Local library events
Storytimes and kids' library events near New Providence Memorial Library from the public library calendar.
377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
Upcoming events
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Bring your babies and toddlers to read, sign and have some fun with Miss Anita. Weather permitting Miss Anita's storytime will be outside on the front lawn. For ages 0 - 3.
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Join us for an interactive afternoon of 18th century era music, singing and dancing. March along to a fife and drum demonstration, sing colonial songs, and participate in a country dance with harpsichord accompaniment. For everyone, especially families and children ages 5-12. Presented by Early American Music and Arts. The first 15 children in attendance will receive a free Revolutionary War themed book! America 250 NP logo
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Come play Dungeons & Dragons at the library! All materials will be provided - just bring your imagination! Students should be able to attend all three sessions. July 6, July 7 & July 9. Please note the group is not meeting Wednesday, July 8. Ice Road Trackers ICEWIND DALE has been subsumed in permanent darkness, and the citizens of TEN-TOWNS struggle to survive what they’re calling the EVERLASTING RIME. This curse, leveled by the goddess AURIL, brings even greater hardship than usual to the denizens of the frozen lands of the North. An awakened walrus called MOTHER TUSK has brought a group of animals to the safety of the SPINE OF THE WORLD, hoping to protect them from being used by an evil druid to wreak further havoc on the civilized areas of Icewind Dale. Mother Tusk fights against civilization, nature, and otherworldly forces to keep her family safe, and she requests the heroes’ help to stem the threats against everyone. Will you answer the call?
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
140 Spring Street Unit C, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Buy yourself a beer or soda and play a board game in the back room at Untied Brewing! Mark and Elizabeth will introduce you to board games that go beyond the usual suspects you grew up playing. We’ll play easy, quick to learn games like Otrio, Ticket to Ride, Catan, Sushi Go, Mysterium, and King of Tokyo. Ages 21+. Untied Brewing is located at 140 Spring Street in New Providence. This event was made possible by the Friends of New Providence Memorial Library.
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
This month the Book Club will discuss The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. Peters' debut combines narrative skill and a poignant story for a wonderful novel to which many readers will gravitate. In 1962, an Indigenous Mi'kmaq family is in Maine to pick summer blueberries when their youngest child, four-year-old Ruthie, disappears. Her six-year-old brother, Joe, saw her last. Told in alternating, first-person chapters from Joe and a narrator called Norma, the novel follows the painful reverberations of Ruthie's disappearance across five decades. Peters wisely never makes the reader wonder if Norma is Ruthie; we know that she is, which allows more compelling questions to come into focus. How much do Joe's subsequent life events and choices trace back to this first major trauma? Is his lifelong guilt justified? How does Norma/Ruthie reconcile love for the white mother who stole her from her birth mother and for the white aunt who saved her from a lonely childhood but knew the secret all along? The story is told in braided strands, and it is a testament to Peters' ability that both strands fascinate. Indigenous stories like this matter, and while little is easy for Peters' characters, in the end, for all of them—even for those who stole a small child—there is hope. Newcomers are welcome to attend the book club. No registration is necessary and you may attend as many or as few meetings as you like. The group is moderated by a librarian. Copies of the book are available upon request at the front desk starting one month before the meeting.
10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Play with our train set, dollhouse, DUPLO legos and puppet theater in the Coddington Room. Meet new friends. Open Play closes from 12 - 1 pm. *Children age 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver in the same room at all times while in the library, including during supervised programs.
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
The Mason Room is the New Providence Historical Society’s climate-controlled archive of historical records pertaining to New Providence, which is located within the New Providence Memorial Library at 377 Elkwood Avenue. The room was named for Frank B. and Mary M. Mason. This facility holds an extensive collection of historic photographs, maps, newspapers, official minutes, audio tapes and other records. The public is welcome to conduct research and make inquires here. Society volunteers are eager to assist you during the Mason Room's open hours.
2:00 PM to 2:45 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Join Kathy Martin, a third level sound practitioner experienced in Himalayan singing bowls and various other meditative instruments, for a Sound Meditation. Enjoy the hypnotic rhythm and sound that balance and relax you from the inside out. Lie or sit down while she guides you through a sound experience to reach new levels of relaxation. Please wear comfortable clothes, bring a mat and any other items you may want, like a blanket or small pillow. This program was made possible by the Friends of the New Providence Memorial Library. Registration is required.
12:00 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
9:30 AM to 10:15 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Join yogi librarian Kim Pallant for a special summer yoga storytime series. Includes mindful breathing exercises, stories, movement and games. Bring a mat or towel to sit on. Parents must be present for children aged 10 and under.
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
The Conti Room is reserved for mahjong open play. Here's what you need to know: - Open play is for those who already know how to play mahjong. - This is a self-led group. - Please bring your own mah-jongg sets. The library will also provide a set. - Registration is recommended, but not required. If you register, you'll receive an email reminder for the session you signed up for. If more than 24 players show up, registrants will have priority for seats over walk-ins. You will need a library card to register. - There are some Mondays this year when there is no open mahjong, so please check the calendar.
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Taught by a high school student, students will learn about chemical reactions. For students entering grades 4-7. Registration required.
