising money for your idea, product or invention. Learn all about crowd-funding on Monday, August 5 at 7:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library when Basking Ridge resident Nick Romer, inventor of the Kreat-a-lope®, best-selling author, and an 18-year veteran of the home shopping industry, speaks about crowd-funding and websites like Kickstarter where it happens.

Generally speaking, crowd-funding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people.  It is a collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, typically via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations.  It has been used to support a wide variety of activities, including disaster relief, citizen journalism, artistic ventures, political campaigns, startup companies, film promotion, new product development, and scientific research.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

“Reflections": David John Rush’s Newest Exhibit at Bernardsville Public Library

Whales of August
Maine, watercolor, 2012
Internationally-known artist David John Rush shares reflections of his life through his remarkable watercolors and oils at Bernardsville Public Library during the month of August (Friday, August 2-Thursday, August 29).  

“As a young man, I would not hesitate to run off at any given moment to parts unknown, searching for adventure and subjects to paint,” explained Mr. Rush.  “Now, as an older man in my maturity, I reflect on these works and can remember both the happiest of times and the perilous ones when youth threw caution to the wind.  But, here I am, alive to tell it all, still seeking adventure, but perhaps at a slower pace.”  His colorful life indeed is “reflected” in the still lifes and landscapes on display for all to enjoy.  Memories, places and things are all captured in his masterful paintings.  

David John Rush graduated from The Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut. He received his BFA from the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art, Newark, N J, where he studied with Han Weingaertner, Samuel Brecher, Hannes Beckmann of Bauhaus fame, Leo Dee, Otto Hula, James Carlin and Annie Lennie. He has a degree in Technical Vocational Occupations from the Maryland Institute College of Art and is a certified teacher in New Jersey.  

Artist Rush recently commented: “My aim is to bring as much beauty into this world and share it with as many as I can, while I can. Perhaps someday, there will be a book of my work in a dusty corner of a library that will still bring happiness to younger eyes.”

Mr. Rush has painted for more than fifty years working in Maine, Paris and parts of Europe.  He is known internationally and has shown his work in numerous countries.  A resident of Sussex County, New Jersey, he continues to paint daily and is currently active in exhibiting, writing and teaching.

The exhibition will be on view during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress.  For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

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Pictured: "Whales of August," Maine, watercolor, 2012

Monday, July 8, 2013

Learn about Tax Law Changes Affecting Small Business Owners & the Self-Employed

On Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 pm, Dan Schwartz, Certified Public Accountant with Millman & Schwartz LLP in Bernardsville, will discuss tax planning and strategies for business owners, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals.  The conversation, which will take place at Bernardsville Public Library, will focus on recent and upcoming tax law changes that will impact these taxpayers, as well as changes in how the Internal Revenue Code and tax laws are enforced by the IRS.

This free seminar is sponsored jointly by the Library and The Bernardsville Chamber of Commerce.  Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.   Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.  Registration can also be accomplished by emailing Michael Kaup of The Bernardsville Chamber of Commerce at mkaup@cfgnj.com.

Learn About Google Drive & Google Apps

Find out all about the Google suite of tools, and how they can help you in organizing your life and work, on Wednesday, July 24 at 1:00 pm and again at 7:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library. Learn how to access them, and what the advantages and the disadvantages are to using them. The program will include a brief overview of Gmail/Google Mail, Google Drive (formerly Google Docs), Google Calendar, Google Sites, and more. [Both sessions will cover the same material.]

Google Drive allows users to store and access their files on the web or on a hard drive. If they change a file on the web, on their computer, or on a mobile device, it updates on every device where they have installed Google Drive. It can make work easier, and sharing and collaborating more efficient. 

Google Sites is another means of allowing people to work together on a site--to add file attachments, information from other Google applications (like Google Docs, Google Calendar, YouTube and Picasa), and new free-form content. The Google Sites web application is accessible from any Internet connected computer.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Memoirs & Coffee Book Group to Meet

The next meeting of Bernardsville Public Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, July 23 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room.  Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Manager for the library, will lead the discussion of “Wave” (2013) by Sonali Deraniyagala. [The author will not be present.]

On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived. In this brave and searingly frank memoir, she describes those first horrifying moments and her long journey since.  She has written an engrossing, unsentimental, beautifully poised account: as she struggles through the first months following the tragedy, furiously clenched against a reality that she cannot face and cannot deny; and then, over the ensuing years, as she emerges reluctantly, slowly allowing her memory to take her back through the rich and joyous life she’s mourning, from her family’s home in London, to the birth of her children, to the year she met her English husband at Cambridge, to her childhood in Colombo; all the while learning the difficult balance between the almost unbearable reminders of her loss and the need to keep her family, somehow, still alive within her.  Author Joan Didion described "Wave" as "an amazing, beautiful book."

There is no charge and no sign-up is needed to join the discussion.  Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.

College Essay Workshop @ Bernardsville Library

For rising seniors and high school juniors too: Avoid stress in the fall by getting a head start on writing the essay for your college applications this summer.  Come to Bernardsville Public Library on Monday, July 22 at 7:00 pm when expert Randy Levin will help you spring into action and avoid the top five mistakes students make on their college application essays.  Parents are also invited.  

