The meeting originally scheduled for September 26 at the Main Library will now take place on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30pm at the Vauxhall Branch Library
Virtual Author Talks
Listen to and interact with authors to learn the story behind the story. Union Public Library presents free, live streamed virtual author talks each month featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres including historical fiction, contemporary fiction, romance, OwnVoices, poetry, business, personal growth, social justice, history, art, culture, and more. Each talk will be a live, one-hour interview with a bestselling author and a professional moderator. Questions will be a mixture of those prepared by the moderator and those submitted by participants during the event. The events will be completely virtual so people can watch the talks wherever it is convenient for them. All events are closed captioned, and will be available for on-demand access. A complete list of events and registration information is available on Union Public Library’s virtual author talk series website at https://libraryc.org/uplnj.Funding for this is made possible in part by the Friends of Union Public Library
Borrow Unique Items!
Check out our newest collection that we call Library of Things. Visit our webpage to find out about our collection of non-traditional items that can be borrowed with your Union Public Library card.
Introducing Little Pim – Language Learning designed just for young children
Childhood is the best time to start language learning and Little Pim, from Mango Languages is specifically designed for children ages 0-6. Each course features videos that teach 180 words and phrases, providing the essential building blocks of a foreign language. Little Pim is available in the following languages: Spanish French Italian German Mandarin Chinese Japanese Hebrew Russian Arabic English/ESL Little Pim is free to Union Public Library cardholders. Use your Union Public Library card to sign up at https://connect.mangolanguages.com/union-township/ Choose a language, and click on the Explore tab to get started with Little Pim.
Director’s Message
September 2022 Welcome to your library! I’m thrilled to be here and to invite you to everything Union Public Library offers. The public library is the place for ultimate and infinite possibilities. What other venue is open to everyone, requires no fee to enjoy the services, offers high-level staff assistance, provides resources on any topic, and hosts programming for all ages? Whether you’re an avid reader, or working on early literacy, we have resources and staff to help you and your family at whatever level is right for you. But today’s library is about more than just reading. We offer life-long learning through programs, services and collections. We want you to experience a wealth of discovery here. Staff are here to connect you to the information you need. From technology training to financial literacy, learning a language, job-hunting, test-prep, homework help, navigating new stages of life, and small-business resources– we can help you reach your goals. Our doors are open six days a week (regular hours begin September 12) and four evenings between both locations. Our online services are available 24/7. You can stream a movie or documentary, get an eBook, audiobook or eMagazine, or download music in an instant, conduct research using trustworthy resources in our academic search premier database, and so much more! Library staff and resources have more than information, we have tools and training to sift through the hundreds of results to find the answer that will actually mean something to you. It all starts with a library card. Come visit us and see how the library can open new possibilities for you. Looking forward to seeing you! You can also find us on FaceBook, Instagram and YouTube. I can be reached at director@uplnj.org Sincerely, Kassundra Miller
Health Literacy Tote Bags
Check out a Health Literacy Tote Bag at the Union Public Library Through a collaborative partnership between Overlook Hospital and Atlantic Health System the Union Public Library now offers valuable information and resources to improve the health and health literacy of our community. The tote bags contain books and DVDs. as well as informational pamphlets and brochures which you may choose to keep. The Health Tote bags are available for checkout at either the Main Library or the Vauxhall Branch. Holds can be placed by visiting our website www.uplnj Our newest Health Totes cover these important topics Breast Cancer Eating Disorders Pain management Prostate Cancer Teen mental Health/Resilience Additional topics include: Alzheimer’s Disease Arthritis Bereavement/Grief Hospice/Palliative Care Mental Health Prediabetes and Diabetes Opioid and Substance Abuse Stroke Recovery This program is generously supported in part with funding from the Chubb Foundation and Novartis
Interim Main Library is Open!
We Are Back! The Board of Trustees and staff are excited to announce the re-opening of the interim Main Library, located at 1060 Stuyvesant Avenue. There is a parking lot attached to the building! At the Main Library, you can browse and check out new fiction books, new non-fiction books, new DVDs, magazines, newspapers, and video games. Plus, you can borrow museum passes and Chromebooks with hotspots. The Main Library houses the children’s and young adult collections in their entirety, so be sure to bring the kids! Computers and limited study space are available for all ages, and you can print, copy, and scan, on-site. Adult books and DVDs published more than 6 months ago will be kept off-site, and will be available for pick-up at either the Main Library or the Vauxhall Branch Library in one to two business days. You can request books and other materials digitally through the Library’s online catalog, on the Library’s mobile app, in person, or over the phone. You can return books in the book drop outside or at the circulation desk inside either library. We are thrilled to invite you into the building, but curbside service will continue to be an option if you do not wish to come inside. If you are looking for an item that we do not own, you can request materials through our interlibrary loan service, and we will get it for you. Don’t forget – you can also visit other MURAL libraries and check out materials directly from them. This location will serve as a temporary space until the completion of our brand-new, 21st-century library at the former site on Morris Avenue. Construction is expected to take about two years. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Exciting Changes for the Main Library
Union will break ground on a new Public Library building this spring! The Township along with the Library Board of Trustees recognize the need for a 21st century library that allows our community to connect, explore and discover. The new library will be built at the former Main Library site at 1980 Morris Ave and is expected to be completed in 2024. Preliminary plans for the new building include a black box theater space, an educational center, meeting rooms, and an arts center. The building will serve as a community hub. According to Union Business Administrator Don Travisano, taxpayers will not be impacted by construction costs, as proceeds from the PILOT program put in place for the Vermella project will cover the costs of the new library. 3D sketch video of new Main Library building, January 2023 View the Library Q&A session from October 28, 2021 During this period of transition, operations and layouts will be altered. However, library staff will continue to provide the services and resources that patrons have come to expect. What to expect: We ask residents for patience during this transitional time, and encourage everyone to visit the Library website for the most up-to-date information. For more information please email unionpl@uplnj.org or call the Main Library 908-851-5450.
