OCL to host 2 programs about human trafficking during January

2 Human Trafficking Awareness programs to be presented at Ocean County Library

TOMS RIVER  -  Ocean County Library will present two programs about human trafficking in January and will discuss ways that individuals can halt its spread.

The Barnegat Light Area Branch of the American Association of University Women has chosen to campaign against and raise awareness about human trafficking by sponsoring these programs. 

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery whose victims include men, women and children of all ages and ethnicity.  It is also a first-degree crime with a penalty of 20 years to life in prison.

There are two types of human trafficking: labor trafficking where people are forced to work for no pay; and sex trafficking.

Because of its geographical location, New Jersey has the potential to be a major entry, transit and destination for human trafficking. And because of the Super Bowl in February, many law enforcement officials fear an increase in sex trafficking in New Jersey.

New Jersey has passed a stringent new law that will aid law enforcement in the apprehension and conviction of those persons caught engaging in it, and have created a Human Trafficking Task Force and website to educate the public in ways to identify and help victims.

Learn more about human trafficking at these two Ocean County Library locations:

Wednesday Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Long Beach Island branch, 217 S. Central Avenue, Surf City, NJ  08008. Their telephone number is (609) 494-2480. The speakers will be Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove and Vilma Applegate, president of the Barnegat Light Area Branch of the AAUW.

Thursday Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Toms River branch, 101 Washington St., Toms River, NJ  08753. Their telephone number is (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514. Senior Assistant Prosecutor Roberta DiBiase will speak at that session.

The program is free but people must register to attend. Register by telephoning the branch or on the library’s Website www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is January 11, 2014.

SIDEBAR INFORMATION (information provided by the NJ Human Trafficking Task Force information brochure at http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/humantrafficking/downloads/NJ-Human-Trafficking-Brochure.pdf) :

Nearly half (46%) of human trafficking involves prostitution. One-quarter (27%) involves domestic servitude. 10 percent involves agriculture; 5 percent factory work.

It is estimated between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year.

50 percent of people trafficked into the US each year are children.

800,000 people are trafficked worldwide each year.

HELP meeting this Monday @ Toms River library branch

The next combined meeting of Homelessness Ended through Local Partners (H.E.L.P.)  and Clergy and People for Workforce Housing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2013 at the Ocean County Library in Toms River.   (The meeting will be in the "Home Town Dairy Room" on the second floor.  The address of the library is 101 Washington Street, Toms River.  It is right across from the Court House.  Parking can be found on the street in front of the building or in the parking garage behind it.)

As always, all who are interested in addressing the critical, related problems of homelessness and affordable housing are welcome to attend.  Please join us, and invite others who share that concern.

Homelessness Ended through Local Partners (H.E.L.P) and Clergy and People for Workforce Housing

Joint Meeting – December 9, 2013

Agenda

1.            Introductions and information sharing

·         Review of materials

·         Reports/discussion re forum at Georgian Court and event at OC Library in TR  (Pam, Ginger, Rosemary and others)

 2.      Tent City/homelessness/affordable housing report and discussion:

·         current status of Tent City settlement and litigation overall

·         current status of endeavor to produce (a) shelter/”Lodge”/emergency housing center and (b) long-term affordable/supportive housing

·         use of revised power point as a follow-up advocacy tool

·         presence and advocacy at Special Response/Board of Social Services

3.      Other proposed events and actions:

·         Report on effort to have clergy preach sermons on Dec. 21/22 addressing homelessness and calling for action/advocacy (Ginger)

·         Discussion and final preparations and assignments for “candlelight vigil” on 12/21

o   Location, time, parking, microphone, other logistics, etc.

o   Purpose and goal: message, speakers, actions/advocacy efforts to ask people to accomplish, etc. (calls to Freeholders and Mayors, etc. re need for shelter, establishment of Homeless Trust Fund, need for permanent supportive/affordable housing, etc.; distribution/collection of pledge cards re attending meetings, making calls, etc.; other)

o   Getting the work out:  flyers, newspaper articles, other publicity, distribution of same, etc.

o   Materials, handouts, other information distribution

o   Other

·         Appropriate/possible responses to Freeholder comments re Tent City / homelessness at 12/4 public meeting

·         Initial discussion of other possible follow-up events:  attend public meetings of county/local governments; private meetings; call/postcard campaigns;  a facilitated “working” conference emphasizing causes of the problem and, by the end of the event, producing a draft outline of a plan to implement effective solutions; other

4.  Review of ongoing developments regarding the post-Sandy rebuilding effort.

 5.    Other issues and concerns

6.    Set next meeting date and adjourn 

Ocean County Library Lakewood branch to offer US citizenship prep classes

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Library’s Lakewood branch, 301 Lexington Ave., will host a seven-session class to prepare people who want to take the test for US citizenship.

