Communicate with the Belleville Public Library

Where:  221 Washington Avenue

Main Library Summer Hours: Monday: 9a.m. to 9p.m., Tuesday through Friday: 9a.m. to 5p.m.

Children's Room Summer Hours: Monday: 9a.m. to 8p.m., Tuesday through Friday: 9a.m to 5p.m.

Director of Children's Services: Danielle Cesena

Director of Teen Services: Karyn Gost

Summer Programs Offered: The Belleville Public Library offers various summer activities for children and teens including their Summer Reading Club, book discussions, game nights, afternoons of arts and crafts and movie matinees. Throughout July and August, the library will host the Eight Great Live Monday Night Series, which will include performances by magician Joe Fischer, Rizzo's Reptiles, musician Kurt Gallaher, the Library Players and more. The performances will begin every week at 6:30p.m., free of charge. The series will last until August 29. 

Children can also join the Explorers' Club, which meets on Tuesdays at 2p.m, to participate in games, activities and arts and crafts from around the world. In addition to the Explorers' Club, children can also join the Library Players: the Children's Room Theater Group. The first rehearsal was on July 7.

On Wednesdays the library offers storytime complete with story books, songs, socializing, stickers and bubbles. Each storytime session begins at 10:30 a.m. Craft time is offered directly after at 11:00 a.m.

Disney films are the focus of every Friday afternoon.  There will be a showing of Mulan this Friday, and the summer will close with a showing of Pocahontas on August 26. Each movie will begin at 2p.m. Teens can also enjoy movies this summer with the Monday Movie Matinee, specifically focused on international films. The next showing will be The Kite Runner on August 1, from 2p.m. to 4p.m.

In addition, the library hosts "Get Your Game On," an afternoon of Wii and board games every Friday from 2p.m. to 4p.m. 

For the crafty and creative the "Bead It" and "Recycle It" programs will be held on Thursday, July 28 and Thursday August 18, respectively. For "Bead It," materials will be provided so that each participant can make his or her own necklace or bracelet. "Recycle It" requires participants to bring materials from home--paper, wall hangings, key chains, picture frames--so they can create unique art pieces. Both programs will run from 2p.m. to 3p.m. 

On Thursday August 11, the library will discuss The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie from 2p.m. to 3p.m. Pizza and refreshments will be available. 

How to Sign Up: For those who want to participate in the Teen Summer Reading Club, the must come to the library and fill out a registration card so that they can keep track of the books they read in the summer reading log. For each book read, and each program attended, the participate will receive a raffle ticket to be entered into a drawing for the grand prize of a $50 Itunes card. All library programs are free of charge. For more information, please call Karyn Gost or Danielle Cesena at (973)-450-3434. 

Teen Librarian Gost says, "For teens in Belleville, the library is a safe environment for them to gather with their friends and socialize. Every summer many teens volunteer at the library. They participate in many aspects of library work from helping with programs to straightening book shelves. I hope the teens who participate in programs have fun at the library this summer. We strive to provide a fun, yet educational environment. One of my goals is that they become lifelong library users, appreciating and enjoying what their local library has to offer."

Director of Children's Services Cesena adds, "The library is the social hub of the community. One reason we offer these programs is to encourage visits to the library, but my programs also fuction to educate our young patrons. Programs like the Explorers' Club teach children the customs of various cultures through crafts. Library Players, the library's theater group allows the opportunity for children to perform and learn how to take direction."