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Baseball enthusiasts are invited to discuss teams, players and issues of the sport with other baseball fans. Listeners are welcome too! The baseball group has been meeting monthly for over 10 years and has been called "smart and fervent" by a guest speaker.
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
The Mason Room is the New Providence Historical Society’s climate-controlled archive of historical records pertaining to New Providence, which is located within the New Providence Memorial Library at 377 Elkwood Avenue. The room was named for Frank B. and Mary M. Mason. This facility holds an extensive collection of historic photographs, maps, newspapers, official minutes, audio tapes and other records. The public is welcome to conduct research and make inquires here. Society volunteers are eager to assist you during the Mason Room's open hours.
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
A book club with no assigned reading! Join us for a free bagel from NP Bagel Cafe and we'll take turns speaking about the books that we're reading/ have enjoyed recently. This program is moderated by a librarian, and was made possible by joint support from NP Bagel Cafe and the Friends of the New Providence Memorial Library.
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Join Miss Cathy for stories, interactive rhymes and movement with sign language.
1:00 PM to 8:15 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Play with our train set, dollhouse, DUPLO legos and puppet theater in the Coddington Room. Meet new friends. Open Play closes from 4-5 pm. *Children age 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver in the same room at all times while in the library, including during supervised programs.
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
The Conti Room is reserved for mahjong open play. Here's what you need to know: - Open play is for those who already know how to play mahjong. - This is a self-led group. - Please bring your own mah-jongg sets. The library will also provide a set. - Registration is recommended, but not required. If you register, you'll receive an email reminder for the session you signed up for. If more than 24 players show up, registrants will have priority for seats over walk-ins. - There are some Mondays this year when there is no open mahjong, so please check the calendar.
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
US
Join us for a thrilling evening with acclaimed author Karin Slaughter as we chat about her North Falls series, consisting of We Are All Guilty Here, in which two teenage girls vanish in rural Georgia, and her upcoming sequel, The Secrets We Hide. In The Secrets We Hide, Slaughter welcomes readers back to North Falls. A small town with big secrets… 1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors. When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead. Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town. And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth… Registration is required whether you wish to watch the livestream or the recording. About the Author: Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular storytellers. She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels, including the Edgar nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls and False Witness. An international bestseller, Slaughter is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her, based on her novel, debuted at #1 worldwide on Netflix as an original series in 2022. Her bestselling thriller series, Will Trent, is now a television and streaming sensation in its 4th season. The Good Daughter has been adapted into a limited series starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy, and further projects are currently in development for film/TV. Karin Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Join Miss Debbie for an active storytime of songs, fingerplays, dancing and fun. For 18 months - preschool but older kids are always welcome!
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Taught by a high school student, students will learn about cellular respiration. For students entering grades 4-7. Registration required.
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Join us for some toe tapping fun with our favorite string band. All ages welcome!
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
US
In her ambitious new memoir, Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget, beloved bestselling author Reyna Grande illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival. What is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure? With her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty, Grande interrogates how living between two nations, two languages, and two identities has shaped the woman, mother, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala, Mexico, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival. Whether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries? Register today for this virtual talk if you identify as a seeker, a dreamer, or “anyone who believes in the enduring, transformative power of finding one’s voice.” Registration is required whether you wish to watch the livestream or the recording. About the Author: Reyna Grande is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and writing teacher. As a young girl, she crossed the US–Mexico border to join her family in Los Angeles, a harrowing journey chronicled in The Distance Between Us, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Her other books include the novels A Ballad of Love and Glory, Across a Hundred Mountains, and Dancing with Butterflies, the memoirs Migrant Heart, The Distance Between Us: Young Readers Edition, and A Dream Called Home, and the anthology Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings. She lives in Woodland, California, with her husband and two children. Visit ReynaGrande.com for more information.
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Knitters, crocheters and stitchers are welcome to come work on your works-in-progress in the Conti Room. Come see what everyone's working on and show off the project you recently finished. It's a talkative group that welcomes introverts and extroverts alike. Regulars & those who just want to drop in for one session here and there are all welcome. Drop by anytime between 7 pm and 8:30 pm.
10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Play with our train set, dollhouse, DUPLO legos and puppet theater in the Coddington Room. Meet new friends. Open Play closes from 12 - 1 pm. *Children age 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver in the same room at all times while in the library, including during supervised programs.
10:30 AM to 10:45 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
10:45 AM to 11:00 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Practice your new or developing skills by reading to a therapy dog.
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
Paint a colorful portrait of your pet. First, you'll use paint markers to trace the outlines of your pet's face onto a sheet of clear plastic (the front of a picture frame). If there are any features of your pet's face you'd like to be a particular color, you will also paint those on the plastic. Finally, you'll paint blocks of color for the background of the portrait, which will be placed inside the frame. What to bring with you: You're going to need a printout of your pet's photo. Crop the photo so that everything important (the pet's face) fits in a square area. Then, print the image on letter sized paper (8.5"x11"). You'll be tracing the image on the printout onto a 9.5"x9.5" sheet of plastic. If you have questions, please email info@newprovlibrary.org. Registration is required. This program was made possible by the Friends of New Providence Memorial Library.
11:00 AM to 11:15 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US
11:15 AM to 11:30 AM
377 Elkwood Ave, New Providence, NJ, 07974, US