u/LibrarianGinger

Join us at the Bayonne Public Library on Wednesday, July 15th at 6:30 pm in the Gallery for a very special show by Jenkinson’s Aquarium: “Penguin Pointers”!

During this 45-minute experience, you’ll be able to meet one of Jenkinson’s African penguins (from a safe 6 ft. distance) and see how the keepers work with them on a daily basis. Learn about penguin biology, geography, care, feeding, and conservation.

(And no, our picture background isn’t wrong - African penguins live along the sunny, rocky coasts of Southern Africa!)

This program is open to all ages. No advanced registration is required. Space will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Join Bayonne Public Library and Mamas in Bayonne for our July 2026 Bayonne Book Club! 

All are welcomed and encouraged to attend. The genre / theme of the books chosen will vary. The discussions will be moderated by Bayonne local, Angela van Genderen (@angela_the_ninja).

This month’s meeting will be Thursday, July 30th at 7 pm in the Small Programming Room on the 2nd Floor at the Bayonne Public Library. In celebration of summer beach reads, we will be reading “Amalfi Curse” by Sarah Penner.

Attendees can join in-person or virtually via Zoom. To attend virtually, please sign up via the library calendar event listing.

What’s the book about? Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work? As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…  

How can you participate? Bayonne Public Library has eBook and eAudiobook copies available via hoopla as well as physical book copies. If you’d prefer to purchase your own physical copy, we recommend purchasing from The Little Boho Bookshop, our favorite local bookshop, located at 164A Broadway or online at https://thelittlebohobookshop.com/

Join us at the Bayonne Public Library on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:30 pm in the Gallery for an End of School Year Celebration!

We will have snacks, games, and crafts. We will also have a number of local vendors with information about their kid-friendly summer offerings including summer camps, kids fitness, kids clothing, and more!

This free event is open to all ages. No advanced registration is required. Happy end of school year!

Join us for Music with Miss Julia! These early childhood education music classes will be held most Wednesdays in the Children’s Room at the Bayonne Public Library.

The classes will meet on:
June 17th
July 15th
July 22nd
August 5th

There are two classes. One is from 10-10:30 am and one is from 11-11:30 am. Both classes are the same and are for ages 6 months through 5 years old. These classes will include drums, tambourines, shakers, ukuleles, bubbles, parachute play, dancing, singing, scarves, and instrument exploration.

Advanced registration is required for all sessions individually. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space permits. Since this event is for children, please only register the children who will be attending, not the parents too. Registration can be found on our website under “Programs & Events” or at the link in our bio.

Join us at the Bayonne Public Library on Wednesday, June 24th at 6:30 pm in the Gallery for a hands-on science show from Science Heroes!

“Digging It” is a fun, interactive science show where kids learn about geology, fossils, dinosaurs, mining, and the science of the Earth through experiments, demonstrations, and storytelling. The program mixes science, adventure, and audience participation with experiments on stage.

This program is open to all ages. No advanced registration is required.

This two-part event will meet first on Thursday, June 11th from 6:30-8:30 pm to discuss the first volume of "Heartstopper," a graphic novel by Alice Oseman. If you have not already read the book, make sure to check it out ahead of time and bring your thoughts to share with other tweens and teens.

We will meet again on Thursday, June 25th from 6:30-8:30 pm and we will watch the first two episodes of the Heartstopper series on Netflix.

This program is for tweens and teens ages 12-18 and will take place in the Art & Music Room on the 2nd floor of the library. Snacks will be provided.

Advanced registration is recommended, but not required. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space permits.

What's the book about? Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

How can you participate? Bayonne Public Library has eBook and eAudiobook copies available via hoopla as well as physical book copies. If you’d prefer to purchase your own physical copy, we recommend purchasing from The Little Boho Bookshop, our favorite local bookshop, located at 164A Broadway or online.

Join Bayonne Public Library and Mamas in Bayonne for our June 2026 Bayonne Book Club!

All are welcomed and encouraged to attend. The genre / theme of the books chosen will vary. The discussions will be moderated by Bayonne local, Angela van Genderen (@angela_the_ninja).

This month’s meeting will be Thursday, June 18th at 7 pm in the Small Programming Room on the 2nd Floor at the Bayonne Public Library. In celebration of Pride Month, we will be reading “The Bones Beneath My Skin” by TJ Klune.

Attendees can join in-person or virtually via Zoom. To attend virtually, please sign up via the library calendar event listing.

