EDISON, NJ – Edison’s libraries are turning 90 and residents are invited to celebrate the milestone. The Edison Public Library will be hosting its 90th anniversary celebrations with three events, one at each of the Edison Public Library’s branches.
The celebrations will kick off on January 22 at the North Edison Branch from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. On January 23, there will be a celebration at the Clara Barton Branch from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Edison Main Branch will commemorate the anniversary on January 26 from 11a.m to 3 p.m.
The North Edison Branch and Clara Barton Branch celebrations will feature a guest speaker from the Edison- Metuchen Historical Society. Children will also have the opportunity to make crafts with origami animals and Pete the Cat bookmarks.
The library estimates that it receives over 400,000 visits every year. According to library officials, the yearly circulation of materials including books, dvds, magazines, and games is over 600,000. The new library director, Jane Jiang, recently expanded the hours of the Clara Barton Branch in order to increase access to local residents.
Caridad Pineiro, President of the Liberty States Fiction Writers Association said that “the Edison Public Library offers so much to our organization and to Edison residents. In the ninety years since the library system’s inception, much has changed in how libraries function, but the Edison libraries have kept pace by offering not only traditional print books, magazines, and periodicals, but also digital access and materials. In addition, in representation of the diverse community the library serves, residents of many different cultures can take advantage of equally diverse materials.”
The Main Branch celebration will include a proclamation by Mayor Lankey and a keynote address by Shariq Ahmad, who serves as Chief of Staff to New Jersey Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Middlesex). The Xiaofang Huangmei Arts Academy is presenting its Qipao Dance show, featuring “Flower women” and Tibet dancing. Walter Stochel of the Edison- Metuchen Historical Society will be presenting a brief history of Edison and the library. There will also be refreshments for patrons along with face painting and other activities for children.