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Volume 7, No. A - July-August 1993

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What’s ahead ^Within the next few months, our library, along with 32 public, school and college libraries in Middlesex County will be converting from an out­dated automated circulation system to a new, powerful online system (MIDAS) provided by CARL Systems, Inc.

CARL (Colorado Association of Research Libraries) a 10-year Denver-based firm, is currently being used in more than 300 libraries nation-wide. Our present online system interconnects 33 libraries in Middlesex County with each other using 200 terminals and allows each library to circulate items, control their collections, and locate items in other libraries for their patrons. The CARL system will do this and more.

"The new MIDAS (Middlesex Automated System) utilizing the software provided by CARL Systems will provide all the libraries with enhanced library services", according to James Kennedy, Executive Director of LMxAC. "It will give access to information wherever it is located, it will provide access to commercially available information databases and local information databases, can offer interconnection to national and international networks, and will allow access to 13,000 journal titles or 3 million articles. Most of this access can be made online by library patrons from their homes, businesses, or at libraries utilizing a CARL System feature called PAC (Public Access Catalog). MIDAS will provide the residents of Middlesex County and the State a convenient, state-of-the-art information and library service — a 'library without walls'". The conversion from the present computer system will require several months to complete. After that time, added features will be made available to the libraries and their patrons.

FRIENDSThe response to our Friends of the Library Opinion Survey was excellent. Our Executive Board will meet in August to discuss future projects. Please join our FRIENDS by completing an application form, available at the Circulation Desk.

UHTtf <*» The Metuchen-Edison Historical Society will arrange a display during July at the Main Library. The display will be based on the recollections of early township resident, Charles End, who was b o m in 1893. He lived most of his life on a farm on Talmadge Road where the present day Carter Drive is located.

On September 1, 1974, Mr. End at age eighty-one, began writing his recollections of life in Edison (Raritan). He titled this manuscript "The Log," and on page 46 writes: "At the outset, Idecided this would be a random series of observations, not necessarily in sequence...Actually I am writing as mood and recollections dictate. As a native b o m township resident and having passed by 80th milestone I can be allowed some sequential leeway. In any case who can dispute these sentences? I know of no residenter who is still around."

The display will include old photographs of the area of Edison west of Metuchen, a copy of an 1876 map of Raritan Township, and a copy of The Log.

Joyce Kilmer, author of the poem, Trees, and native of New Brunswick, will be remembered on the 75th anniversary of his death with a display at the Main Library during the month of August. Harvey Brudner, president of the Joyce Kilmer Centennial Commission, will arrange photo­graphs and text about the poet's life.

umm s"Successful Job Hunting" will be presented at the Main Library, 340 Plainfield Avenue, on July 20th, at 7 pm.Marketing yourself, generating job interviews, and preparing for the interview will be discussed. Participants are encouraged to bring their resumes with them.Monica Chenault-Kilgore, a human resources professional with the Chenault Group of Edison, will lead the program. Please call the library at 287-2298 to register for this free program.

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L i v i n g a n e t h i c a l l i fe ;Ethics may not be the subject on the tip of everyone's tongue today,

but plenty of people are thinking and writing about some of the problems

of living a good life. If you put only yourself first, it not only hurts

others, but in some way it also diminishes you. The ethical life demands

something else. These books, two of them brand-new, reflect a growing

interest in this subject.

Halberstam, Joshua, Everyday Ethics: Inspired Solutions to Real-LifeDilemmas. New York: Viking Books, 1993.

Halberstram encourages us to look at the small actions that make up the big picture of our character and values. This guide to the art of doing the right thing is the answer to that uneasy feeling that our lives are out of balance.

Lewis, Hunter. A Question of Values: Six Ways We Make the Personal Choices that Shape Our Lives. New York: Harper & Row, 1990.

Confronted with the diversity of American life and the apparent lack of any real agreement in our personal beliefs, how do we respond to everyday questions? Lewis shows us a way to clear our mental clutter and decide what our basic moral alternatives are.

Rusk, Tom., M.D. The Power of Ethical Persuasion: From Conflict to Partner­ship at Work and in Private Life. New York: Harper & Row, 1993.

Here's a life raft for readers who are tired of swimming with the sharks. Tom Rusk, psychiatrist and management consultant, offers a breakthrough method for getting to yes without drawing blood.

