It’s a fount of programs, events, help — and cool air!
When weather bulletins started blaring about a week of super-hot temperatures, the Somerset County Library System was one of the first to send out an alert that the library was a free place to get cool while reading a book or magazine, enjoying programs or surfing the Internet.
We were reminded of some of the other services provided by the modern library, which has evolved into a multipurpose community resource center.
In Manville, they have live music concerts inside and out, depending on the season. A volunteer will teach you how to play chess. You can read a Polish language newspaper there. Craft classes for adults and children are featured year round. Book discussion and crocheting clubs operate out of there.
In Hillsborough, there seems to be an interesting speaker every week, from money management to lifestyle. There are Zumba classes and chances for speakers of languages other than English to practice their skills. It shows recent movies on a bigger screen than you might have at home, and it provides treats at times.
You can “borrow” electronic books, and DVDs and discs of music appeal to other cultural instincts.
The library wants to keep your kids active and engaged all year round. Programs insidiously teach kids things while they are having fun.
It offers songs and simple book readings for little kids, and older ones can get involved in some things called anime and manga. A library program organizes kids to help other kids with their homework. It seems to be a place where private tutors meet their students.
The starting point for even more is the home page of the library’s website, www.sclsnj.org.
Free downloadable music, through something called Freegal, is available to patrons. The library system has joined a network that offers access to more than three million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog. It offers access to more than 10,000 music labels from 65 different countries.
The library has an online chat service to allow patrons to ask librarians for informational help.
They’ll help you wend your way among their resources to assist you in finding job listings.
So much with a library card, although much requires pin numbers and a little dexterity on the computer. They’d probably show you how to manage that, too!
You can’t help but lose yourself in the library . . . and it’s indeed a place to beat the heat!