Essays are now more important than ever.  Mr. Levin will help listeners to set themselves apart from all other applicants and avoid wasting valuable time writing the wrong essays!  Whether you are applying to local colleges, state schools or the Ivy League, this presentation will provide solid guidance to make you stand out and write great essays unique to you.  Mr. Levin's clients have been accepted to many prestigious colleges including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, M.I.T., Columbia, Georgetown, U of Chicago, Duke, Brown, NYU, Northwestern, U Penn, Dartmouth, Swarthmore, and Amherst.

Randy Levin has a Master's in English and an MFA in Creative Writing.  A former English teacher, he has also developed curricula for expository and creative writing (including persuasive writing).  He has worked at the New York State Department of Labor teaching resume writing and interview techniques, and, for close to thirty years, he has been a stand-up comedian performing at Westbury Music Fair, Mohegan Sun, comedy clubs, corporations, and on cruise ships.  

There is no charge to attend the program at the library, but advance sign-up is required.  Sign up at www.bernardsvilllelibrary.org or call the library at 908-766-0118.

Fifty Book Challenge Group to Meet

Reading fifty books in fifty-two weeks may seem daunting, but share the goal with a supportive group and it can be a lot of fun.  Community members are invited to come to the next meeting of the 50 Book Challenge on Saturday, July 20 at 3:00 pm in the library’s Community Room.  

At this meeting, which will include animated discussion, reading suggestions and snacks, ambitious readers will trade notes on their progress as well as book recommendations.  New members are welcome at any time during the year and will be invited to additional events in the coming months.  

The fifty books in fifty weeks are suggested, not required, for participation in the program.  Each reader will choose which reading “counts” as part of the total.  There are no limitations as to which formats can be read: downloaded books, audio books, e-books and graphic novels are all acceptable.  

For more information and resources and for email updates for the 50 Book Challenge, go to the library's webpage, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org /50_book/.   For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.   

Monday, July 1, 2013

Craft Group to Meet @ Bernardsville Library

Saturday Crafters, a monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, July 20 at 3:00 pm.  Individuals are invited to bring their own handwork projects to the Library and work together in a comfortable, communal setting while enjoying the benefits of shared tips and conversation. They can also take advantage of the many books available at the library on different types of crafts.

There is no charge to attend the meeting, and no sign-up is needed.  For more information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

Twirl & Swirl @ Bernardsville Public Library

Immerse yourself in Indian culture at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 pm, and enjoy an evening of dancing Indian style with shimmering skirts and shiny jackets provided by Enjoy Explore India, LLC.  Adults and children aged ten and up are invited to come to this free program.

Enjoy Explore India is a research-based study program that offers an educational, interactive and evaluative approach to cultural learning, with a curriculum focused on India's history, culture and traditions.  It has been designed to provide an age-appropriate cultural education so that both youth and adults can enjoy and explore India in a relevant and meaningful way.  The group's mission is to allow participants to learn about India and the country's links to the world by connecting them to India in a meaningful way, exciting them about exploring India’s culture in depth, and encouraging them to share ideas and cultural experiences.  It also creates a vibrant dialogue between generations, families and communities and fosters the exchange of cultural ideas within societies around the world.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.  This program is appropriate for adults and children over the age of ten.

Conditioning in the Off-Season

Find out how to stay in condition during the off-season and get great tips for eating for power and energy at Bernardsville Public Library on Monday, July 15 at 7:00 pm.  The program will be presented by three local business people, Angelo Scarpati, owner of Optimal Physical Therapy and Performance Institute; Michelle Berckes, nutritionist and natural food chef; and Brenda Curnin, owner of Breezy Organic Snackery. 

It is important to eat properly both during training and after a strenuous athletic event, but it is often hard to eat the correct amount of protein and the right kind, as well as get enough nutrients.  This program will guide listeners through these options.  Mr. Scarpatti will also talk about some take home exercises for stretching and increasing strength and flexibility during the summer and throughout the year to reduce injuries and soreness, especially in growing bodies. 

Angelo Scarpati, MSPT, Cert. MDT, CSCS is a Physical Therapist, Golf Fitness Instructor and Strength Conditioning Specialist.  He treats athletes of all ages with physical therapy and rehabilitation for injuries as well as conditioning programs for peak performance. 

Michelle Berckes, B.S. Nutrition, is a Nutritionist and Natural Food Chef.  She is currently the nutritionist consultant and culinary director at Breezy Organic Snackery in Bernardsville.  Her passion is for helping others heal with food and prevent dietary illness.  For over ten years, she has worked with doctors, dieticians, trainers, chefs, authors and TV personalities gaining knowledge on the power of healthy food. 

Brenda Curnin, owner of Breezy Organic Snackery in Bernardsville, a vegetarian  grab- and-go dedicated to serving only organic food and drinks, is a healthy food fanatic and health coach to all those who will listen.   

A follow-up program on avoiding sports injuries and nutritious diets for athletes will be presented by the same group on Monday, August 26 at 7:00 pm.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  To register, call the library at 908-766-0118 or sign up online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs.