Obituary Note: Marian Ranck Gerhart

Marian Ranck Gerhart

Former Morristown & Morris Township Library Director Marian Ranck Gerhart passed away on Nov. 25 at the age of 99.

 A wonderful force of knowledge and inspiration, she trained many of the library staff during her 20 years as director from 1966-1986 and was instrumental in creating the joint municipal library we have today and the Morris Union Federation, one of the first library consortiums in the state. A luminary at our institution, Marian was eager to train the next generation of librarians here in Morristown and then in retirement went on to form a library at the Willow Grove Retirement community where she lived.

For her full obituary, please see: https://www.snyderfuneralhome.com/obituary/marian-ranck-gerhart/

New Authors Available for our Automatic Holds Service

The list of authors available for our Automatic Holds Service has been updated to include popular authors like Colleen Hoover, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Colson Whitehead. Main cardholders are able to select up to twelve authors from our list to automatically be placed on a hold request list.

The full list of authors can be viewed on our online form. Physical copies of the Automatic Holds forms are also available at the Circulation, Reference, and Readers’ Advisory desks.

Introducing Niche Academy!

The Morristown & Morris Township Library (MMT) offers many digital resources, such as Libby, Pressreader, Kanopy, as well as a number of databases that include Morningstar and NoveList.

Do you need help navigating these resources? Do you need a refresher course? Luckily, Niche Academy is a free tutorial resource for MMT patrons.

With Niche Academy, you can access tutorials that will walk you through how to use:

You can get a preview of what Niche Academy is like below. Clicking on the button will open the interactive tutorial right in the same page! No need to worry about pop-up blockers or getting lost in new tabs.

                                                         

Mango Languages: Available NOW!

We are happy to announce that access is currently available to Mango Languages. This language learning database not only features over 70 world language courses, but it also provides English courses for English learners, accommodating over 20 source languages.

Mango is accessible on the web and as an app. You have to first create your account on the website. You can continue to use the service on the desktop. If you prefer to use a mobile device, you can download it for your iOS Device on the App Store or for your Android Device on the Play Store.

If you need help setting up your account, or if you have any additional questions, please give the Reference Desk a call at 973-593-6161 or email us at refdesk@mmt.mainlib.org.

Adult Summer Reading 2022: Oceans of Possibilities

 

The Morristown & Morris Township Library is offering a free, no-stress Summer Reading Contest for adults! Sign up at any of our service desks. You’ll receive a gift just for signing up!

For any book you read or listen to this summer, fill out a raffle ticket and drop it in the box at the library, either near the front entrance or the Readers Advisory desk on the second floor. There will be a weekly drawing for a prize.

At the end of the summer, all participants will be entered into a GRAND PRIZE drawing!

Any Main cardholder age 18+ may participate. The contest runs through September 2, 2022.

Friends of Foote’s Pond Wood Won the Morris Park Alliance Environmental/Conservation Award!

Adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School is the 24-acre Foote’s Pond Wood park. The Friends of Foote’s Pond Wood (FoFPW) is ” a welcoming, grassroots group dedicated to the care and preservation of Foote’s Pond Wood.”

Recently, the FoFPW was granted the 2022 Community Recognition Award from the Morris Park Alliance. The award is currently on display right here at the Morristown & Morris Township Library! Stop in when you get a chance to check it out.

To learn more about the FoFPW and their mission, be sure to check out their website.

Ongoing Libby Server Maintenance

Between May 3 and July 28, 2022, Libby will perform server upgrades to enhance the performance and security of the systems used to access the digital collection.

These upgrades will be completed between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays only during the period noted above. Your Libby service will be impacted only once for approximately 60 minutes or less.

Patrons will still be able to sign in to the digital collection and browse or read titles, but may encounter errors when attempting to borrow, place a hold, or return titles during your maintenance period.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

NJ HealthConnect@YourLibrary Provides FREE iPads to Borrow!

In order to tackle the inequities in our healthcare system, the Morristown & Morris Township Library is proud to provide iPads through our partnership with NJ HealthConnect@Your Library!

These iPads allow you to:

  • Obtain access to telehealth apps, which can connect you to a doctor 24/7.
  • Read health information in your language.
  • Monitor COVID updates.
  • Access crisis hotlines.
  • Obtain mental health support.
  • Access teen help.
  • Utilize meeting apps, such as Zoom and Google Meet.

The iPads come in an Otterbox case with:

  • a quickstart guide
  • multilingual instructions
  • a charging cable
  • a base plug
  • earbuds.

In order to prevent any personally identifying information from being stored:

  • sign in ability is disabled
  • password saving is disabled
  • a manual reboot can be done by each user.

Upon return, library staff will wipe out the iPad between users. The Otterbox protected iPad as well as the included accessories are sanitized upon return. The iPads are CIPA-compliant and the telehealth apps are HIPAA-compliant.
To reserve an iPad, or to find out more, please call the Reference Department, 973-538-6161 or email info@jfpl.org

Local History in the News: Articles Written by the North Jersey History & Genealogy Center Staff

Bastille Day protest with Julia Hurlbut leading the first group of marchers. Iris Calderhead of Kansas at right waiting for mobs to attack pickets so she can order out new banners, July 14,1917. Library of Congress photograph.
Local history is abundant within the Morristown community. The Morristown Green, the historic park that served as an encampment for George Washington in 1777, also serves as the name for Morristown’s local news site.
 

North Jersey History & Genealogy staff regularly publish articles highlighting aspects of the region’s history, particularly that of Morristown, Morris Township, and Morris County. Content is drawn from our collections and covers the individuals, families, businesses, and organizations that lived and worked in our state from the 17th through the 20th centuries. 

Created in partnership with local news site, MorristownGreen.com, past articles explored how local residents responded in times of war and national crisis, detailed individual participation in historic events, or just attempted to earn a living and better themselves and their community.
 
Most recently, the History Center staff highlighted Morristown’s Early African American History through the lenses of longtime residents John and Clara Watson Pinkman. This year, they also highlighted Morris Township’s architectural changes – such as present-day Columbia Park’s beginnings as Cedar Court.
 
The archive of these posts can be found here. Check back regularly to learn more about the history of the region, as well as articles that coincide with the exhibits organized by History Center staff and more.
 
The History Center actively collects material that documents the history of the people, places, and organizations that have made their home in New Jersey. In addition to assisting researchers and genealogists in our reading room, we regularly offer public programs, create exhibits, and make our collections available online