from the archive


Author: Kim Dorman

Kim serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Princeton Public Library.

PEFF: 16th year, 16 films


We’re looking forward to the Princeton Environmental Film Festival, coming up this year April 1-10. The 16th annual festival features 16 films that explore environmental sustainability from a variety of angles and perspectives. All of the films will be available to stream online through the Eventive platform. Nine of them will also be screened at […]


Community partner spotlight: Eating For Your Health


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Marion Renson, executive director of Eating For Your Health (formerly The Suppers Program). The library has worked with this group for several years to help our community […]


Community partner spotlight: Princeton Artist Directory


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Mary Waltham and Mik Bökelmann of the Princeton Artist Directory (PAD). Janie Hermann, manager of adult programming at the library, recounts that in the early days of […]


Community partner spotlight: Arm In Arm


For more than 42 years, Arm In Arm (formerly Crisis Ministry of Mercer County) has been working hard to connect people to essential resources. We recently spoke with Maureen Hunt, chief development officer for Arm In Arm. How long has Arm In Arm been active in Princeton? Arm In Arm has been active in Princeton […]


Community partner spotlight: US1 Poets/Delaware Valley Poets


Book Cover

The library’s relationship with DVP/US 1 Poets, an organization formed by the recent merger of two poet collectives, demonstrates the collaborative, creative spirit we value when working with community partners. Through the regular Poets at the Library program, which features two readers and an open mic, DVP/US 1 Poets has connected the library with readers from near and […]


Welcoming community


Sept. 10-19 marks Welcoming Week, an initiative begun by Welcoming America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. In 2016, the municipality of Princeton joined this initiative as a Welcoming Town, and each year the Department of Human Services teams up with the library […]


Community partner spotlight: Princeton Adult School


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Anne Brener, executive director of Princeton Adult School. As the library’s community engagement coordinator, and a former member of the board of Princeton Adult School, I can […]


Community partner spotlight: Princeton Mutual Aid


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Corina Bardoff who serves on the logistics team of Princeton Mutual Aid. How long has Princeton Mutual Aid been in Princeton? PMA began as a response to […]

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Community partner spotlight: Not In Our Town Princeton


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Linda Oppenheim, board member of Not In Our Town Princeton. Not In Our Town Princeton and Princeton Public Library have been longtime partners with a shared mission […]

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Community partner spotlight: Friends of Princeton Open Space


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Wendy Mager, Board President of Friends of Princeton Open Space. Friends of Princeton Open Space and the library have had the joy of numerous collaborations across our […]

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Community partner spotlight: Sustainable Princeton


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Jenny Ludmer, community outreach manager,  Sustainable Princeton. Sustainable Princeton is a longtime, mission-aligned partner of the library. Libraries are inherently sustainable. We take the funds entrusted to […]

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Community partner spotlight: Paul Robeson House


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Ben Colbert, director of the Paul Robeson House, and board members, Denyse Leslie, Martha Sword and Joy Barnes-Johnson. How long has Paul Robeson House been in Princeton? […]

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Community partner spotlight: The John H. Pace, Jr. ’39 Center for Civic Engagement


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Charlotte Collins, associate director and Gwen McNamara, communications specialist at the John H.Pace, Jr. ’39 Center for Civic Engagement at Princeton University (Pace Center for Civic Engagement). […]

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Community partner spotlight: Princeton Record Exchange


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Jon Lambert, owner of Princeton Record Exchange (PREX), and Janie Hermann, the library’s program manager. Janie: Princeton is fortunate to have local business owners such as Jon […]

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Community partner spotlight: McCarter Theatre Center


This year, the library, like many other institutions, has had to reconsider its core values and find new ways to serve the community. One of the biggest lessons many have found is that we go farther when we work together.   At a time when we cannot necessarily visit our friends and family or welcome […]

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Community partner spotlight: Mayor Liz Lempert


A group of people watching the Mayor of Princeton cut a blue ribbon to open the second floor of the library.