What’s the book about? In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his only brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington, DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not. Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears. Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.

How can you participate? Bayonne Public Library has eBook and eAudiobook copies available via hoopla as well as physical book copies. If you’d prefer to purchase your own physical copy, we recommend purchasing from The Little Boho Bookshop, our favorite local bookshop, located at 164A Broadway or online at https://thelittlebohobookshop.com/

Join us at the Bayonne Public Library on Saturday, May 30th from 10 am to 3 pm in the Gallery for our “PixelPop” Artist Alley!

This local vendor market, hosted by Killjoy Illustrations, features art from over 20 local artists and includes anime, fan art, trinkets, stickers, keychains, prints, pins, zines, taxidermy, crochet, jewelry, and more!

It will be early internet throwback themed. It will feature Y2K nostalgia as well as mid-90s and early 2000s vibes. There will also be a free treat & craft table, and cosplay is encouraged. This event is free and family friendly!

Sunspire Cafe will also be there selling espresso, tea, lemonade, matcha, and other drinks.

Come support local artists, caffeinate yourself, do some shopping, and treat yourself to something fun!

Join us at the Bayonne Public Library on Wednesday, May 20th from 6:30–8:30 pm in the Gallery for a free and inspiring Magical Monkey Makery workshop for ages 13 and up.

Discover foil embossing and fall in love with this radiant way of drawing and sculpting with light!

All materials are provided. Advanced registration is required. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space permits.

Join the Bayonne Historical Society at the Bayonne Public Library for a special lecture held on Tuesday, May 12th at 7 pm in the Gallery: “Just What the Heck is an Archives Room Anyway?”

There is a wealth of information about the history of the City of Bayonne in the Bayonne Public Library.  Much of it resides in the Library’s Archives Room.  But just what is an Archives Room? 

Librarian Bill Fischer will discuss the resources of the Bayonne Public Library and how they can be used to investigate the history of Bayonne. He will share some interesting items from the collection and also discuss digital resources.  A question and answer period will follow.

No advanced registration is required. Light refreshments provided. We hope to see you there!

All are welcomed and encouraged to attend. The genre / theme of the books chosen will vary. The discussions will be moderated by Bayonne local, Angela van Genderen (@angela_the_ninja).

This month’s meeting will be Thursday, May 28th at 7 pm in the Small Programming Room on the 2nd Floor at the Bayonne Public Library. In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month, we will be reading “The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee” by Saki Kawashiro.

Attendees can join in-person or virtually via Zoom. To attend virtually, please sign up via the library calendar event listing.

What’s the book about? Twenty-nine-year-old Momoko has been tragically dumped. She thought her boyfriend was her soulmate. She believed he was going to propose. Instead, he broke things off at a love hotel. So Momoko does what many broken-hearted people do—she gets incredibly drunk. So drunk that she passes out in a nearly empty café. When she awakens, she’s eager to tell her story to anyone who will listen and pours her heart out to a curious manager and the sole other customer in the café, a Buddhist monk in training. As Momoko describes how she doted on her ex and how he loved her cooking, the manager decides to indulge her by allowing her to slip into the kitchen and cook up her former beau’s favorite dish: a warm, delightful butter chicken curry. As Momoko finishes telling her story, she realizes that this combination of cooking and sharing has stopped the flow of her constant tears. And the manager has a brilliant idea. What if they started doing this regularly, inviting patrons to share stories about heartbreak while cooking dishes that held significance in their relationships? Thus, an unconventional therapy group, the “Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee,” is born.

How can you participate? Bayonne Public Library has eBook and eAudiobook copies available via hoopla as well as physical book copies. If you’d prefer to purchase your own physical copy, we recommend purchasing from The Little Boho Bookshop, our favorite local bookshop, located at 164A Broadway or online at https://thelittlebohobookshop.com/

Join us at the Bayonne Public Library for a weekly English as a Second Language (ESL) Conversation Group!

This group will meet twice per week in Classroom B: one morning session and one evening session.

The Monday morning group is from 10-11:30 am and will meet on the following dates:

- May 4 and 18

- June 8 & 22

- July 6 & 20

- August 10 & 24

The Thursday evening group is from 6:30-8 pm and will meet on the following dates:

- May 7 & 21

- June 11 & 25

- July 9 & 23

- August 13 & 27

This group is intended for people with basic English skills. No advanced registration is required. Attendees are welcome to attend as many or as few sessions as desired.

Our regular ESL classes will resume in the Fall.