Photo by Neidy Gutierrez SOC Images.
What if there was a place to unwind and quietly get your work done? A place to find computers, written resources, information, but also a space for community events and connections? The answer is: it does exist, and it exists in your local library.
Slice of Culture will be exploring resources, events and more in different local library branches in the Hudson Book Briefs series. First up is Jersey City’s Miller Branch located on 489 Bergen Avenue. The library is home to the first computer room and Teen Center in Jersey City. Branch manager Reggie Blanding, 49, shared the resources that his library offers on a daily basis to the community.
Miller Branch offers multiple resources such as computers, printers, a 3D printer, books and entertainment. Digitally, the library offers access to resources like Kanopy to stream films and documentaries plus Hoopla for E-books and audio books.
Blanding explained how librarians have so much to offer to the community besides checking books in and out. He told Slice of Culture how the Miller Branch has partnered with the Jersey City mayor’s office to host informative sessions on topics including expungement, senior freeze, ANCHOR benefits, fixing your credit score and helping those in need of finding housing.
“Just a number of issues that librarians can help you with,” the branch manager added.
“… We want [to give] awareness of the services that we offer… we’re just happy to have people coming in, and we have all these great books here, so it’s great to… support in that way.”
The Bergen Avenue location also offers a place for kids to not only learn, but to have fun. As Blanding explained, the Miller Branch’s Teen Center is recognized as a trailblazer for being the first teen center in New Jersey, thanks to Renee Moody. The Teen Center has resources and experiences of their own including 3D printing, a music room, video games, board games, mangakas, comics and anime movie nights.
Flyers for Miller Branch’s upcoming events can be found in the entrance hall to the library and on the Jersey City Free Public Library website.
“We would have people coming in for various programs who would just say, ‘Oh, wow, I did not know [you did this!]’”
You can stay up to date on events at your local branch by looking at the Jersey City Free Public Library website or on their social media page.
“I’m constantly ordering new books for our children, our teens, our adults. We order these things because we are hopeful that people will come in and utilize them. Please log onto the website, check out all the digital resources that we offer. There may be some program that you wanna pay for coming up, and we might just have it at the touch of your fingers for free…,” Blanding said.
“We are happy to accept any donations because all these things will be utilized, especially in these times as we sort of adjust and adapt… but more important than anything, just come visit us, come say hello to our wonderful staff here. We are always happy to welcome you and assist in any way we can.”
