JACKSON — No, it’s not Halloween again, but there may be some ghosts lurking around the township in the very near future, especially at the library. The Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, will host “Mysteries of the Paranormal” on Feb 7 at 2 p.m.
L’Aura L. Hladik, founder and director of the New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society, and author of “Ghost Hunting: New Jersey,” will present the program, which deals with ghosts, Bigfoot, Ouija boards, séances, crop circles, spontaneous combustion and other related experiences.
Teenagers and adults can find out what is real and unreal in the world of the paranormal phenomenon.
“Hladik’s interest in the paranormal goes back to her own childhood experiences living in a haunted house,” said Freda Lehman, the library’s young adult librarian. “She has traveled to famous haunted sites such as the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana and Beardsley Castle in New York.”
Hladik has explored New Orleans; Bachelor’s Grove and Resurrection Cemetery in Chicago; and sites in Savannah, Ga., Lehman said. The Feb. 7 program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, call 732-928-4400 or stop at the main desk at the Jackson library.
Other programs of interest at the Jackson library during February will include a discussion about the book “House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. On Feb. 10 there will be a discussion of “Lighthousekeeping” by Jeanette Winterson.
On Feb 4 at 7 p.m. the Teen Advisory Board, composed of teenagers in grades seven through 12, will meet at 7 p.m. The program aims to have young people participate in community service by planning library programs for teens. New members are always welcome at the Teen Advisory Board, and refreshments will be served.
“Drop In and Game,” a program for high school students, will feature open video gaming with the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation2.
For adults who want to get a jump on their 2008 taxes, there will be AARP tax assistance. Free tax assistance will be provided by members of AARP every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon starting Feb. 11 and continuing through April 15. There are no age requirements for this program and no appointments are necessary.
For residents who are concerned about identity theft, there will be identity theft programs held on Feb. 13, 20 and 27, with each program beginning at 10 a.m. Learn about the problems caused by identity theft and effective measures to help safeguard one’s name.
For more information about any of the programs, call the library at 732-928-4400.