Hudson Reporter Archive

Library to showcase programs at Housing Authority

The North Bergen Free Public Library offers a little of everything, from books and DVDs to comic books. From Monday, Nov. 14 to Thursday, Nov. 17, the North Bergen library staff members will hold open house presentations at different public housing buildings to showcase all of the programs, items, and services available at the library for seniors.
All seminars begin at 10 a.m. On Monday, Nov.14 it will be in the Lawler building on 6121 Grand Avenue. On Tuesday, Nov. 15 it will be in the Renaissance building on 6201 Grand Avenue. For Wednesday, Nov. 16 the meeting takes place in the Culum Tower on 6299 Grand Avenue. For the last day, Thursday, Nov. 17 it takes place at the Terrace building on 6800 Columbia Avenue.
The library offers a free senior citizen loan delivery service. Seniors who live in participating building complexes can call the library and request books and other items. The books will be delivered directly to the main lobby of the building. The service is available for residents in North Bergen on 6201 Grand Ave., 6121 Grand Ave., 6299 Grand Avenue, 6800 Columbia Ave., and 6115 Granton Ave. In order to take advantage, participants must have a functioning North Bergen library card.
During the open house week at the different public housing buildings, the staff will also have arts and crafts for residents.
Library Director Sai Rao said, “We have so many services for seniors and they might not know. We have monthly movies, and we started arts and crafts.”
“It’s nice to come out to learn about these services, because even if seniors don’t use it, someone in the building could use them,” Rao said.

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“Senior services include bringing books or other items to their home.” — Library Director Sai Rao
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Staff members will also be teaching the seniors about computer programs that the library laptops and computers offer including Microsoft Office and software to search for books.
Library staff members also want residents to be aware of their programs like Zumba, English and Spanish classes, career services, and that home delivery is available for seniors or those homebound.
“Senior services include bringing books or other items to their home,” Rao said. “I’m sure we can coordinate any services to go to their home for a day.”
Bus transportation to the library is available for some programs.

Career services at the library

Over the summer the library was awarded a $92,405 state grant to build its career services programs and enhance residents’ chances of gaining employment, Rao said. The grant will help the unemployed or underemployed who are looking to improve their basic career skills.
The grant is from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The department helps find jobs for the disabled and helps people apply for workers’ compensation, temporary disability, and more.
Career programs will include guest speakers, job fairs, a Career Connections laptop station, mock interviews, and basic guidance in resume and cover-letter writing. The services are expected to be provided in both English and Spanish. Rao said a Career Connections laptop station will have software for mock interviews to build job seeking skills. The most recent job fair was Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Besides helping people with their job skills, the library will also provide basic job search help. The main library provides this every Monday to Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s available on the weekends also, on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The services are also at the Kennedy Branch on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call the library for more information, or to make a career services appointment, at (201) 869-4715.

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