A New Year, a New You, and a New Library!

announcements

Talk to a Social Work Intern

To further the library's goal of connecting our community with the resources you need, we offer the services of our Social Work intern (Master of Social Work student) who can assist you

There are no residency requirements to meet with the social work intern. All are welcome to drop in!

Visit our website to learn more and view available hours

Please note that the social work intern is not able to provide any clinical services (i.e. therapy). We are able to refer you to a social service agency that can provide clinical support.

This service is in partnership with the Rutgers University School of Social Work.

Muslim-American Heritage Celebration

Sunday, January 4 at 2:00pm

Friends Room

Celebrate Muslim American Heritage with us at the library with the Cultural Society of Bergen County! We'll be having plenty of activities that include henna, storytelling, crafts, and a showcase of Muslim culture. Light refreshments will also be served.

Holiday Closures

The library will be closed to observe the following holidays:

Thursday, January 1: New Year's Day

Monday, January 19: MLK Day

Regular operating hours will resume after the holiday.

Penguin Encounter: Meet Live Penguins (For Families)

Thursday, January 15 at 6:00pm

Friends Room

Education specialists from Jenkinson’s Aquarium will teach you and your family all about penguins in this interactive program. Learn fun facts and meet the penguins yourself (from a safe distance of course)!

Click here to register

for adults

Chair Meditation and Yoga

Mondays (January 5, 12, 26) at 6:00pm

Friends Room

Join a certified yoga instructor for a session of chair yoga and meditation. Please wear comfortable clothes. This program is part of the Mayor's Wellness Program.

Spots are limited. Please register on our online calendar below.

Click here to register

Mahjong Classes

Every other Tuesday (January 6 - March 31) at 6:00pm

Young Adult Room

Come learn the American version of this ancient Chinese game in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. An instructor will teach you all you need to know to play this challenging and exciting game, so while some experience is preferred, all enthusiasts are welcome to join!

Mahjong sets will be provided; please bring your own cards.

Project Healthy Bones

Wednesdays (January 7 - June 17) at 11:00am

Friends Room Room

Project Healthy Bones is a 24-week exercise and education program for older women and men at risk for, or who have, osteoporosis. The program includes exercises that target the body’s larger muscle groups to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. The 24-week curriculum also features sessions on the importance of exercise, nutrition, safety, and drug therapy. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring water.

You must sign the participant waiver and medical approval forms provided upon registration before the start of the program. You may also find a brochure for more information upon registration.

Click here to register

Adult Dungeons and Dragons

Wednesday, January 14 at 6:30pm

Friends Room

Join us for weekly Dungeons & Dragons games led by our Dungeon Master, Dan C. Whether you're experienced or new to the game, come enjoy this fun and creative adventure.

Open to adults. Registration required. Spectators welcome.

Click here to register

Afternoon Book Club

Monday, January 12 at 1:30pm

Friends Room

Want to chat about books on a Monday afternoon? Flip through those pages and head over to our monthly Afternoon Book Club! This month's book: My Friends by Fredrik Backman.

Copies of the book will be available at the Reference Desk.

Wednesday Afternoon Movies

Wednesdays at 1:00pm

Friends Room

Fancy a break in the middle of the week? Come to the library to watch a movie with us! For a full list of this month's showings, pick up a flyer at the library.

Virtual Author Book Talks

Enjoy a range of talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders from the comfort of your own home with these Virtual Author Book Talks. Register to these talks and get a chance to ask questions live; you can also view archived sessions from previous speakers

Click here to view upcoming speakers and register

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. This service is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Bergenfield Library.

Questions or concerns can be directed to mpavithran@bergenfieldlibrary.org

general services

Passport Services

Schedule an appointment at the Bergenfield Public Library to process your U.S. DS-11 applications!

We can even provide passport photos for just $15.00 per set of two photos. (Photo-only appointments can also be made.)

Schedule your appointment by clicking the button below.

Find more information and schedule an appointment

If you are fifteen minutes late to your appointment, it will be automatically cancelled. If you fail to bring the required paperwork, identification or payment to your appointment, library staff reserve the right to cancel the appointment and you will need to reschedule for a new date/time.

Notary Services

The Library is happy to provide Notary Service to our patrons for $2.50 per page.

Notary Service is available by appointment on weekdays up to 7:30 p.m. depending on staffing. Notary Services are not available in the fifteen (15) minutes prior to the time of closing.

All Notary Services must be scheduled via appointment. We will not take walk-ins. We cannot guarantee same day appointments. Please schedule your appointment by clicking the button above.

Find more information and schedule an appointment

Do NOT sign your document before your appointment. You must sign in the presence of the Notary Public.

for kids

Registration is now solely on our online calendar. Program registration opens four weeks before the program start date. Please review the REGISTRATION RULES on our website.

By signing up for these programs, you state that you have read and understood the registration rules outlined and agree to follow them. Click here to go to our online calendar and register for programs.

Make a Snowfriend Sock Craft (Grades K - 5)

Monday, January 5 at 3:45pm

Children's Activity Room

Create your own snowfriend that we promise won't melt on your table.

Jam with Miss Taj (Ages 0 - 4)

Mondays (January 5 & 12) at 10:30am

Children's Activity Room

Miss Taj will lead little ones on a sing-a-long of popular songs and instrument playing.