To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, we spoke with Mayor Liz Lempert, as she winds down eight years of service as a mayor, to talk about some of the work she has done with the library […]

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Community partner spotlight: Shakespeare and Company Project


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, the “Shakespeare and Company Project,” a digital humanities initiative at Princeton University, is in the spotlight. Not surprisingly, the library works with the many different entities within Princeton University. We […]

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Welcoming and building community


What makes a community? What makes a community welcoming? And what makes it resilient? There must be space for joy. For the last four years the Department of Human Services and the library have joined with local community members and organizations to celebrate Welcoming Week, an initiative of Welcoming America.  As we considered Welcoming Week 2020 […]

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Community partner spotlight: Historical Society of Princeton


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with the many municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) is in the spotlight. The library and the Historical Society of Princeton collaborate on programs and projects designed to enrich the lives of our […]

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Community partner spotlight: Arts Council of Princeton


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many municipal, non-profit and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town.  This month Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) is in the spotlight.  I have observed many things during this time of quarantine that surprised me, but perhaps the most surprising is how attached I […]

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Community partner spotlight: Witherspoon Jackson Neighborhood Association


Leighton Newlin speaking at a WJNA meeting.

One of the biggest benefits of serving as the community engagement coordinator for the library is getting to know so many people who are doing really great work in Princeton. Fostering community engagement in a place that has long seen itself as the “community’s living room,” continues to be an opportunity to explore what makes a […]

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Community partner spotlight: League of Women Voters


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many municipal, non-profit and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month the League of Women Voters (LWV) is in the spotlight. We spoke with Cindy Gordon who shared that February 14 is not only a celebration of love and Frederick Douglass, but […]

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Community partner spotlight: Princeton University Press


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many municipal, non-profit and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month Princeton University Press (PUP) is in the spotlight. We are fortunate to have such a well regarded and community-minded press just up the road from the library. The collaboration between PUP […]

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Engage Princeton


Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day,” ends with the question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your wild and precious life?” The library wants to empower you to find the answer with our new community resource guide, EngagePrinceton.org. The website features three main sections: About Us, Event and Community Resources. The Community […]

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Community partner spotlight: jaZams


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, jaZams is in the spotlight and we spoke with owners Joanne Farrugia and Dean Smith to learn more about this partnership. There are many reasons why the library is […]

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Community partner spotlight: Princeton Public Schools


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, Princeton Public Schools are in the spotlight and we spoke with with members of the PPS leadership team including Superintendent Steve Cochrane and Assistant Superintendent Annie Gonzalez Kosek to learn more […]

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Community partner spotlight: Civil Rights Commission


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, the Civil Rights Commission (CRC) of Princeton is in the spotlight and we spoke with Thomas A. Parker, Commission Chair  to learn more about this partnership. The library has […]

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Community partner spotlight: McCarter Theatre Center


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, the McCarter Theatre Center is in the spotlight and we spoke with Paula Alekson, Artistic Engagement Manager to learn more about this partnership. When we opened the doors on […]


Community partner spotlight: Professional Services Group


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, the Professional Service Group of Mercer County (PSG) is in the spotlight and we spoke with David Schuchman, Executive Chair and Leader of the group, to learn more about […]


Community partner spotlight: Princeton Police Department


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, the Princeton Police Department is in the spotlight. When working with the PPD, the library usually collaborates with the Safe Neighborhoods Bureau.  We’ve always known that Princeton police officers […]

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Community partner: The Princeton Festival


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, The Princeton Festival is in the spotlight. Each June, for the past 14 years, the library and The Princeton Festival have worked together to offer a wide array of […]

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Community partner: Labyrinth Books


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, Labyrinth Books is in the spotlight. Although it might seem that a library and bookstore would be at odds with one another, this is not the case at all. […]

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Community partner: Sustainable Princeton


