Tuesday, November 28, 2006

William Diehl, Author, 1924-2006

Best-selling author William Diehl died this week at the age of 81. A World War II veteran, photographer, and journalist, he did not begin writing novels until the age of 50.

He completed 9 novels in his life, and had nearly completed a tenth. Diehl was best know for his novels Sharky's Machine and Primal Fear, which were both made into movies, starring Burt Reynolds and Richard Gere, respectively.

The Somerset County Library System owns all of his books.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Afternoon Movie, December 18

The Hillsborough Library presents our Afternoon Movie:

Monster-in-Law, starring Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, and Michael Vartan.

She met the perfect man...then she met his mother! Determined to scare off her son's new fiance', Fonda hatches a scheme to become the world's worst mother-in-law. But when Lopez catches on, a wild and hysterically funny battle of wits begins.

The program is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Please stop by or call the Adult Information Desk, 908-369-2200, Ext. 12.

Where & when: Hillsborough Library Main Program Room, Monday, December 18, 2:00 PM.
Running time: Approx. 101 minutes.
Rating: PG-13.

An invitation to join the Hillsborough Library's Knitters' Circle

The Library's Knitters' Circle will be meeting on the first Tuesday of each month, from 7:00-9:00 PM. Experienced and beginners alike are invited to join our friendly informal circle of people who love to knit. Whether you are nine or ninety, we'd love to welcome you to our circle.

Bring your needles, some yarn, and your works in progress. If you are stuck with something, there is always someone willing to share knitting tips and get you going. And yes...we really do sit in a circle!

This program is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.

An Invitation to join the Hillsborough Library's Quilt Guild

The Library's recently formed Quilt Guild will be meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Some of the activities will include: Show 'n Tell; guest speakers; pattern exchanges; tips, techniques and tools; book reviews and much more.

To join us, just bring your enthusiasm, creativity, and love of quilting. No experience required! To sign up, call the Adult Information Desk at 908-369-2200, Ext. 12.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Friends of the Library Book Discussion Group Schedule

The Friends of the Library group holds a monthly book discussion group in the Library Conference Room at 7:30 PM on the following dates:

Tuesday, December 12. The book will be The City Below, by James Carroll. Set in Boston, it follows the story of two brothers through the period 1960-1984. One brother takes the path of business and politics, while the other becomes involved in organized crime.

Tuesday, January 9. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult. The story of a teen who is conceived to be a bone marrow donor for her sister.

Tuesday, February 6. Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. A work of magic and mystery set in Barcelona after World War II.

Tuesday, March 6. A Painted House, by John Grisham. Grisham gets away from his usual legal thrillers here to present a story about a boy growing up in 1950's Arkansas.

There is no charge, and registration is not required. Please call 908-369-0110 if you have any questions or suggestions.

Seven Weeks to Conquering Your Stress, Tuesday, December 5

The Hillsborough Public Library presents Seven Weeks to Conquering Your Stress. Join us when Dr. Richard Blonna, a certified Health Education Specialist and tenured full professor at William Paterson University, conducts a workshop which could make a huge difference in the way you live the rest of your life.

Much of the scientific community has come to believe that "runaway" stress can affect and cause damage to almost every part of the body. Dr. Blonna, while primarily a university professor, has tailored his program "Seven Steps to Conquering Your Stress" for use with adults in a non-college setting.

The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please call or stop by the Adult Information Desk to sign up. 908-369-2200 ext. 13.

Date and Time: Tuesday, December 5, 2006, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.

Place: Hillsborough Public Library, Main Program Room.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Cancelled! Managing Food Allergies, Tuesday, November 28

We are sorry, but this program has been cancelled due to insufficient sign-ups. The Library is hoping to try the program again later.

The Hillsborough Public Library presents Managing Food Allergies. Join us when Daryl Minch, of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, returns to conduct a workshop designed to help parents, caregivers, and teachers keep food allergic children safe.

Food allergies can be life threatening AND they appear to be on the rise! Our speaker will review label reading, strategies for food selection, the issue of giving allergic children more responsibility, and working with others to ensure safety.

The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please call or stop by the Adult Information Desk to sign up. 908-369-2200 ext. 13.

Date and Time: Tuesday, November 28, 2006, from 7:00 to 8:45 PM.

Place: Hillsborough Public Library, Main Program Room.

Princeton Review Strategy Session, Tuesday, November 14

The Hillsborough Public Library presents a Princeton Review Strategy Session for Parents and Students. Strategy Sessions are free sample Princeton Review Lessons for both parents and students. Providing you with an introduction to the PSAT/SAT/ACT and their innovative test-taking techniques, this is a great opportunity for parents to get a better understanding of what the college admissions process is all about, and how they can help their child better prepare for the most important test of their academic career.

Join their free Strategy Session and let the Princeton Review answer any questions you may have about financial aid and test-taking techniques.

The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please call or stop by the Adult Information Desk to sign up. 908-369-2200 ext. 13.

Date and Time: Tuesday, November 14, 2006, from 7:30 to 8:45 PM.

Place: Hillsborough Public Library, Main Program Room.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Lenape-Delaware Indian Heritage Program, Saturday, November 11

The Hillsborough Library presents a Family Fun Progam for adults and children 8 years and older: Lenape-Delaware Indian Heritage. This presentation covers the region's 12,000 years of Native American history with a focus on the formation of the Lenape culture, including later European contact and native displacement. Included in the program will be a slide presentation, stories, and many touchable objects such as authentic clothing, tools, musical instruments, artwork, masks and games.


The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please call or stop by the Adult Information Desk to sign up. 908-369-2200 ext. 13.


Date and Time: Saturday, November 11, 2006, at 2:00pm. It is expected to run until about 3:30-3:45pm.


Place: Hillsborough Public Library, Main Program Room.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

William Styron, Pulitzer Prize Winner, 1925-2006

Noted author William Styron died this week at the age of 81. He was best known for the novels Sophie's Choice and The Confessions of Nat Turner.

The Confessions of Nat Turner, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1968, was his most controversial work. It was an imaginative retelling of the story of Nat Turner, and educated slave who led a rebellion in 1831. As a white man, he was both widely critized and praised for his portrayals. A book of criticism, William Styron's Nat Turner, Ten Black Writers Respond, was published in response to his novel.

His other most famous novel was Sophie's Choice, about an Auschwitz survivor who has settled in America after the war. He won the National Book Award in 1980 for this novel, and it was also made into a film starring Meryl Streep.

For those who would like to more about Styron himself, he was the subject of a biography, William Styron: A Life, by James West. Styron also wrote a memoir dealing with his serious bouts with his depression, Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness.

The Somerset County Library System has a wide range of his books, as well as his biography and criticism.