When will the library open?

We know you are all wondering when the library will be open again. All libraries in New Jersey are currently closed by Executive Order 107. Unfortunately, we don’t know when the restrictions on libraries will start to be lifted. We are following updates closely and will let you know when we have new information. We appreciate your understanding as we work to get the library opened in a way that is safe for both staff and customers.

On May 18, Governor Phil Murphy unveiled a multi-stage approach to execute the responsible and strategic economic restart to put New Jersey on the road back to recovery from COVID-19. The multi-stage blueprint, guided by the Governor's Restart and Recovery Commission and complementary Advisory Councils, plans for a methodical and strategic reopening of businesses and activities based on level of disease transmission risk and essential classification.

The blueprint mentions that libraries could be part of Stage 2 but no dates have been announced. The library is currently making plans and preparations for reopening in phases once the restrictions start to be lifted.

Our building may be closed, but our virtual resources are always open! Mount Laurel Library cardholders have access to music, movies, ebooks, online classes and much more! There are new services added and increased access to our most popular services.

Get a library card from home! Simply fill out the form on our home page to get started.

Have a question?
Reference staff are available to answer questions via email and chat:
Monday - Friday 10AM-7PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 12NOON-5PM

Circulation staff are available to help with account questions via email.

Check Out Our Virtual Events

Special Announcement! The library now has a Virtual Events page that collects our videos, articles, crafts, and activities all in one convenient place! Find it at: www.mountlaurellibrary.org/Virtual_Events

Irv on Film
Fridays
This weekly column by Irv Slifkin, host of the Foreign Film series and a teacher at Temple University, covers movies and entertainment with an emphasis on interesting recommendations. Find it on the Virtual Events page.

Paul On Poetry
Mondays, New!
Paul Howe writes about poems and poets, their significance, and includes links to videos of interesting readings. Find it on the Virtual Events page.

Arts…and Howe!
Fridays, New!
In this weekly column, Paul shares news about the arts, from music to painting, film to dance, and much more. Find it on the Virtual Events page.

Virtual Chair Yoga
Monday, June 8 12PM
Chair Yoga involves gentle yoga exercises that can be done while seated in or supported by a chair. This class will teach the basics guided breathing, simple physical stretches, and meditation. The yoga exercises are safe and accessible for all levels. This program will be conducted on Zoom. Registration required. You will receive a link to the meeting a day prior to the event.

Keep This, Toss That: A Virtual Decluttering Program
Wednesday, June 10 4PM
Too much clutter? Piles of paperwork? From your couch, connect with decluttering humorist and author Jamie Novak. During this interactive program, you'll get helpful hints and take action on organizing. Registration is required. A link to the Zoom webinar will be emailed to the day prior to the event.

Lecture: Women in New Jersey History
Tuesday, June 16 2PM
Lecturer Jim DelGiudice discusses the women in New Jersey history, the social context of their times, and their contributions to the state. This program will be conducted on Zoom. Registration required. You will receive a link to the meeting a day prior to the event.

Lecture: The American Postcard
Tuesday, June 23 2PM
Lecturer Jim DelGiudice discusses the humble postcard, America's first form of social media. This program will be conducted on Zoom. Registration required. You will receive a link to the meeting a day prior to the event.

Mindful Meditation
Thursday, June 11 12PM - register here
Thursday, June 25 12PM - register here
Join an experienced meditation instructor and achieve relaxation of your mind and body. This program will be conducted on Zoom. Registration required. You will receive a link to the meeting a day prior to the event.

Virtual Book Chat
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Tuesday, June 23 7:00pm
Registration required here, a Zoom link will be emailed to you a day before the event.

Please join us for a virtual book discussion via Zoom. We will be discussing My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, the first book in her popular and critically acclaimed Neapolitan series. The book is available digitally with your library card from Hoopla and Overdrive. You can look forward to engaging in a lively discussion, or just sit back and hear about a new book.

Adult Summer Reading Program

Join us for our annual Summer Reading Program on June 19th. Register at https://mountlaurel.readsquared.com/Register.aspx and log what books you read or listen to. For each book, you get a chance at the grand prize drawing: a Kindle Fire!

Kids Events

Just because the library is closed, doesn’t mean you have to miss all the fun!