Bilingual Storytime (Ages 3 - 5)

Tuesdays (January 6 - 27) at 6:00pm

Children's Activity Room

Join Ms. Celia for a fun and educational experience at our Bilingual Storytime. Enjoy stories in Spanish and English featuring picture books, songs, and interactive activities.

Acompáñen a Ms. Celia para una experiencia divertida y educativa en nuestra Hora del Cuentos Bilingües. Disfruten de cuentos en español e inglés con libros ilustrados, canciones y actividades interactivas.

Peek-a-Book Storytime (Ages 0 - 4)

Wednesdays (January 7 - 28) at 10:30am

Children's Activity Room

Enjoy an interactive storytime with your child that includes books, songs, dance, and some free play!

Books & Bricks (Grades K - 3)

Wednesdays (January 7 - 28) at 3:45pm

Children's Activity Room

We will listen to a picture book story and then build things with Legos from the story. A different story is read each week. We provide Legos.

Penguin Story & Craft (Ages 3 - 5)

Monday, January 12 at 3:45pm

Children's Activity Room

Hear a penguin book and make a penguin craft (Paint will be used for this craft so please plan accordingly.)

Decorate a Rubber Penguin (Grades 3 - 5)

Thursday, January 15 at 3:45pm

Children's Activity Room

Decorate your very own rubber penguin.

Penguin Encounter: Meet Live Penguins (For Families)

Thursday, January 15 at 6:00pm

Friends Room

Dr Martin Luther King Story & Art Collage (Grades 3 - 5)

Friday, January 16 at 3:45pm

Children's Activity Room

Let’s listen to a story about Dr King and his important message. Then we will make a paper art collage you can keep.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Storytime (Grades K - 2)

Thursday, January 22 at 3:45pm

Children's Activity Room

Come listen to Laura Numeroff’s famous book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie! The storytime will include a fun craft and a cookie snack.

Help Build Our Forest (Ages 4 - Grade 2)

Throughout January

Children's Room

We will give you a cup of items to help build our winter forest landscape. One time participation only.

Open Playtime (Ages 1 - 4)

Monday, January 26 at 10:30am

Children's Activity Room

A great way for babies and toddlers to learn social skills, play with others and use their imaginations as they play with our select toys.

Questions or concerns can be directed to the Children's Desk at 201 - 387 - 4040 x3

for teens

Registration is now solely on our online calendar. Please review the REGISTRATION RULES on our website.

Junior Library Council (Grades 8 - 12)

Monday, January 26 at 6:00pm

Google Meet

The Junior Library Council is a service based teen volunteer group. Council Members are required to attend monthly mandatory meetings and to complete various activities in order to earn volunteer hours and a certificate. Activities span across different areas so that members have opportunities to engage with the library and broader community.

Open enrollment has ended. Enrolled members will be emailed a link to the Google Meet room.

Teen Zine Making (Grades 6 - 12)

Fridays (January 9 & 23) at 3:30pm

YA Activity Room

A zine (/ziːn/ ZEEN; short for magazine or fanzine) is a magazine that is a "noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter".

Learn about the history of this long-held practice and try out making one for yourself! High-brow, low-brow, artistic, comedic, or informative; a zine can be anything you want it to be. Not just for the artistically inclined, this workshop will introduce you to the world of zines and help you navigate their creation. Open to Bergenfield residents only.

Rubber Duck Cosplay Contest (Grades 6 - 12)

Tuesday, January 13 at 3:15pm

Friends Room

Teens will use their imagination to transform a rubber ducky into the ultimate cosplay. Ducks will be put on display and will be voted on. Winner will be announced Feb 13th and receive a small prize.

SAT & ACT Success Webinar (College-bound Students & Families)

Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30pm

Zoom Meeting

This comprehensive workshop will answer all of your questions about college entrance exams. Families will learn key differences between the SAT and ACT (especially with the new digital SAT format), the best time to start studying, keys to achieving one’s highest score, and how the SAT/ACT can impact merit aid and scholarships. This workshop also reviews the income, savings, and asset strategies to reduce costs.

Registration is required on our online calendar AND through the Zoom link provided.

I Spy Table (Grades 6 - 12)

Throughout January

YA Room

Find all the items on our I Spy table and get a small prize.

Exploring Artists (Grades 6 - 12)

Tuesday, January 6 at 3:15pm
Friends Room

Do you like art and want to learn more about different types of art and artist’s works? Each month we will explore a different artist and try to replicate some of their work.

Questions or concerns can be directed to the Children's Desk at 201 - 387 - 4040 x3

news from the friends

The Friends are on Facebook!

The Friends of the Library now have their own Facebook page! Leave a like and stay up to date on all the latest news from the Friends.

Friends' Facebook Page

Ongoing Book Sale

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy fantastic books and media at the Friends of the Library’s Ongoing Book Sale — and that’s kind of the same thing.

Find the finest collection of gently-used items for sale in the library. Purchases are cash or check only. Make sure you bring a tote bag!

Click here for prices

Donations

Donations are back! The library is now accepting small donations (approximately 10 items) of new or like-new materials (no older than 10 years) per person per week.

Click here for a list of acceptable donations

We request that you bring in donations during normal hours of operation and not leave boxes outside or place items in the book drop.

If you want to donate: ask for Dan at the Circulation Service Desk or email dchoquette@bergenfieldlibrary.org