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January 15, 2010

Kenilworth Library can help residents ride out the recession

By Cranford Chronicle
January 14, 2010, 12:55PM
KENILWORTH — Is your family budget tight and getting tighter? Are you looking for ways to cut back on spending but hate to give up some of the things that you enjoy? Do you want to take full advantage of what the Borough of Kenilworth has to offer?

If so, then there is no better way to start the New Year than with a visit to the Kenilworth Public Library. Getting a card is quick and easy – just bring your driver’s license or other form of identification with proof of address and you can start checking out items from our collection the very day you sign up. And you can put that old stereotype of cranky librarians to rest – our staff members are both knowledgeable and friendly and they’ll have you feeling like library regulars in no time at all.

Best of all, the library really does have something for everyone. The book collection features the latest best sellers along with a comprehensive collection of fiction, mysteries, romance, biographies and non-fiction covering a wide range of subjects and authors, with many titles also available in large print. Not interested in books? The library also subscribes to more than 60 magazines plus six daily or weekly newspapers. For the younger set, the library has an extensive collection of books arranged in separate collections for teens, elementary school students and the picture book set.

Reading’s not your thing? Not to worry, because the library is proud of its DVD collection of nearly 2,000 titles, all of which can be checked out at no cost for a three day loan period. For music lovers, there is a collection of approximately 1,000 CDs covering a wide range of musical tastes, from kiddy to classical, and with everything in between. For those who do love books but prefer to multitask, the library also has an ever growing collection of audio books that can either be checked out on compact disk or downloaded directly through access on the library’s webpage.

Tired of your dial up internet connection? Check out the library’s high speed internet computers or relax in an easy chair and take advantage of the library’s recently upgraded wireless internet connection. Need Microsoft Office? The library also has a computer set aside especially for those who want to work in either Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint. For the littlest library users, the library recently acquired a special computer workstation, complete with a colorful and easy to use keyboard and mouse, along with a full complement of educational software and games.

Got free time on your hands? Check out the many programs the library offers throughout the year, all available to Kenilworth residents totally free of charge. For our literary set we have a book discussion group and a writers’ support group, live Shakespeare performances and other theatrical offerings. For families, we have a wide array of children’s programming, featuring such crowd pleasers as magicians, musicians and up close and personal visits from live animals. Other recent programs have included performances by the Metro Rhythm Chorus, the Libby Richman Jazz Trio, a cooking demo by a celebrity chef, and a showing of a documentary movie about Beethoven.

Need help finding information or having trouble tracking something down on the web? Let Dale Spindel, the library’s director and reference librarian, help you find exactly what information you’re seeking either in print or through online sources, many of which are available through the library’s webpage only to library cardholders.

Kids need help finding information for school assignments? No one does it better that the very able staff members of our children’s department, headed by children’s services coordinator Robin Koerner.

Looking for a book the library doesn’t own? Not to worry, as Kathleen Czarnecki, interlibrary loan coordinator, does an extraordinary job of locating hard to find items and bringing them to Kenilworth on temporary loan.

Still not convinced? Visit in person at 548 Boulevard or visit online at kenilworthlibrary.org. Getting that library card could be the best decision of 2010.

Posted by tumulty at January 15, 2010 7:48 PM

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