Flurries of activity will sweep into GR library

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge Public Library has received a $7,500 grant that it will use to create a makerspace on the second floor of the building.

According to Library Director Jennifer Breuer, in order to obtain the grant from the NJ State Library and LibraryLinkNJ, the GRPL had to partner with a local school. It did, with Forest Avenue Elementary School, because the school did not have a makerspace.

A 3-D printer will be installed in the library. The funding will also provide for a button maker and a “cricket,” which cuts out intricate patterns.
Breuer had more news. On March 10, the library will be hosting its family Lego challenge.

“We did that last year,” she said. “It was a big success and a really fun night after-hours.”

On May 25, at the Glen Ridge Women’s Club, the library will be hosting “Selected Short.” It will be a live reading of short stories by three actors.
“It’s a big deal to host this,” Breuer said.

She said the library is sharing the cost for the program with BCCL. The portion the library must pay is coming from a grant.

The Pop-up Library, which was initiated last summer, will be returning from 6 to 8:30 a.m. at the Ridgewood Avenue train station.
She also said the Friends of the Library is hoping to collect $20,000 in its annual drive.

“The money they provide helps to make the library shine,” she said.
The fund drive will be different this year. It will be an outreach to the entire Glen Ridge community.

“Prior to this, ‘Friends’ relied on membership,” Breuer said. “This is new. They’re changing the approach. We’re hoping the community supports this effort.”
Breuer said it was sometimes difficult to articulate to a member what exactly membership was.

“People wanted to know what they got for their membership,” she said. “It was time to change the approach.”

And she said the summer the reading program for this year will have the theme of “Build a Better World.”

  FEATURED, MOBILE