?The application is posted!? That?s the answer to the question: ?How can I apply to Tales of Our Cities ? the annual book festival in Jersey City??

Just go to the Jersey City library website ? www.jclibrary.org ? and scroll down to the Tales of Our Cities portal.

The 8th annual Jersey City library book festival, Tales of Our Cities 2016, will be presented on Sunday, September 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Now is the time for all authors, singer/songwriters, poets, spoken word artists, vendors and publishers to apply.

The participant?s contract and outreach flyer are available on the library website to download and print, along with contact information. The participant application deadline is Monday, July 11. Please contact Elysse Sison at esison@jclibrary.org, (201) 547-4543 or by fax, (201) 656-1517.

Due to the ongoing renovations at the Main Library, the Tales of Our Cities book festival was not presented in 2015, and in 2014, the festival was staged at Grove Street Plaza. For 2016, the book festival will be in familiar surroundings ? the gazebo and extensive grounds of Van Vorst Park.

For the latest on programs, events, and special announcements please follow the Library on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JerseyCityFreePublicLibrary), Twitter (JCFPL_NJ) or Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/jerseycityPL) at Jersey City Free Public Library. Visit us on the web at www.jclibrary.org for all information on the Library, including all press releases in The Press Room. As of today, March 7, 2016, the Jersey City Free Public Library has 200,097 valid card members.

2016 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING SCHEDULE

* All Meetings are held at 5:30 P.M. *

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 / Glenn D. Cunningham Branch, 275 MLK Drive

Tuesday, February 09, 2016 / Five Corners Branch, 678 Newark Avenue

Tuesday, March 08, 2016 / Miller Branch, 489 Bergen Avenue

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Glenn D. Cunningham Branch, 275 MLK Drive

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Five Corners Branch, 678 Newark Avenue

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 / Miller Branch, 489 Bergen Avenue

NO MEETING - July 12, 2016 / Glenn D. Cunningham Branch, 275 MLK Drive

NO MEETING - August 09, 2016 / Five Corners Branch, 678 Newark Avenue

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Miller Branch, 489 Bergen Avenue

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 / Glenn D. Cunningham Branch, 275 MLK Drive

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 / Five Corners Branch, 678 Newark Avenue

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Miller Branch, 489 Bergen Avenue

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Glenn D. Cunningham Branch, 275 MLK Drive

The Jersey City Free Public Library wants to make it easier for those women and men ? aged 18 to 35 ? who want to apply to be a firefighter.

According to Library Network Administrator Victor Enriquez, he has created ?an icon on both the publicaccess and allaccess profiles, entitled: N.J. Firefighter Online Application. Upon clicking the icon, it will automatically open to the Job Announcement listing on the NJ Civil Service Commission web page.?

Library staff at the Main Library and all nine branches and the Bookmobile will direct library patrons to this icon on all library Public Access and All Access computers should they come in to inquire how to access the New Jersey Firefighter Online Application.

The New Jersey Firefighter Online Application is available from July 1 to August 31, 2015. All applicants need to be between 18 and 35, and have a high school diploma (GED, or equivalent) and a valid N.J. driver?s license. Application is ONLINE ONLY.

For the latest on programs, events, and special announcements please follow the Library on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jersey- ... c-Library/121162594579991), Twitter (JCFPL_NJ) or Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/jerseycityPL) at Jersey City Free Public Library. Visit us on the web at www.jclibrary.org for all information on the Library, including all press releases in The Press Room.

Five Corners, 678 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306, 201-547-4543

FOR CHILDREN:

For Children & Families: Shake It with Bollywood ? Bollywood Dance Workshop. / Conducted by: Nrityalina Center for the Performing Arts. ** Pre-Registration Required. Space is limited. ** / Presented by: Five Corners Branch Library & Community Awareness Series, a JCFPL department. / Mondays @ 5:30 ? 6:30 p.m., May 4 ? June 8

For Children & Young Adults: Mother?s Day Craft. / Children aged 8 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. / Saturday, May 9 @ 1 ? 2:30 p.m.

For Teens & Young Adults: [color==0000CC]Teen/YA Advisory League.[/color] / Five Corners has formed a Teen/YA Advisory League to help develop Teen & Young Adult programming. The TAL will also help in selection of books & DVDs of interest to Teens & Young Adults. / Help make Five Corners the library that has what you want! / Meetings: FIRST Saturday of each month @ 11 a.m. / Refreshments!

For Children & Young Adults: Fun Fridays! 3 ? 4:30 p.m. / * Games! * Games! * Games! * / * Connect4 * Jenga * Yahtzee * Scrabble * Monopoly * Snakes and Ladders * Uno * Trouble * Sorry *

For Children, YAs & Adults: LAST Saturday of each month ? Knitting for Good. Students will learn how to make a striped bookmark for themselves and a scarf which will be donated to the homeless of Jersey City. Knitting needles and some yarn will be provided. Or, you can bring your own worsted weight yarn (no novelty yarn). Class size is extremely limited. Pre-Registration is required! Presented by the Waterfront Community Church & Five Corners Branch Library. / For All Ages: 10 ? 11:30 a.m.

