The Moorestown Library offers new and returning programs for residents of all ages this fall.
Representatives from Moorestown environmental groups, as well as the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Burlington County and Moorestown Garden Club, will host a Q&A panel on Sept. 7 at the Burlington County Agricultural Center’s Rustic Market Barn, an effort to provide information on the groups’ activities and how the community can get involved with them.
The “MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival” returns Sept. 27 through Oct. 1, after having been canceled the last two years due to COVID.
“It’s a worldwide contest where producers and directors of short films – say under 15 minutes – submit their entries to this contest, and then the top winners are selected and then distributed to venues around the world,” said Library Director Joan Serpico. “ … Libraries, movie theaters, all kinds of different places.”
“They show the movies within the same time period, and then the attendees watch the films and then vote on their favorite …” she added. “It’s very exciting (and) we are going to be one of those venues. We’re happy to be able to start that back up again.”
The library will also host hybrid concerts starting Sept. 17 through Dec. 17: “Cinderella (Cendrillon) with Concert Operetta Theater,” “Return of the Jazz Sanctuary” and “Holiday Gala from Around the World.” The Greater Pinelands Dulcimer Society Concert will be in person.
Another adult program, “Disabilities Then, Disabilities Now,” will be held in person and online on Nov. 2.
“It shows the progress that has been made in this country between the 18th century until now on addressing the needs of folks who are disabled in a number of different ways, and how far we’ve come,” Serpico explained. “The challenges that people had to face back in the day and are still facing, but what they were able to accomplish.”
Children’s programs will include the TrueFlix Fall Reading Challenge, 1,000 Books before Kindergarten, MooreKids Costume Swap and SAT/ACT Prep Classes.
“That is going to be for grades two through six, Oct. 1 through Nov. 30,” Serpico said of the reading challenge. “We have a collection of online, kids’ nonfiction books … The challenge is for kids in this age group to read 10 nonfiction books and then they receive a Barnes & Noble gift card.”
“ … The program is designed to encourage families to read 1,000 books before the child starts school,” she explained of 1,000 Books before Kindergarten. “ … We have a program where we ask families to keep track, and we make sure that they have lots of books to choose from.”
“The costume swap encourages families to bring old Halloween costumes they no longer need to the library, then return Oct. 22 to pick up a new one.”
On Nov. 5, the library will host a local author picnic on the lawn next to the recreation building. There will be adult readings, face painting, children’s story time and live music.
“ … We’re excited about that,” Serpico noted. “We know Moorestown has a lot of local authors and this is a nice way for them to meet each other … We think it’ll be a really fun day for families, too.”
“I love that the library really does have something for everyone.”
For more information on all programs, visit moorestownlibrary.org.
