Join us for this Summer’s Reading Program: Tails and Tales! This nine-week program for adults, teens, and children entering Kindergarten through Grade 6 will be starting on Monday, June 28. Explore everything the library has to offer this summer and have a chance to win prizes! Sign up at READsquared. To see all the exciting events we have coming this summer visit our events page. Registration & Welcome Gift Program registration begins on Monday, June 21 through READsquared. After signing up, all participants are eligible to receive a welcome gift. Welcome gifts are limited, so please stop by either the Main Library or Vauxhall Branch to pick yours up. Summer Kickoff Event For All Ages Join us for a special Summer Kickoff Carnival on Thursday, June 24 from 2 PM to 4 PM at the Main Library. Learn about our Summer Reading Program, sign up and pick up a welcome gift, and have fun! This program will be held outside on the library grounds. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors. There will be giveaways, face painting, balloon animals and more. Don’t miss out! How to Participate Log your reading hours weekly beginning June 28 through READsquared, in order to qualify for weekly raffle prizes and the grand prize. In order to be eligible for weekly raffle prizes, you must read for a minimum of 60 minutes and log the time that you spent reading that week on READsquared. There will be a random drawing at the end of each week to determine the winner(s). Grand Prizes Once you reach nine hours of reading, you’ll be entered into our grand prize raffle at the end of the summer. End of Summer Reading Party Everyone who has logged at least six hours through READsquared will be invited to our End of Summer Ice Cream Party on Friday, August 20, at Rabkin Park. More details coming soon! A big thank you to the Friends of the Union Public Library for sponsoring this program!
Welcome Back to the New Normal
Updated 5/28/21 The Staff and Board of Trustees of the Union Public Library are excited to welcome you back to the library! The library is open M-F 10am – 6pm and appointments are no longer necessary, our doors are open. Patrons may return items inside the library, or drop them in our outside book return boxes, which are open 24/7. We are no longer quarantining returned items. We encourage the continued use of our Contactless Curbside pick up for our Union Public Library cardholders who do not wish to come inside the building. Pick up is by timed appointment. To keep the public and staff safe, we will continue to follow these rules: All patrons MUST wear a mask, including children age 2 and up. Please use our curbside service if you cannot wear a mask. Proper social distance must be maintained. If you are sick, please stay home. All children under 10 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver age 16 and over. For additional information on our mask policy click here Have you tried our mobile app? Available for both iOS and Android, UPL-NJ mobile app for Union Public Library cardholders, lets patrons search the catalog, reserve items, and check them out using their phones or tablets. Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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: Library card registrations increased. Borrowing of materials increased. More library items were returned. Students returned to the library to use homework resources. Staff time was redirected from fines-handling to patron-focused services. 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 and Museum Passes 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? […]
Return of Library Material
Beginning Monday, May 3 we will no longer quarantine returned items and they may be returned to the outdoor book return box or inside the library.
Contactless Check Out With Our New Mobile App!
The Union Public Library has a mobile app, UPL-NJ Mobile App, that lets patrons check out library materials using their phones or tablets. The UPL-NJ Mobile App allows Union Public Library cardholders to scan an item’s barcode with their phone and instantly check it out to their library account. With the app you can also search the catalog, reserve items, and manage your Union Public Library account. Try it today! UPL-NJ Mobile App is available for download for both iOS and Android devices.
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.
Vauxhall Branch to Resume Daily Curbside Service
We are happy to announce that the Vauxhall Branch will resume daily curbside service beginning Monday, March 1. Staff will be available Monday-Friday from 10am to 6pm. Please call us at 908-851-5451.
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.
Online Newspaper Access
US Major Dailies: Read current and past articles from 5 of the most respected U.S. newspapers: The New York Times Washington Post Los Angeles Times Chicago Tribune Wall Street Journal Login with your library barcode to access U.S. Major Dailies from ProQuest. With print and online editions, the titles offer researchers thorough and timely coverage of local, regional, and global events with journalistic balance and perspective. The content is available by 8 AM U.S. Eastern time each day and provides archives stretching as far back as 1980. All titles are cross searchable on the ProQuest platform. Library card holders can find the direct link to U.S Major Dailies, under the Research Tab on our website.
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.
