The JTPL Blog

The “summer stimulus” reading program for adults ended on August 21. People who read three books of their choice received a stimulus prize of a royal blue notebook and pen with the library logo. One lucky winner — Camela Wacker — won the grand prize of a $50 gift certificate at Portofino’s.

Upon learning that she was the winner, Camela said,  ”I never dreamed I’d actually win!” Reportedly, her husband was very pleased too. Congratulations Camela, and enjoy your dinner at Portofino’s.

148 people participated in the program; 91 received stimulus prizes; and 78 completed the program (53%). 

A grand total of 724 books were read. Most popular authors? Danielle Stelle, James Patterson and Jodi Picoult. Best titles? Dating Dead Men and The Ten Year Nap (if only!) Most ambitious book? How about Middlemarch by George Elliot, or Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh? Also, biographies of such varied personages as Daryl Strawberry, Beethoven, Elvis, Tony Curtiss and Julia Child were on the summer book menu.

I’m glad we all got to have some fun doing our summer reading this year!

It can be frustrating to search the library’s MAIN catalog, and be unable to find the item you’re looking for.  Here’s what you can do:

If you want to continue searching, look under Library Info in the upper right hand corner of the MAIN home page. Click on Other NJ Library Catalogs. This will take you to Jersey Cat, a “virtual catalog that allows you to search the collections of over 700 New Jersey public and college libraries at one time.”  Here you may fill out  forms to request items to be sent to your home library.

If you don’t want to search anymore, or can’t locate the item in Jersey Cat, click on Can’t find It in MAIN Catalog and fill out a request form. We’ll do the search.

Fed up with forms?  You can always give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you!

The deadline for submitting your entry to the library writing contest “Why I Love My Library Card” has been extended to Friday, October 2. Tell us in 500 words or less, and you could win a couple of free pizzas! Bring your written entry to the library, or submit via email to JTPL@jeffersonlibrary.net. Good luck!

On the library’s Reference Desk there grows a beautiful Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia coccinea, according to the garden encyclopedia Botanica.) The book states “the elegant, succulent stems, up to 4 ft. tall, of this cane-stemmed species from Brazil support leaves of deep green with red margins and dull red beneath.” The plant also flowers in the spring, if it is happy.

About eight years ago I was visiting a friend in Milford, PA, and together we went to see her Mother. She had a  very large Angel Wing Begonia growing on her back porch. I asked for a cutting, brought it home, and the rest is history. Many of my friends now have Angel Wing Begonia plants.

One day I decided to bring a small offshoot to the library. I had read that green plants are great for air quality, for concentration, for creating a peaceful environment, good Feng Shui, etc.  I set it on the corner of the Reference Desk, and I now call it my pet begonia. It is very happy in the library, where it must get just the right combination of light, moisture and air circulation.  I am always rooting cuttings, and have given away many plants to library patrons.

If you visit the Reference Desk, and like the plant, feel free to ask me for a cutting. I’ll be glad to share this beautiful plant with library garden enthusiasts.

If you’re like me, when you think of acupuncture, you think of being stuck with needles. No Way! 

If you are curious about this ancient practice, you’re invited to come to the library for an informal talk by Donna Templeton of Lake View Acupuncture on Tuesday, August 18 at 7 p.m.

According to Donna, acupuncture is “based on the Chinese medicine theory that an energy called qi flows continuously through channels in the body. If the flow of qi is disrupted for any reason, pain, discomfort, or symptoms occur. When acupuncture needles (they’re fine and flexible, nothing like hypodermic needles which are stiff and thick!) are inserted along specific points, the flow of qi is restored. Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 3000 years.”

Donna brings her knowledge of  Western medical treatment and Eastern holistic practice to bear on her approach to  acupuncture. She is a New Jersey Certified Acupuncturist and is certified as a Dimplomate in Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She’s a graduate of the Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine in Montclair, NJ, and has done post-graduate study in Japanese acupuncture, oncology and infertility.  Donna is also an Advanced Practice Nurse with a BS in nursing and and MS in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing from Rutgers University.

Have you lost anything lately? The library’s Lost & Found box is overflowing with baseball hats, books, notebooks, eyeglasses, eyeglass cases, sunglasses, binoculars, toys, umbrellas, DC cases, lanyards, pens, pieces of mail, electronic devices and a backpack.

One winter we had a beautiful little pink ski jacket, brand new, that sat in the Lost & Found box for months. It amazed me — didn’t somebody miss it? Ditto with car keys, sweatshirts and cell phones. Wasn’t anyone looking for these items?

This is just a reminder that the library HAS a Lost & Found box. Remember to check it next time you lose something!