The Berkeley Branch of the Ocean County Library maintains a 45,000-volume library of books, encyclopedias and other reference materials, and subscriptions to over 100 magazines and newspapers. There are more than 1,400 feature films on video and DVD, a large and varied collection of compact discs for all ages and musical tastes, and hundreds of books in large print and on tape and compact disc. The Berkeley Branch has a growing and varied collection of Spanish language materials, including fiction, mysteries, biographies, and educational language resources. Seven Internet and two word processing computers are available for use by the public.

Youth Services

Our Youth Services Librarians promote and nurture a love of reading with story times and craft for pre-school children, lap-sit story times, and book discussions.
Music also sparks the imagination, and, thanks to the Friends of the Berkeley Library, we are able to offer exciting and educational musical programs for children. “Kids at Heart,” for children ages 1-6, is an interactive parent/child participation program with rhythm instruments. Yosi, a very popular sing-along artist, performs here to crowds of enthusiastic fans from 2-7 years old.
The Berkeley Branch was the first library in New Jersey to host Family Place, a program for children age 12 to 42 months and their parents. One day a week for 5 weeks, parent and child enjoy free playtime, craft and circle time. Library resources are readily available to answer parenting questions, and each week a different expert in child development, nutrition, speech, and other areas circulates among the families to discuss questions and problems. Please contact the Berkeley Branch for more information.
We have many other popular family programs, including the Friends’ Fun Fair, and live animals such as the Seeing Eye Puppies, and Snakes ‘n Scales. These programs draw hundreds of families to the Berkeley Branch on a weekly basis, making it a focal point of the community. Look for our Renaissance Fair in the summer of 2005. There will be games, activities and demonstrations, sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Library.

Teen Services

Our teen customers are very important to us, and we look for many ways to serve them and include them in volunteer activities in the library. Teens at the branch have recently started a Fantasy Book Discussion group and a Teen Advisory Board to which all teens in grades 7-12 are welcome! Please call the branch for dates and times.
The Berkeley Branch’s collection includes a wide selection of young adult fiction, including mysteries, romance, science fiction and fantasy, horror and suspense, and manga and graphic novels. Our Information Services are always ready to help find the materials necessary for completing homework assignments and for researching colleges and careers. Our S.A.I.L. (Student Achievement In the Library) program gives teens from the community opportunities to volunteer to help with summer reading programs, maintaining the library, and helping customers.

Adult Services

In addition to our circulating collection of books, CDs, DVDs, and videotapes, the Berkeley Branch also provides many reference services, Internet training, and programs of personal interest and improvement. Many resources, such as telephone books, Berkeley Township ordinances, state and federal tax forms, and environmental information are available in the Reference Department. Each month, free classes are scheduled for adults wishing to learn the basics of using the computer to navigate on the Internet. There are also free adult and family programs each month open to the public.
The Berkeley Branch now sponsors a monthly program, Berkeley Seniors Day @ the Library, that focuses on the interests and needs of our senior citizens. Programs on financial planning for seniors, elderlaw, Medicare fraud, Elderhostel, the Ocean County College Academy for Lifelong Learning, and services from the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, are free and open to all senior citizens.
New in 2005 are our series of family programs on healthy living, cooking, and other seasonal themes. Our first series, called Healthy Living, includes programs with a dietician, and experts in tai chi and self-acupressure.
Sponsored by St. Francis Community Center, two levels of English as a Second Language programs are hosted each week at the Berkeley Branch. Please call and ask to speak to a reference librarian for more information about this free program.
For information about dates and times of any of our programs, please consult the program calendars or call the Berkeley Branch.

Contributed by Linda Feaster
Berkeley Branch
Information Services and Young Adult Librarian