Be Immersed in Ancient Tradition: Tea Ceremony at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

LACEY TOWNSHIP – Simple in practice yet powerful in symbolism, the tea ceremony has been a staple of Japanese culture for nearly 500 years. Teens and adults are invited to experience physical and spiritual refreshment during “An Introduction to the Japanese Tea Ceremony” at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch, 2 PM Thursday, July 18.

Dr. Drew Sodo Hanson of the Boukakuan Japanese Tea House, Columbus, will be your guide through the ritual that provides a social setting for Zen Buddhism principles. Dr. Hanson is a licensed teacher of the Urasenke Tradition of Japanese Tea.

The brew is offered and accepted with purity of spirit that practitioners extend to everyday life. At the conclusion, four attendees will be invited to take part in an actual tea ceremony. Audience members will be offered tea and traditional confections. Please note that some foods might contain allergens.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLaceyTea for this free program, made possible by a grant from the Ocean County Library Foundation.

The Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to fund raising and grant writing in support of Library programs and services not covered by tax dollars or budget. To learn more or to donate, please visit https://tinyurl.com/OCLFoundation.

For more information, stop by the OCL Lacey Branch, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, call (609) 693-8566, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Time-Travel the LBI Beach with Bob Kugel at the Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch

SURF CITY – Remember pinning on your first beach badge for all-day access to surf and sand on LBI? Bob Kugel, author of the Benjamin Franklin Book Award-winning 55 Years of Long Beach Island Beach Badges 1967-2022, has a passion for them. Join him for a look at their fascinating past and share your memories at the Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch, 2 PM Wednesday, July 17.

LBI beach badges have captured happy, sandy recollections of vacations, first loves, summer jobs, and family events for more than a half-century. Bob’s extensive LBI badge collection, gathered during his many years on the Island, can be viewed in the Branch’s lobby display case throughout July.

The colorful, photo-filled 55 Years published by West Creek-based Down The Shore Publishing in 2023 depicts the evolution of beach badges in LBI’s six communities with histories, fun facts and a sampling of daily, weekly, senior, holiday and specialty issues. Copies are available throughout the OCL system and all of the Long Beach Island Library’s copies are signed. Bob chronicles daily LBI life on Facebook.
 
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLbiBadges for this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Long Beach Island Branch, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City, call (609) 494-2480 or visit https://theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Support Children & Teens in Need through Sparks B.F.F Reading Club Summer Toiletries Drive

TOMS RIVER – During the month of July, the Ocean County Library seeks your donations of new, packaged toiletries and personal care items for children and teens in need. The Sparks B.F.F. Reading Club Summer Toiletries Drive will be centered in six OCL branches:

• Toms River Branch – 101 Washington Street, (732) 349-6200
• Brick Branch – 301 Chambers Bridge Road, (732) 477-4513
• Long Beach Island Branch – 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City, (609) 494-2480
• Point Pleasant Beach Branch – 710 McLean Avenue, (732) 892-4575
• Point Pleasant Borough Branch – 834 Beaver Dam Road, (732) 295-1555
• Upper Shores Branch – 112 Jersey City Avenue, Lavallette, (732) 793-3996

The most-needed items include hair combs, hair brushes, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, insect repellent, sunglasses, sunscreen, reusable water bottles, flip-flop sandals, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Please donate only new, packaged items. No donation is too small, and each will let young people in need know that someone cares.

For more information, stop by any participating OCL Branch, call (732) 349-6200 or visit https://theoceancountylibrary.org.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Pig Prose & Praise: Mercy Watson’s Kate DiCamillo in Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk

TOMS RIVER – If you want to know about a lovable pig named Mercy Watson, ask practically any juvenile reader. If you want to know how the character became a kids’ icon, ask creator Kate DiCamillo during her Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk, 2 PM Tuesday, July 9.

The chat will coincide with the finale of the award-winning Mercy Watson early chapter book series about an adventurous pig with loving owners. Mercy lands in hilarious mischief but Mr. and Mrs. Watson always see the good in her, a marvelous metaphor for parent-child relationships.

Kate will discuss her creation of likeable, identifiable characters and situations in the series and its sequel, Tales from Deckawoo Drive. She is also the author of the Bink & Gollie and Orris and Timble books, available in print, audiobook and eBook versions at the Ocean County Library.

Kate’s children’s tales garnered the American Library Association’s Newbery Medal and Newbery Award, the Theodore Geisel Medal, and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award and have been adapted into movies and an opera. The Library of Congress appointed Kate a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita.

Please register at https://libraryc.org/theoceancountylibrary to attend this free program, to view the upcoming schedule, and to view previous talks. Registrants will receive links to the program by email and may submit questions for the author when signing up.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Ocean County Library Announces Independence Day Closure

TOMS RIVER – All branches and reading centers of the Ocean County Library will be closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

Library patrons are welcome to use OCL’s online resources, databases, eMagazines, eBooks, video and audio streams and digital classes at www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Develop Daily Healthful Habits at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

LACEY TOWNSHIP –  Looking for ways to improve your physical well-being, but not sure how to start? Take tips from the Ocean County Health Department during the “Physical Activity” program at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch, 2 PM Tuesday, July 16.

In this presentation for teens and adults, OCHD representatives will offer advice for activities that can be built into your daily routine. They’ll describe how a few simple practices can contribute to your overall health, stamina, alertness and happiness.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLaceyPhysical for this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Lacey Branch, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, call (609) 693-8566, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.