Video Game Collection
The library now circulates video games for Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch! Union Public Library cardholders may checkout 1 video game at a time for a loan period of 14 days. Due to the limited supplies, video games cannot be renewed. Please return video games on time, so they can be made available for the next patron. Late fees will be charged at $1/day. This collection was started thanks to the generous donation from the Friends of Union Public Library and the Union Township Education Association. Click here to view our catalog, or see below a current list of our circulating video games. Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Updated on 7/24/22
Union Public Library is Now Fine Free!
In January 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) passed a resolution that asserted overdue fines are a barrier to equitable access and encouraged libraries to eliminate them. The ALA is our largest professional organization and we give serious consideration to their resolutions. The Library Board of Trustees and staff desire to remove this barrier to its resources and to provide more equitable library access to everyone in the community. In going fine free, we are joining the ranks of many other public libraries across the nation. In the lead up to this decision, we carefully reviewed studies and articles about eliminating fines. Libraries that have adopted fine-free policies found that: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What Is Fine Free? Fine free means that there will be no late charges on most materials.* The Union Public Library wants to ensure that ALL of our town has access to our resources in the most equitable way possible. Fines tend to penalize the most vulnerable individuals or families who can’t afford them. *Due to a limited supply, late charges will still accrue on Video Games, Museum Passes, and Chromebook/Hotspots Why Eliminate Fines? Research shows that overdue fines are not effective in encouraging the return of library materials. Instead, fines can quickly become a barrier to using the library. Our hope is that by going fine free we will encourage prior users to come back to the library and attract new users to experience everything our library has to offer. Won’t This Prevent People from Ever Returning Their Items? Late fines are not effective. Studies show that small fines have no impact on return rates and that those with late fines are less likely to visit the library again. Libraries who have removed late fees report few adverse effects on material return rates. The public library model is based upon a trusting relationship between borrowers and a valued community resource. Union Public Library trusts that borrowers will return items on time, so that others may use them. Will There Be Due Dates? Every item checked out will still have a due date. Please remember that someone else may be waiting for an item, so bring it back on time. What Happens If I Have Overdue Books? Once your card reaches a total of 2 overdue items, your library borrowing privileges will be suspended. When that happens, you will not be able to check out more items […]
Library Resources:Tutorials
Using our digital resources for the first time? Niche Academy is for you! Learn how to use library e-Resources like eBooks, research databases, and language learning tools. Access simple guided instructions on how to get started with Hoopla, Overdrive, Tutor.com, Freegal and more. You can also find tutorials on Microsoft Office, Google apps, social media, and more. Niche Academy tutorials are continuously updated when any changes are made to products, and you can always go back in to see what’s new. Find our tutorials on our website under Books & More.
Let Us Find Your Next Read!
Need some great books for yourself, but don’t know what to get? Union Public Library now offers personalized reading suggestions with our Shelf Help service. Simply fill out the form, and our librarians will create a personalized list of titles based on your feedback. You can also find the form under the Books & More tab.
House Call Delivery
Union Public Library offers delivery service to library patrons who are unable to leave their homes due to health-related issues. This service is staffed by volunteers who can both pick up items from the library and bring them directly to a patron’s house, and return them to the library as well. If you wish to apply, or know someone who would like to apply, please call the Reference Desk at (908) 851-5450 x3 to arrange for services.
Automatic Renewal
We are excited to announce that we will automatically renew eligible library materials you have checked out. Automatic Renewal will give you peace of mind as well as more time to enjoy your material. *Please note that only material checked out after February 15 will be automatically renewed. Items will not be renewed when: The item is on hold for someone else You have reached the maximum number of renewals allowed Renewals are not allowed on specific types of material (e.g., DVD’s, Chromebooks, Museum Passes) About auto renewal: When your item is automatically renewed, you will see the new due date when you log into your account. The Renew Loan button will no longer display when the number of remaining renewals is zero A notice will be sent to your email (if enabled) advising you of the new due date
Digital Magazines now available on Overdrive/Libby
Log into your Overdrive or Libby app using your Union Public Library card, to find over 3,000 magazines to checkout and download to your mobile device. Libby App From the home screen: Explore What’s New? New in Magazines Overdrive App From the menu button on the home screen: Subjects Magazines