The class is appropriate for adults 18 years and older who have lawful and continuous permanent residency in the United States for a minimum of five years.  Those attending should have been physically present in the United States for thirty months, with at least three months living in the same state or district. 

Anyone with questions about whether their individual circumstances would qualify should call Richard Potter at the library (732) 363-1435 ext. 2117.

The class will instruct the students on all topics covered by the test for US citizenship, including civics and American history, and offer practice exercises on English reading and written vocabulary. 

The test itself will not be administered as part of the class.  The test for US citizenship is only administered by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The class will be held on Mondays: January 6, 13, 20, 27 & February 3, 10, 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the branch. It is free of charge.

Registration is required because of the limited class size.  Registration begins December 3.

For more information or to register, please contact Richard Potter, Senior Librarian, at (732) 363-1435 or rpotter@theoceancountylibrary.org . 

Ocean County Library to host 2 storm recovery expos

What: 2 informational expos at Ocean County Library for those affected by Sandy

When: Dec. 17 @ Stafford library branch; Dec. 18 @ Toms River library branch

OCL to host storm recovery expos

 

TOMS RIVER –   Ocean County Library will partner with the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and host “Beyond Sandy: the Storm Resource Expo,”  two expos that will present resources to area residents affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The expos will be held at the Stafford branch (129 N. Main Street, Manahawkin) Monday December 17 and the Toms River branch (101 Washington Street) Tuesday December 18. Both sessions will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from local, county, state and federal agencies that can help connect them with the proper resources to recover from the storm’s aftermath.

Informational specialists will be available to answer questions and guide attendees on topics such as financial aid; finding a contractor; avoiding scams; where to find emotional support; help with remediation; obtaining permits; help with heating and dehumidifiers; and how to explain the impact of the storm to children.

The expos are free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

For more information about the event or if you are part of an organization that wants  to participate, telephone the Ocean County Library at (732) 349-6200 and contact Valerie Bell (extension 5404) or Nancy Bierbrauer (extension 5408.)

Ocean County Library helps Hurricane Sandy victims

The Ocean County Library has posted a list of resources for people coping with the effects of Hurricane Sandy to its Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

The Web site is available 24/7 and provides links to its databases, too.

OCL has opened all but two of its branches following the storm and provides free access to the Internet, charging stations for electric devices, CDs & DVDs, and books & magazines.

The open branches include Barnegat, Beachwood, Berkeley, Island Heights, Jackson, Lacey, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Island, Manchester, Plumsted, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Boro, Stafford, Toms River, Tuckerton, Waretown, and Whiting. Visit OCL's Web site or telephone the operator at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-1545 for hours.

Ocean County Library offers assistance post-Sandy

Looking to charge your electronic devices? Many of our branches have the power. Bring your cell phones and laptops to tap in. Check our Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call for branch information.

Are your kids restless? Need a break? Many branches have special programs throughout the day for them. Come on in and check us out.

Trying to contact friends or family?  Try the Internet and social media. Our branches have free WiFi. Come on in and check us out! Branch info @ www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

Financial Literacy Series: Homebuyer Program

TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Library will host a three-part homebuyer’s program to promote awareness of Financial Literacy Month.

The Home Buyer Program, presented by Money Management International and the PNC Foundation, will cover the steps to be taken in the home purchase process. It will discuss such topics as budgeting and credit usage, how to obtain a mortgage, shopping for a home, the appraisal and inspection process, the mortgage closing and life as a homeowner.

Each participant will receive a workbook for the sessions.

A person must register and satisfactorily complete all three sessions to receive a HUD certificate that certifies the recipient had received six hours of home-buyer training conducted by a certified HUD specialist.

The programs will be held at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library Thursday April 5 at 7 p.m.; Friday April 27 at 10 a.m.; and Thursday May 3 at 7 p.m.

