By Allen McGinley National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable roles libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. “Libraries connect our communities and enrich our lives in ways we may not realize,” says Meg Medina, National Library Week Honorary Chair. “And one of my greatest pleasures is discovering the unexpected and beautiful things libraries offer.” And our library in Westfield is no exception, serving as the community’s primary destination for early childhood literacy, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. In...

By Roz Giuditta, Marketing and Outreach Manager NJ Makers Day is a statewide event that celebrates and promotes making things, along with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-based (STEM) learning. On Saturday, March 16, the Westfield Memorial Library will celebrate Makers Day with interactive workshops, drop-in demonstrations and open exploration. This all-ages event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Makers Day will be more exciting than ever as the library was awarded a grant from the New Jersey Stem Pathways Network. One of the Network’s goals is to define and guide a statewide...

BY ROZ GIUDITTA, MARKETING AND OUTREACH MANAGER February is Black History Month, and the Westfield Memorial Library and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield invite you to celebrate! Panel discussions, art exhibits, and music – all honoring the generations of African Americans who struggled to achieve full citizenship in American society.   Black History Month Events at the Library   Saturday, February 3 at 1:00pm Opening Reception. Refreshments will be served.   Saturday, February 3 at 2:00pm Our Westfield: The Black Experience A panel of Westfield elders...

By Roz Giuditta, Marketing and Outreach Manager January has always been known as a time of new beginnings, but it’s also a month that celebrates other important events and anniversaries. For example, January is International Creativity Month, established to remind individuals and organizations around the globe to capitalize on the power of creativity and innovation, now so vital for personal and business success in a time of constant change. A search of the library catalog, simply using the word “creativity,” yields hundreds of titles in book, ebook and even audiobook format. And if you’re looking...

As we near the end of 2023, the Westfield Memorial Library has much to be proud of. We’re on track to see nearly 300,000 books, eBooks, and other library materials borrowed by the close of the year, reflecting an increase of 23% over 2022. Additional projections for 2023 include nearly 20,000 attendees at library programs and literacy events (+138%), 40,000 public Wi-Fi sessions (+44%), and 86,000 library visitors (+36%). While these numbers help to document the library’s impressive usage, they hardly capture the impact that the library has had on the Westfield community. They don’t adequately...

November is a month that honors the awareness of many health issues such as COPD, Lung Cancer, Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease, just to name a few, as well as individual days that highlight Pneumonia, Diabetes, the Great American Smokeout and International Survivors of Suicide Loss. Considering that the month heralds the beginning of the holidays — which are intended to be joyous, but can be filled with stress, disappointment, excessive eating, drinking and spending — it’s an excellent time to keep your health at the forefront. We have a variety of new books and kits to help you improve your...

Depressive disorder, often referred to as depression, is a common mental health disorder that involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities over long periods of time. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects approximately 280 million people throughout the world. Depression can wear you out at the exact time you need all your strength to fight. Trying to cope is extremely tiring — and it’s often difficult to know when others are suffering. That’s why, during October, we observe National Depression Education & Awareness Month. Acknowledging and...