We have a full calendar of events planned at all library locations for this upcoming month, June 2026! Click here for our full calendar, which also includes young adult and children’s programs.

Ageless Grace – Tuesday, 6/16 at 1:30pm. Franklin Park Branch.

Men and women are joining in the fun of this evidence-based seated exercise, using the cutting edge science of neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to change. Every class is different and uses imagination/creativity, memory/recall, kinesthetic learning, analytical thinking, and strategic planning. Click here to register.

Artists’ Eyes on the American Revolution – Tuesday, 6/16 at 6:30pm. Virtual Event.

Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) produced more than 1,000 portraits in his lifetime as he worked in eight cities: Newport, Rhode Island; Edinburgh; London; Dublin; New York; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and Boston. Renowned for the accuracy of his likenesses, Stuart painted the most important Americans of his time, including presidents. His portrait of George Washington is on the one-dollar bill. Stuart could be a charming conversationalist, drawing out his sitters’ personalities (though not every story he told was true). Works of art from East Coast institutions will be highlighted in the talk. Click here to register.

Presented by art historian Michael Norris. Mike got his BA in classics from the University of California at San Diego and his MA in classics and Ph.D. in art history at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He spent twenty years at the Cloisters Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and has lectured on trips all over the world. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey. 

Part of our American Revolution Art History Lecture Series; click here to learn about and register for our section lecture in July.

The Cranberry Lacemakers of Central New Jersey – Saturday, 6/20 from 10:30am to 4:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.

Experience the dynamic, centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making.

Join the Cranberry Lacemakers to experience and learn the fun, dynamic centuries-old technique of bobbin lace making. The group is actively seeking new members who would like to learn and preserve this craft. Email Celeste for more information about the group or if you would like to try a pattern.

No registration required, walk-ins welcome!

The Franklin Park Tragedy: A Forgotten Story – Monday, 6/22 at 6:30pm. Franklin Park Branch.

“The Franklin Park Tragedy, A Forgotten Story of Racial Injustice in New Jersey” (The History Press) provides a detailed account of the Franklin Park Tragedy murders of March 1, 1894, when Lucretia Baker and her daughter, Gertrude, were murdered in their home and her husband, Moore Baker, fought off the two African American attackers and killed them. The second part of the tragedy involves the group blame of the African American residents of the area and the expulsion of some of those residents by the Franklin Park vigilante society called the Mutual Endeavor Society. Lynchings, expulsions, and sundown town designations, which are normally associated with southern states during this era, are shown to have been contemplated by Franklin Park, New Jersey residents.

Author Brian Armstrong used surviving historical records, land records, and personal stories to demonstrate how the Great Migration of African American families from the South in the twentieth century, with the help of a new group of white farmers, changed the “sundown town” designation for the Franklin Park area. This community change began with the arrival of the Colemans and other families in the 1920s which was the beginning of the transformation of Franklin Park into the diverse place that it is today. Armstrong will also discuss prominent African American citizens of the Franklin Park area who worked on the farms and in some cases owned land during the 1800s, the role of the media in the racial issues of this era.

Click here to register.

Preventing Tick Borne Diseases – Tuesday, 6/23 from 11am to 12:30pm. DeMott Lane Branch.

Get information on tick borne diseases, how to prevent them, and how to identify common ticks from the Somerset County Department of Health.

Visit the Somerset County Department of Health website here.

Registration is appreciated but not required to attend!

Tap Away Stress – Wednesday 6/24 at 11am. DeMott Lane Branch.

How often do you find yourself thinking about how stressed out you are? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a simple technique to gain control over your emotions and lower stress? Well, there is! It’s called Emotional Freedom Techniques or “tapping.” More than 120 clinical studies have shown that tapping on certain pressure points on our upper body can reduce fear, worry, frustration, overwhelm and other emotions that tend to keep us stuck. It can even help reduce chronic pain.

Alicia Grey, a certified EFT practitioner, will offer a workshop to introduce you to this incredible self-help tool. 

Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome.

Book Bingo: Summer Reading Challenge Kickoff! Thursday, 6/25 at 6:30pm, Franklin Park Branch and Monday, 6/29 at 6:30pm, DeMott Lane Branch.

Get ready for Summer Reading! Play bingo where all the prizes are free books! No registration required.

For any questions about upcoming library events, please call the reference desk at 732-873-8700 opt. 3 or leave a comment below.

Thanks for reading,
George, FTPL