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This month, Sustainable Princeton is in the spotlight. Libraries are inherently sustainable. It is part of the library’s mission to shepherd the funds entrusted to us by our community to benefit as many […]

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Community partner: Princeton Department of Human Services


To extend our community outreach, the library partners with many of the municipal, non-profit, and business organizations that make Princeton such an extraordinary town. This series of blog posts will put some of those partners in the spotlight, starting this month with the Princeton Department of Human Services. The library and the Princeton Department of Human […]

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Get fit at the library


"Recent studies have shown that challenging your brain, by spurring the brain to create new patterns, is an important factor in helping to keep your brain active and healthy as you age. Lifelong learning is a health club for our minds, bodies and spirits. Using this health club every day helps ensure that life will be richer, more stimulating and more fulfilling.”(BeWell@Stanford)


We’ve got answers


In addition to fielding questions about great reads, library staff members try to be ready for anything. Sometimes people just want to test our knowledge, but more often than not customers are looking to the library to answer or verify something that has them either baffled or idly curious. In a time where there is an overwhelming amount of information available the library can help people ferret out what is true and relevant. A lot of questions are ones that you might expect:
"Can you suggest an author I might like to try?"


#GOT Game of Thrones?


A common question at the welcome desk is, "I'm looking for something to read, is there anything you would recommend? It's actually a question we love to answer, but how do we do come by the suggestions? One way is crowdsourcing!

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Mushrooms are extraordinary


One of my favorite parts of sitting behind the Information Desk is the regular opportunity I get to practice my sleuthing skills.Sometimes people have a quick question that can be answered with a few taps on the keyboard but there are also times when in-depth mystery solving is required.
That being said I am sometimes presented with opportunities to practice my sleuthing skills when I am away from the Reference Desk.

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Free birds, a.k.a. Vegetarian Thanksgiving


I often hear people talking about that one Thanksgiving guest who is “a vegetarian," and the question surfaces, “What can I serve him?”  If you think about it, though, after the roast beast, most of the other dishes are actually vegetarian and vegan, because after all, it is a celebration of the harvest, and of families, and friends coming together. The roast beast is ‘kind of’ extra.


You’re uncommonly beautiful


In photographer Karen Walrond’s talk for TEDxHouston  she shared her rules for photography and life: “Look for the Light.” Her rallying cry is, “I’m wildly convinced you’re uncommonly beautiful,” and often when people come into the library, I am reminded of that: every last one of you is a shining prism of your life and experiences and that is a thing of wonder and beauty. And guess what – we have something here for you.

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An honor and a privilege


This month, at the invitation of former President Leonel Fernandez, Princeton Environmental Film Festival Director Susan Conlon and I  participated in the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF). We were part of a panel discussion called "Environmental Film: An Effective Tool for Eco Education" that included key players from environmental film festivals around the world.

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Summer reading goes social


This year there are so many ways that you can participate in our summer reading program for adults (and win prizes)!  You can enter by filling out a raffle ticket at one of our Groundbreaking programs happening all summer long, e-mail a written review, upload a picture of you and your book to Instagram and tag it with #PPLreads13 so we can find it, or


Women’s history month events


On March 8, 1908, 15,000 working women garment workers marched on New York City’s Lower East Side to demand better hours and pay, an act that many point to as the birth of International Women’s Day (though that particular date was not set until 1913). In 1978, Sonoma County decided to expand International Women’s Day to Women’s History Week. The idea spread and, by 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to one month, declaring March Women’s History Month.


Flirting with a change of diet


Vegan. Despite my own vegan flirtations the word sounds almost militant to my ears. As if this change of diet should be accompanied by a manifesto, too drastic to do 'just 'cause'. Not so. There are many delicious and healthful foods that are 'vegan' and it's worth checking out our wide range of cookbooks just to see all the interesting options available. Whether you are looking for something new or contemplating a change of diet, there are a lot of ways we can help.

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