COVID-19 Service Updates
To best serve the public during COVID-19, the Union Public Library will continue curbside service. The safety of our community is our number one priority, and we have many ways to continue to provide exceptional service to our community. CURBSIDE SERVICE Union Public Library cardholders may reserve material for curbside delivery: Visit the catalog https://catalog.uplnj.org/ and log in with your library card number and pin Use our mobile app UPL-NJ found on Google Play or Apple App store Call 908-851-5450 x2 (Main Library) or 908-851-5451 (Vauxhall Branch) to reserve material for curbside pickup CONTACT US Staff will be available to offer help and answer your questions M-F 10am -6pm Call us at 908-851-5450 x3 (Main Library) or 908-851-5451 (Vauxhall Branch) Email us unionpl@uplnj.org Chat with a librarian https://uplnj.org/ask-a-librarian/ LIBRARY CARDS Union residents may apply for a temporary digital access card, and start downloading e-books, audiobooks, music, and so much more. Learn a new language, or access one-on-one tutoring for all ages through Tutor.com Apply for a digital access card here Applications for full service library cards may be made in person, by appointment, once the library is open. Please visit Get A Library Card to learn more about types of cards available and ID you will need to bring. BOOK RETURNS Book Return boxes will remain open, and patrons may return library material at any time to the book boxes outside the library. Returned items will be quarantined for 24 hours and will remain on your account until they are checked in following the quarantine period. No late fees will be charged during the quarantine period. *Please note that Chromebooks may not be placed in book return boxes. Please contact the library at 908-851-5450 x3 (Main Library) or 908-851-5451 (Vauxhall Branch) to arrange a return. PRINTING If you wish to print a document at the library we offer mobile printing services Email your document to: UPLMAINBW@PRINTSPOTS.COM for pickup at the Main Library 908-851-5450 x3 VAUXHALLBW@PRINTSPOTS.COM for pickup at the Vauxhall Branch 908-851-5451 Call the library to set up a curbside appointment for document pickup. Printing is $.15 per page, and please bring exact change. E-BOOKS AND MORE Our digital resources are available 24/7 to Union Public Library cardholders. Download e-books, audiobooks, digital magazines, music, tv and comic books. Find these and more on our website www.uplnj.org. If you are a Union Resident without a library card, you may apply for […]
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
2020 Tax Forms
We have received copies of IRS forms 1040, 1040-SR, and the accompanying instruction booklet. No appointment is needed. Please ring the doorbell or call us when you are outside. We will hand the forms to you at the door. If you require additional forms, our Librarians are happy to print them from an official government website for $.15 per page. Please call the Reference Desk at 908-851-5450 x3 for more information.
World Read Aloud Day (WRAD)
The 12th Annual World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) takes place on Wednesday, February 3, an annual holiday dedicated to encouraging the joy and community created by reading aloud. To celebrate, Union Public Library is giving away a signed copy of this year’s official WRAD book, My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, written by Super Bowl Champion and Literacy Advocate Malcolm Mitchell! Here’s how to enter: Submit your name, phone number, and email to emacleod@uplnj.org by 12 PM on Wednesday, February 3, using ‘WRAD Giveaway’ in the subject line. Open to all Union residents. Tune in to Facebook Live at 3 PM on the 3rd, when we’ll draw the winner of this fantastic picture book! The winner will be contacted to arrange a curbside pickup appointment. Here are just a few ways that UPL can help your family celebrate World Read Aloud Day, even while we’re closed to the public: Place books on hold using UPL’s online catalog, which you can collect through our curbside pickup service. Find some great eBooks using UPL’s digital resources, such as Tumblebooks and Hoopla. Join us for Virtual Storytime at 10:30 AM on Facebook Live! Previous storytimes are available on-demand on Facebook and Instagram. Any questions? Contact the Children’s Department at 908-851-5450 ext. 4. Happy #WorldReadAloudDay!
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 up to 2 video games at a time for a loan period of 14 days. If there are no other patrons waiting for the video game, a 14 day renewal can be requested. 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 Demon’s Souls Spider-Man: Miles Morales Playstation 4 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Ghost of Tsushima Gran Turismo Sport The Last of Us Part II NBA 2K21 Ratchet & Clank Spyro Reignited Trilogy Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing Kirby Star Allies Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Luigi’s Mansion Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Minecraft Dungeons: Hero Edition Pikmin 3 Deluxe Pokemon Shield Splatoon 2 Super Mario Odyssey Super Smash Bros. Xbox Series X FIFA 21 Forza Horizon 4 Madden NFL 21
Library & Chill: Winter Reading Program at Union Public Library
Join us for Library & Chill at Union Public Library! This six-week program for ages 5 and up (adults, too!) will be starting on Tuesday, January 19. Virtually explore all the library has to offer this winter and have a chance to win prizes! Sign up on READsquared. Registration & Welcome Gift Program sign-up will begin on Tuesday, January 19 through READsquared. You will need a Union Public Library card to participate. If you are a Union resident and would like to obtain a library card, you can sign up for a digital resource library card here. After signing up, adults are eligible to receive a ‘Chill Kit’ as a thank you for participating. Kits are limited, so please call and reserve your Chill Kit once you sign up on READsquared. Call the Main Library at 908-851-5450 x3 to schedule a curbside pickup. Available while supplies last! Children and teens can pick up their signup gift once they are registered on READsquared. Please call the Main Library at 908-851-5450 x4 to schedule a curbside pickup. Available while supplies last! How to Participate Log your reading hours weekly, through READsquared in order to qualify for weekly raffle prizes, as well as the Grand Prize. Complete weekly missions for extra points towards prizes. You can also participate by: Weekly Themes & Prizes There will be different themes, missions and challenges to try each week! You can earn additional points by completing the mission for each week. Additionally, you’ll be signed up to receive a weekly e-newsletter from Union Public Library, with the weekly challenges, so be on the lookout! Week 1 (Tuesday, January 19-24): YouPL Focus on health and wellness Week 2 (Monday, January 25-31): Book a Staycation Focus on adventure and travel Week 3 (Monday, February 1-7): DIY @ UPL Focus on learning a new skill Week 4 (Monday, February 8-14): Fun in ‘21 Focus on hobbies and recreation Week 5 (Monday, February 15-21): ‘Time’ to Read Focus on history, biographies, science fiction, and/or time travel Week 6 (Monday, February 22-28): This Week, I… Focus on whatever you choose In order to be eligible for the weekly prizes, you must login to READsquared and log time that you read that week. There will be a random drawing at the end of each week to determine the winner(s), who will be notified via email. Prizes in the form of gift cards and more […]
