The Westfield Memorial Library has good news for all gardeners and would-be gardeners. Through a partnership with the Town of Westfield Green Team and with generous funding from the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library, the library has created a Native Seed Library. The Native Seed Library features a collection of seeds that is open to all library users. One of the primary goals is to combat the expanding number of invasive plants in the ecosystem and to improve the overall health and biodiversity of local habitats by encouraging the growth of native plants. Native plants are especially...

The Westfield Memorial Library has partnered with PSE&G to upgrade the library’s heating, lighting and air conditioning systems through PSE&G’s Clean Energy Future – Energy Efficiency Program. The Westfield Memorial Library, located at 550 E. Broad Street, was built in 1988, and much of the infrastructure is original to the building. In 2020, the library solicited recommendations from engineering consultant Christopher P. Statile, P.A. who estimated the necessary HVAC improvements would cost approximately $1,300,000. This estimate included recommendations to replace the existing central...

Did you know that the month of March marks a month-long celebration of STEM in New Jersey? You’ve likely heard the term STEM before. But if not, STEM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. These four fields share an emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. For the past decade or so, there has been a concerted effort to promote STEM fields, as the number of jobs often outpace the number of individuals with adequate training. Examples of STEM disciplines include agriculture and environmental sciences, biology and biomedicine, computer and...

Every year, people across the globe make New Year’s resolutions in the hopes of building new and improved habits and creating meaningful change in their lives. One of the most popular resolutions is to read more. And a great way to keep yourself accountable to this resolution is by joining book discussion groups. The purpose of clubs in general is to bring people together to connect, learn, and discuss something that is important to its participants. Clubs help build community in a world where people often feel isolated and without true personal connections. And book discussion groups are no...

by Roz Giuditta, Publicist You may be aware that you can download eBooks and eAudiobooks from your library, but did you know that you also have access to millions of popular music titles? Freegal® Music Service gives you the world of music at your fingertips to download or stream. You have access to millions of songs from more than 40,000 music labels worldwide. The mobile app and website are easy to use and easy to download. The app is free, and if you are Westfield Memorial Library cardholder, you can download it for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire devices. Once you set up your own account,...

Established in 2010, the Westfield Memorial Library Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the financial support of the library. Generously supported by contributions from Westfield residents and businesses, and patrons from the surrounding area, it has funded many important projects over the years, such as new laptops, chairs for the public computer stations, and furniture in the Teen section of the library.  The newest President of the Foundation, which is staffed by volunteers, is John Davies. In describing his position, he said, “At the moment, my role mainly consists of re-invigorating...

On Saturday, November 5, all Westfield residents are invited to attend Darshana: A Glimpse into the Hindu Civilization. Hinduism is the world’s oldest living civilization. Bring your families out for this event, which begins with remarks by Mayor Shelley Brindle at 10:30am on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Light Indian snacks will be provided, and children are invited to participate in coloring and rangoli (a traditional art form) activities. You can expect to learn about Hindu culture, including traditions, festivals, symbols, and values. In addition, there will be presentations on yoga, life...