This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register in-person, by telephone (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514 or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

Money Management International (MMI) is the largest nonprofit, full-service credit counseling agency in the United States. MMI is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and The Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA.) PNC Foundation partners with community based nonprofit organizations to enhance educational opportunities for children and to promote the growth of communities.

OC Library offers 2 programs to help parents learn about student classification process

School can be stressful for both students and parents, and many parents have the added responsibility of navigating the school classification process that determines which students need additional resources for their education.

With more than a dozen different categories and a high demand for resources, how do parents even begin to navigate through the process and get the resources their child might need?

The Ocean County Library will offer a program at two locations to help parents navigate the classification process used by local schools.

A Child Study Team (School Psychologist, School Social Worker, and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant) will provide information about the process and discuss Individualized Education Plans, cognitive and educational testing, and parental rights.

This program is designed for parents who have children who are or may soon be classified with special needs as well as teachers who would benefit from more information about the process.  The program will include a question and answer period. Refreshments will be served.

The first presentation will be held Saturday January 14, 9:30 am – 12 pm at the Lacey Branch (609-693-8566.) The second presentation will be held Saturday February 11, 9:30 am - noon at the Toms River Branch (732-349-6200.) The programs are free and open to the public but registration is required. Register at www.theoceancountylibrary or by telephone (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514

Affording Health: Free or low-cost health programs explained at Waretown library branch

“The greatest wealth is health,” said the classical Roman philosopher Virgil, but what if one can’t afford it?

 Health care can be prohibitively costly for many, especially during these economically difficult times.  Whether you have lost your health insurance due to a job loss or your medical costs have grown beyond your financial means, there just might be a solution for you. 

New rights and benefits have recently become available.  And many more free or low cost programs are in the making to help alleviate the strain often associated with medical costs.  Discover how you and your family can take advantage of these new developments. 

A representative from The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance will present a free program at the Waretown branch, 112 Main St.,  Monday Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. covering your concerns. 

Seating is limited, so please register by calling the branch (609) 693-5133 or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

OC Connection Mobile Service Center to visit library locations

The County Connection Mobile Service Center will be at several branches of the Ocean County Library.  Services provided by the mobile unit include County IDs, passports, senior and veteran services, consumer affairs, voter registration and parks and tourism information. (Fees are required for some services.)

Point Pleasant Boro, 834 Beaver Dam Rd. (732) 295-1555; Thursday 5/19 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Little Egg Harbor, 290 Mathistown Rd (609) 294-1197; Friday 5/20 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Plumsted, 119 Evergreen Rd., New Egypt (609) 758-7888;  Monday 6/6  1:00-3:00pm

Long Beach Island, 217 S. Central Av, Surf City (609) 494-2480; Friday 6/24, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Library branches host free English conversation sessions

Are you new to speaking English? Join the conversation each week as current events and other subjects of interest are discussed.  New members are always welcome.  These groups are free and open to the public.  (Note: these are not English as a Second Language classes.)

Barnegat, 112 Burr St, (609) 698-3331: Groups and individual conversation available.  Special times can also be arranged.  Please call Peggy at 609-698-3331 to register or stop by circulation desk.

Berkeley, 30 Station Rd., Bayville (732) 269-2144): Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28

Brick, 301 Chambers Bridge Rd. (732) 477-4513: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.  5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31

Jackson 2 Jackson Dr. (732) 928-4400: Mondays, 7 p.m. 5/2, 5/9, 5/16. 5/23, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27

Little Egg Harbor 290 Mathistown Rd. (609) 294-1197: Wednesdays 7:30 p.m.  6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29

Point Pleasant Beach 710 McLean Av. (732) 892-4575: Tuesdays, 6 p.m.  5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28

Toms River, 101 Washington St. (732) 349-6200: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m.  6/7, 6/8, 6/14, 6/15, 6/21, 6/22, 6/28, 6/29

Library hosts glucose screening in Manchester 5/19

The Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library (21 Colonial Dr., 732-657-7600) will conduct a glucose screening Thursday May 19 between 10 and 11 a.m.  The screenings are provided by St. Barnabus Health System.

St. Francis Senior Services at LEH library branch

St. Francis Senior Services will have an outreach worker available at the Little Egg Harbor branch of the Ocean County Library for assistance with the following programs: benefits screenings, home visits, hot lunch program, Meals-On-Wheels, SHIP Counseling (State Health Insurance Program), PADD Program (Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged and Disabled), energy assistance, care management, caregiver education and much more. 

Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon: 5/5 and 5/19; 6/2 and 6/16

To schedule an appointment please call 609-494-8861 ext 180 or just stop in.

Ocean County Library offers employment help

Job search assistance can be found at the 21 Ocean County Library locations.  Contact a librarian to help you find databases with job listings and information on how to conduct a job search and prepare a resume.

The Toms River branch, 101 Washington St. (732) 349-6200 will help you find a job using Career Transitions Online Tuesday May 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

The Brick branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Rd. (732) 477-4513 will host a free seminar, “You, Your Job Search & Application” Saturday June 18 between 2 and 4 p.m.

Fred Weintraub will help attendees develop positive drive and interview skills for a job search.  The program is designed for participants to examine their qualifications, consider targeted training, and learn to match skills with the needs of an employer.  Registration is required.

For more information call the branch or visit the library Website: http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/

Pt. Pleasant Boro library branch to offer job search techniques training.

Ocean County Library's Point Pleasant Borough branch, 834 Beaver Dam Road, will sponsor a two-part job searching techniques  program, Get That Job!, on Thursdays, April 21 and 28 at 7 p.m.

The series is part of Rutgers University's Speakers Bureau. Mindy O’Mealia with the Rutgers Career Services department will present the  program.

In part one  O’Mealia will discuss how to create or revise a resume and present tips for posting and marketing your resume online. In part two, you will learn the ways to master the job interview, salary negotiation techniques, and information on job market trends.

For more information or to register for the sessions please contact the operator at (732) 295-1555 or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

Legal resources available

The New Jersey Digital Legal Library

Posted by Damika Webb on February 16th 2011

Here’s a good source of information for people interested in affordable housing in NJ. The Rutgers University Library for the Center for Law and Justice hosts the New Jersey Digital Legal Library which provides public access to materials of New Jersey law and legal history. It is a good source for understanding the legal history and current events in affordable housing. In the Affordable Housing Archive you can find the history of Mount Laurel, the Mount Laurel opinions, related statutes and current developments.

From Larry, Feb. 20
The Ocean County Library also has two databases that might prove helpful to you.
Legal forms are available online from the library's Web site: http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/ . This database is available 24/7 and can be accessed from your home or remotely.
Westlaw can be accessed from the Toms River, Brick or Lakewood branches during normal business hours.  The database provides access to NJ Statutes Annotated; NJ Court cases from 1790 to the present; NJ Administrative Code; and the NJ Register.  One can also find the text of federal laws including the US Code Annotated as well as US Supreme Court, federal district and 3rd Circuit Court case decisions.
The databases are found on the library Web site's home page under the "Research and Info" pull down menu.

Library offers free, professional classes online

Ocean County Library has subscribed to Universal Class for Libraries, an online educational service that offers more than 500 different classes covering topics that are of interest to everybody. 

Classes range from fundraising, accounting, budgeting, Excel spreadsheets, Quicken, credit report and repair, nutrition, wellness, computer skills, writing, photography, painting, career coaching and training, conflict resolution, contract law, PowerPoint, job search skills, cooking, crafts and hobbies, social work and so many more.

The classes are free if you have an Ocean County Library card. (The library also has agreements with the Monmouth County Library and Burlington County Library. Contact OCL for information to enable you to access the classes.) 

Access to Universal Class is available 24/7.

To explore Universal Class go to OCL’s Web page (www.theoceancountylibrary.org) and click on the Universal Class’s icon along the right hand side of the page.  You will be able to examine the 500 classes that are offered and can register for any of them.

A person can register for up to five classes at a time and can add others once classes are completed.

Classes can be as few as six lessons long to more than 30 lessons and are taught by a real, live person who you may contact via E-mail.  Lessons include required reading assignments and a test before one can move on to the next lesson.  Class completion can stretch to as long as six months.

These are non-credit courses and are provided for your personal enrichment. These courses are not intended to be a substitute for any state, government, licensing, or educational requirements.

Any more questions?  Contact the library at question@theoceancountylibrary.org  or telephone the library reference department at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514.

(Hey, for a limited time only you can go directly to Universal Class by clicking on http://oceancountynj.universalclass.com/barcode-login.htm?enter+code )