For Children (grades K-3): Read to Ella, the friendly dog! Ella loves children and loves listening to stories in the library! Come read your favorite stories to Ella, a very friendly dog. Ella is a Golden Retriever and a certified therapy dog. She will be accompanied by her trainer, Patricia Redden. Adults must accompany children under 8 years old and are expected to remain in the library during programs. / Regular Hours! ? NEW DAY! ? Wednesdays @ 3:30 p.m. / Children learning to read see a dog as a non-threatening, non-critical listener.

For Children: MOVIES. Saturdays @ 3 p.m. / May 2: Annie. / May 9: The Lion King. / May 16: Paddington. / May 30: Madagascar.

FOR ADULTS:

For Adults: MOVIES. Wednesdays @ 1 p.m. / May 6: Jersey Boys. / May 13: St. Vincent. / May 20: Birdman. / May 27: Unbroken.

For Adults: Excellence in Global Cinema Film Festival ? LAGAAN: Once Upon a Time in India. / Starring: Aamir Khan & Gracy Singh. / In Hindi, with English subtitles. From India. 2001. Rated PG. The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers. 224 minutes / FREE and open to the public. Refreshments! / Presented by: Five Corners Branch Library, Jersey City Acting Collective, Film Crafting Collaborative, Subcontinent Peace Foundation, Go Pro Radio, & the Jersey City Arts & Cultural Council. / Saturday, May 23 @ 1 p.m.

For something different to do... How about enjoying a program at the Miller Branch Library? Here are the featured programs in May:

Miller, 489 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304, 201-547-4551

For Adults & Young Adults: Special Program ? Statewide Education Organizing Committee (SEOC), Jersey City Chapter / TOPIC: * High Suspension Rate amount African Americans, Hispanics & Children with Disabilities. * Bringing Community Awareness * Performing Play/Skit * / Wednesday, May 13 @ 6 p.m.

For Adults & Young Adults (ages 13-19): MBL Teen Center CHESS CLUB / EVERY MONDAY / 4 ? 5:30 p.m. / Q&A Chess Coach will be available. / For more detailed information, e-mail: eyorker@jclibrary.org

For Adults: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. ? 12 Noon & Wednesdays, 6 ? 7:30 p.m. Basic Skills Computer Classes. Instructor: David Stevenson. Learn everything from turning a computer on to basic navigation of the web. * Laptops Welcome! * Class schedule & registration at the Miller Computer Learning Resource Center (2nd Floor). Space is limited, so sign up early!

For Adults: *Spanish Lessons are back! * Basic Spanish Made Simple. / Instructor: Mrs. Vilma Gomez. / Wednesdays @ 4 ? 6 p.m.

For Adults: Basic French Made Simple. / Instructor: Harley Mathieu. / Every Other Saturday @ 2 ? 4 p.m. (May 9 & 23)

For Adults & Young Adults: * Back by popular demand! * American Sign Language Classes. / Instructor: Mr. Thyson Halley. / Wednesdays @ 6 p.m., starting May 6 ? July 15

For Everyone: Library Tours! / Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Take a tour of the Miller Branch Library to learn more about the building and its services. Reservations required for tours. Daycare centers, school programs, organizations? All welcome!!!

For Young Adults: Free-Teens is in the house! It?s your space. It?s my space. It?s our space! Come join us! Every Wednesday, from 5 ? 7 p.m. Stop at Miller Branch to learn more, and register.

Effective Monday, May 4, 2015, the Lending Department (ONLY) at the Main Library, 472 Jersey Avenue in Jersey City, will close for a period of four months, due to the ongoing renovations since late October 2014. Lending?s closure marks the beginning of Phase III. All other departments expect to remain open during the four months.

The Lending Department will remain open until Saturday, May 2, at 5 p.m., its regular closing time. Library patrons with due dates later than May 2 of items borrowed from Lending can bring back any library materials to all branches, including the Bookmobile.

The Bookmobile, which will be stationed in front of the Main Library, will provide services to Downtown residents during Lending?s closure for the four months, using the following schedules:

(Monday, May 4 ? Saturday, August 1)

Blue Schedule ? May & June 2015

Monday, May 4 & 18; & June 1, 15 & 29 2:45 p.m. ? 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6 & 20; & June 3 & 17 2:45 p.m. ? 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8 & 22; & June 5 & 19 2:45 p.m. ? 4:30 p.m.

Red Schedule ? May & June 2015

Monday, May 11; & June 8 & 22 3:00 p.m. ? 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12 & 26; & June 9 & 23 2:45 p.m. ? 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15 & 29; & June 12 & 26 12:45 p.m. ? 2:00 p.m.

