LIBRARY

Phone Service: Reserve or renew up to three items by reading the bar code number on your library card or in the particular book, have short answer reference questions answered, get information about programs and services, locate needed books, media, and other titles if owned by BCCLS library.

Online Service: If you have access to the Internet, you can search the BCCLS library catalog at www.bccls.org. With a PIN number, which you can obtain at the Library, you can also check the status of your account and search the online magazine index.

Reciprocal Borrowing Privileges: Your Teaneck library card is valid at 73 other public libraries in Bergen County and North Jersey. The libraries are linked by a daily delivery service which permits you to have materials sent to Teaneck and to return materials from other libraries to Teaneck. Your Teaneck library card gives you access to nearly 6 million items across Bergen County and at eight other community libraries.

Inter-Library Loans: The Library has the ability to bring needed books and periodical articles to Teaneck for you from libraries around the country. Details at the Reference Desk-allow 5 to 20 days for materials to arrive.

Library Card: You are entitled to a library card if you live in Teaneck. Present either a NJ driver's license with your Teaneck address or a Bergen County ID card at the Library's front desk. Children can get a card by having their parent with them or by showing a Teaneck school report card. Your library card must be presented each time you wish to borrow materials.

Miscellaneous Services:

• COPIERS - The Library has two (2) photocopy machines - $.10 per page.
• COMPUTERS - The fee is $.50 per hour. Software available includes Microsoft Office and Corel Wordperfect Suite
• INTERNET ACCESS - The Library offers Internet access via a T-1Iine. Full details at the Reference Desk.

Programs: ALL FREE! Friends Film Series: Foreign films shown every other Wednesday evening. Concerts - from September-May: Once a month on Sunday afternoons, free, generally classical music. Friday Morning Group - every Friday from September - June: Primary audience is seniors although all are welcome - lectures, slide shows, group discussions.

Reference Service: The Library fields queries from people of all ages, education levels, etc. We find addresses of companies, evaluations of cars and consumer goods, criticism of authors, a doctor's credentials, material for preparing a resume, and facts and figures for the range of human knowledge. The Library stocks current editions of many standard reference works and uses the services of the Internet and the New Jersey Regional Network to find materials which answer a patron's questions. Reference service is available in person or over the phone except on Sunday when the level of in-house use does not permit phone service.

English as a Second Language: The Library attempts to link people needing instruction in the use of the English language with volunteer tutors for one on one training. Contact Carol Anderson or Toby Weiss.

Service to Shut-ins: The Library provides the delivery and return of reading materials for those who are unable to visit the Library in person. Contact Carol Anderson.

Children's Department: A variety of book-related programs and activities are planned throughout the year for children from preschool through eighth grade. Visits by school classes, day care centers, and other groups are welcomed. Arrangements should be made in advance by phone or in person, so that a program may be designed to meet the special needs of the group. All programs are free.

2002 was highlighted by the completion of a number of renovation projects throughout the Library. New night return chutes permit the return of both books and audiovisual materials 24/7. The ability to return CDs, DVDS, and videos round the clock is very popular with the public. Teaneck is one of the few libraries to permit this in all of Bergen County. A new story time room on the main floor was created to complement other changes in the Children's Department. The public restrooms were completely updated with all new facilities. Replacement windows were installed on three sides of the building for greater energy efficiency.

The staff lounge and rest room were also re-done. All of these projects, as well as items completed in 2001, maximize the space available while greatly increasing user comfort. All told, less than $450,000 was spent on the renovations and the Library only closed two days during the two years of work.

Usage of the Library boomed during 2002. 485,000 items were loaned to the public which is 38,000 more than in 2001. Teaneck remains the busiest library in the 73 member Bergen County Cooperative Library System. This is true despite having the most liberal lending policies of all the libraries. For instance, videos and DVDs at Teaneck are loaned for two weeks while many of the neighboring libraries will only permit loan periods of 2, 3, or 7 days. The compact disc collection at Teaneck is among the largest and most highly used in all of New Jersey. The Library began spending more and more on DVDs vs. videocassettes as sales of these machines took over from VCRs. The Children's Department had a banner year as more space was made available for their collections. A new collection of graphic novels appealed to young adults. More paperback spinners were purchased to house the increasing number of popular series issued in this format. The holiday books were returned to the main floor so as to be available year-round. In the Adult Department books on compact discs were increasingly popular so more funds are being spent on this format as opposed to audio cassettes.

Teaneck Library is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. The cooperative welcomed the Millburn Public Library as a new member in 2002 while Bayonne Public Library decided to invest in a stand-alone system.

Programs were held for all ages year-round. For adults, classical music concerts were held on Sunday afternoons during the school year. In 2002, performances by Duo Cavatina, violinist Matthew Reichert, cellist Elizabeth Kalfayan, The Herrick Trio, The Fort Lee Sax Quartet, the All Seasons Chamber Players, and pianist Jacqueline Schiller with flutist Sarita Marie Melkon were highlights.

The Library's Friday Morning Group presented a wide variety of programs for the public's enjoyment in 2002, from lectures to musical programs, travel slide presentations to educational trips. Among the latter, outings were taken to the American Folk Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art as well as the New York Botanical Garden holiday train and building show. The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival performed "As of You Like It" for the group in July. All the programs are free and open to the public.

Highlights of the Children's Department 2002 programs included the "Super Sunday" events. Dale Friedman's Music, marionettes and more program was one such that drew over 100 people. Book clubs for mystery lovers and Newbery award winners had their regular fans. The summer reading club theme was "It's reading cats and dogs". After a pets on parade kickoff, the program attracted 915 kids to read over 12,000 books. At the conclusion of the program, Penny Rapicano held a "Fun on a String" program with marionettes. Fun things happen all the time in the Children's Department - check the Library web site to keep updated.

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