It's Summer Reading Time!
On June 19th, get ready to Imagine Your Story as we kick off our annual Summer Reading Program! Register here to track reading, earn prizes, and more!

Facebook Storytime
Tuesdays,10:30am
Join Miss Lindsay for a pajama storytime on facebook filled with books, rhymes, and alphabet practice! Videos will be posted on our virtual events page too!

Virtual Read Alouds
Fridays, 10:00am
Join Miss Dawn for virtual Read Alouds! Check our virtual events page or follow us on facebook to view new Read Alouds as they're posted.

Saturday Together!
Saturdays, 2:30pm
Join us every Saturday on facebook for a special program for kids. Previous videos have included yoga, dancing, and crafts! Tune in to keep your mind and body active while we keep healthy at home! Videos will be posted on our virtual events page too!

Virtual Family Music Class
Sunday, June 7 3PM
Infants, toddlers, and preschool children- along with their parents or caregivers- join together as a musical community. Activities include listening to instruments, having fun with rhymes, and singing and dancing to music of different tones and modalities. Registration is required, and a link to the Zoom webinar will be emailed to you one hour prior to the program starting. Best suited for ages 6 months-6 years.

Virtual Mad Science
Saturday, June 13 2PM
Through a mixture of science & imagination the children will experience spider, witches, & floating cyclops eyeballs. As a grand finale the Mad Scientist will introduce the audience to the eerie world of Dry Ice, making bubbling potions & lots of fearsome fog. All ages. Registration is required, and a link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to you one hour prior to the program starting.

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Teen Events

Virtual Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
Tuesday, June 2 7PM
Our summer TAB meetings will be held in our Mount Laurel Library Teens Discord server. The June meeting will focus on brainstorming socially distant and virtual volunteer opportunities since our regular summer reading program will not need teen volunteers this summer.

Teen Virtual Anime Club-My Hero Academia
Tuesday, June 9 7PM
We will be streaming My Hero Academia for the first virtual anime club meeting. Join our teen discord server to join the stream: https://discord.gg/fFq6Fwg

Teen Virtual Game Night-Sribbl
Tuesday, June 16 7PM
Join us for a game of Skribbl, an online drawing and guessing game. We will meet in our Discord server to chat during the game, and registration is required to play. Please join Discord here: https://discord.gg/fFq6Fwg

Virtual Movie Matinee-Onward
Saturday, June 20 2PM
Join our Mount Laurel Library Teen Discord server for a Saturday Movie Matinee. Our June streaming will be Disney-Pixar's Onward. Our Discord invite is: https://discord.gg/fFq6Fwg

Virtual Teen Book Club-The Runaways
Tuesday, June 30 7PM
Find some time to curl up with a good book then join our Mount Laurel Teens Discord server for the discussion. For June, we're reading the graphic novel The Runaways, vol. 1: Pride and Joy. The book can be found digitally through Hoopla here: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12003686

Once you have your book, join us on Discord to chat and discuss the book: https://discord.gg/fFq6Fwg

CONGRATULATIONS LENAPE SENIORS!

June 16th, 2020 marks graduation day for Lenape High School. Let's Paint the Town Red in honor of the 2020 Lenape graduates! Celebrate with us by displaying red ribbons or balloons tied to your porch. Children could draw sidewalk chalk drawings or if you have a Lenape flag, fly it in honor of our Class of 2020. Keep an eye out for your neighbors receiving their diplomas and cheer them on from your porch! See more info here.

Friends Corner

As we sadly know the Library is still closed.

The Friends were to have an election for new board members at our June meeting. There will be no meeting and the present board members have agreed to stay on for another year.

The Friends donated $62,000 last year of which $25,000 was used to help support the library digital services, (Thank You, Thank You, Thank you one and all!) Please check the website for what digital services the Library has and how to access them.

We are sorry to say that we have canceled our July Book Sale due to the Library being closed and size restrictions on groups of people.

Remember the Library will not be accepting any donations of books or other items until further notice.

Kids Events

Just because the library is closed, doesn’t mean you have to miss all the fun!

Friends Corner

Don't forget our Pinterest page for fun craft and science ideas, plus book recommendations and more!