July & August Bookmobile schedules are forthcoming.

During the Lending Department?s closure, the Jersey City Free Public Library?s Regional branch libraries throughout the city will be open one late night, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., as per Regular hours. The staff from the Lending Department will be dispersed to other locations. The Main Library will remain open, as usual, four late nights per week, from Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 9a-5p, Friday and Saturday.

Below are the Regular branch hours that are available during the renovation of the Main Library?s Lending Department:

Cunningham:
Wednesday, 9a-8p
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 10a-6p
Friday & Saturday, 9a-5p

Five Corners:
Monday, 9a-8p
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10a-6p
Friday & Saturday, 9a-5p

Greenville:
Tuesday, 9a-8p
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10a-6p
Friday & Saturday, 9a-5p

Heights:
Thursday, 9a-8p
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, 10a-6p
Friday & Saturday, 9a-5p

Miller:
Wednesday 9-8
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 10a-6p
Friday & Saturday, 9a-5p

Pavonia:
Monday, 9a-8p
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10a-6p
Friday & Saturday, 9a-5p

?We know this is short notice, however, that was unavoidable,? said Library Director Priscilla Gardner. ?As always, we are sorry for any inconvenience to our loyal patrons.?

For the latest on programs, events, and special announcements please follow the Library on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jersey- ... ic-Library/121162594579991), Twitter (JCFPL_NJ) or Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/jerseycityPL) at Jersey City Free Public Library. Visit us on the web at www.jclibrary.org for all information on the Library, including all press releases in The Press Room. As of today, April 30, 2015, the Jersey City Free Public Library has 188,591 valid card members.

Like that character ?Mayhem? in a recent insurance company television commercial, life has a way of leaving devastation in its wake. These are times when a lawyer comes in handy.

The Jersey City Free Public Library will offer legal information for free through seven monthly workshops, one held at each of the five regional branches, capped at either end with two workshops at the Main Library, given by lawyers from the law firm of Omojola & Associates, P.C.

Omojola & Associates, PC, is a New Jersey general practice law firm, looking to reach out to the community. Its principal attorney, Aderemilekun A. Omojola, is a former Jersey City resident who attended New Jersey City University and Seton Hall Law School. The firm has over 43 years of combined experience, with a team of attorneys eager to give the community the benefit of its legal knowledge by hosting free law workshops open to the public. All workshops are held from 5 to 7 p.m., with refreshments afterward.

Federal Documents Dept. - 4th Floor - Main Library Wednesday, October 24

Cunningham 275 MLK Drive, (201) 547-4555 Wednesday, November 14

Heights 14 Zabriskie Street, (201) 547-4556 Thursday, December 20

Five Corners 678 Newark Avenue, (201) 547-4543 Monday, January 14, 2013

Miller 489 Bergen Avenue, (201) 547-4551 Wednesday, February 13

Greenville 1841 Kennedy Blvd., (201) 547-4553 Tuesday, March 5

Biblioteca Criolla Main, 472 Jersey Avenue, (201) 547-4541 Wednesday, April 3

Each monthly workshop will cover three topics ? Foreclosure Defense & Bankruptcy (1st hour) and Immigration Law (2nd hour) ? with each workshop having a built-in Q&A section after each hour?s presentation.

?The law firm of Omojola & Associates is glad to partner with the Jersey City Free Public Library to offer these series of law workshops to the public, and to as many people as would like to learn about their rights and the legal process in different areas of law,? said Aderemilekun A. Omojola, Esq.

?We welcome this law firm,? said Library Director Priscilla Gardner. ?Being well-informed on legal information is so necessary these days, and we thank them for offering to give back to the community through these free workshops.?

For further information, please contact Omojola & Associates at (973) 955-4721, by e-mail at info@omojola-associates.com, and by viewing the firm?s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OandALaw.

For the latest on programs, events, and special announcements please follow the Library on Facebook or Twitter at Jersey City Free Public Library. Visit us on the web at www.jclibrary.org for all information on the Library, including all press releases in The Press Room.

Dear Jay Res,

What type of "reading programs" were you thinking about?

The Vincenzo Domenico Bonetti II Children's Room at the Main Library and the children's rooms at individual branches provide guidance by library staff in the encouragement and selection of reading materials, year-round.

Story Hour schedules in the Fall (September - December) and Spring (March - May) offer children and their parents/caregivers/guardians the chance to enjoy an oral reading experience together in the Main Library's Bonetti Children's Room and in all branches throughout the library system.

The Summer Reading Program is available annually at the Jersey City Free Public Library for children (K-5) and young adults (Grades 6-8, & up), for eight weeks, generally from mid-June to mid-August.

Please visit our website at http://www.jclibrary.org

Please look to the left of the library homepage, under "Library Info," and select, "Libraries," where you will be able to visit each individual department and branch homepage.

I hope this helps!

Michele M. Dupey, MLIS
Public Information Officer
Jersey City Free Public Library