Martha Gartner, Reference Librarian

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Video Film

1992 GRAND CANYON Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, Mary McDonnell,134 min. Steve Martin, Mary-Louise Parker, Alfre Woodardcolor

Kline and Glover play two men from very different parts of Los Angeles. Their accidental meeting sets into motion a chain of events which will consume the lives of the men, their families, their friends and even some casual acquaintances.

1958 I WANT TO LIVE! Susan Hayward122 mins.b/w Barbara Grahamis no ordinary heroine — she's a fast living

party girl who suddenly finds herself framed for murder. Hayward won an Oscar for her performance in this film, which is far superior to the TV remake with Lindsay Wagner.

1992 MISSISSIPPI MASALA Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury117 min.color In this interracial story, Washington plays a Southern business­

man who falls in love with an immigrant whose Indian family was expelled from Uganda, under the reign of Idi Amin.

1989 THE MUSIC BOX Jessica Lange, Armin Mueller-Stahl126 min.color A successful Chicago attorney (Lange) agrees to defend her

immigrant father (Mueller-Stahl) against accusations of war crimes in Hungary. Director Costa-Gavras brings out frightening political overtones in this courtroom thriller.

1992 110 min. color

OSCAR'S GREATEST MOMENTS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences produced this compilation of highlights from Academy Awards presentations from 1971 - 1991. Academy President Karl Malden is the host.

Hannah Kerwin Reference Librarian

5 .Jp iipWe had a beautiful warm sunny day to march in the Memorial Day Parade. Everything went very well: our six-foot candles stayed anchored to the sides, our balloons didn't blow away, the banner looked great, and the girls dressed as birthday presents were adorable. As we who handed out goodies along the route we felt very much appreciated by the crowd.

We now go on to "phase two" of our twenty year anniversary celebration and take the bookmobile to town hall, where we'll have an open house and serve refreshments. This event will take place on August 27th, the date when the bookmobile service went on the road for the first time twenty years ago.

The booklet describing twenty years of service is completed, so anyone who hasn't received one, please call and ask us to send you one.

HOOKED ON PHONTCSHooked on Phonics will be coming to the

Edison Public LibraryChildren's Department sometime this fall. This learning package includes 8 audio cassettes, 5 reading books and 9 decks of flash cards to help your children learn. Hooked on Phonics helps teach children and adults how to read. Because all the lessons are set to music, learning to read becomes simple and fun. With this system your child can work alone at his/her own pace and review the lessons at any time.

This much requested program will be made available for circulation sometime in the fall and can also be reserved in the Childrens's Department. Use it to help your children with their reading and supplement it with the many good stories you will find in other books in

READ TO THE BEAT SUMMER READING TT ITR

Join our Summer Reading Club between June 21st and Aug. 6th and have your children enjoy the numerous books we have to offer. They can earn special prizes for their efforts and a chance to attend our end of the summer celebration featuring Guitar Bob and be called up on stage by name to receive a special award for com­pleting their reading club card. The club is open to children preschool through grade 5.

the library.

Jane Jennings Bookmobile Coordinator

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She lies between two oceans;She boasts of mountains high.Rich woodlands dot her landscape While rivers flow nearby.She offers grassy prairies With gently rolling hills;There’s fertile soil for fanning And busy textile mills.Her people have a birthright That not all lands can boast...Yes, freedom is her motto;It’s heard from coast to coast.Though men fought hard to gain her,This country that we love,She’s been from the beginning A gift from God above.Her red-striped flag waves proudly With one star for each state;Liberty and compassion Are what have made her great.Let’s never take for granted This land that is so blest;May each of us pray for her And give to her our best.

Marie A. Florian

SUMMER HOURS$

MAIN LIBRARY 287-2298 (JUNE 21 thru SEPTEMBER 6)

NORTH EDISON548-3045 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

ADULT & CHILDREN

9 AM to 9 PM9 AM to 9 PM9 AM to 9 PM9 AM to 5 PM9 AM to 5 PMCLOSED

340 PLAINFIELD AVE.

777 GROVE AVE.

CLARA BARTON 738-009 MONDAY ...TUESDAYWEDNESDAY ...THURSDAY ...FRIDAY ...SATURDAY ...LEGAL HOLIDAYS:

141 HOOVER AVE.... 12 PM to 5 PM & 7 PM to 9 PM.... 10 AM to 5 PM.... 12 PM to 5 PM & 7 PM to 9 PM.... 10 AM to 5 PM.... 10 AM to 5 PM.... CLOSEDEVENINGS children should be with an adult.