PROGRAMS @ YOUR LIBRARY
Click here for our online CALENDAR OF LIBRARY EVENTS!
Printable April Kids' Calendar
LEARN TO CROCHET (ages 14 and up) - Monday, April 29 at 6:15 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required!
EMOTIONAL REGULATION STRATEGIES FOR TEENS (ages 11+) - Tuesday, April 30 at 3:00 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
MATH CLUB: BEAST ACADEMY (ages 8 - 13) - Online program
Spaces limited; registration required. Click here to register.
LEGO & MEGA BLOCKS (all ages) - Thursday, May 2 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required!
GO TO COLLEGE, NOT INTO DEBT - Thursday, May 2 at 6:30 PM
Zoom meeting; registration required. Click here to register.
STEAM TROOP (all ages) - Monday, May 6 at 3:30 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required! Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
CRAFT, CHAT & CHILL with NJ4S (ages 11+) - Tuesday, May 7 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
MAKE CARDS FOR OUR TROOPS (all ages) - Thursday, May 9 & Friday, May 10 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required!
ZUMBA KIDS (ages 6 - 12) - Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 PM and Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00 PM
Spaces limited; registration required. Click here to register.
CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY (ages 10+ and parent/guardian) - Sunday, May 12 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Spaces limited; registration required. Click here to register.
CRAFT, CHAT & CHILL with NJ4S (ages 11+) - Tuesday, May 14 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
ZUMBA KIDS (ages 6 - 12) - Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00 PM
Spaces limited; registration required. Click here to register.
CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE - Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Outdoor drop-in program; registration is not required!
SHARPIES & SEEDS (ages 11+) - Tuesday, May 21 at 3:00 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
FIBER ARTS FORUM (adults & teens) - Tuesday, May 21 at 6:00 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
POKÉMON TRADING CARDS GAME (ages 7 and up) - Wednesday, May 22 at 3:30 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
SENSORY SOCIAL HOUR (all ages & abilities) - Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
A TASTE OF TEA AND MORE (adults & families) - Tuesday, May 28, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Drop-in program; registration is not required.
NOTE: See LMxAC Events List for additional ONLINE programs (select Category: Virtual)
BOOKS & eLIBRARY
«««« SEARCH THE LIBRARY CATALOG ... Get the mobile app »»»»
South Plainfield Public Library Collection: Young Adult Novels
South Plainfield Public Library Collection: Young Adult Graphic Novels
Audiobook and eBook Downloads: Young Adult Fiction (eLibrary NJ / Overdrive)
Audiobook and eBook Downloads: Young Adult Non-Fiction (eLibrary NJ / Overdrive)
Audiobook and eBook Downloads: Hoopla [NOTE: First you'll need to set up a Hoopla account]
Audiobook and eBook Downloads: eLibraryNJ [Login in to see all titles available to South Plainfield borrowers]
Book Club for Kids podcast (middle grade books reviewed by middle grade readers) AUDIO
Books for Teens by Topic (Hennepin County Library, MN)
Comics on Hoopla [NOTE: First you'll need to set up a Hoopla account]
We Need Diverse Books: Resources
Great Books for Teens by Theme (AdLit.org)
The Hub: Your Connection to Teen Reads (American Library Association)
Teens Top Ten (American Library Association)
LitPick Book Reviews by Students (age 12 and up)
Magazines: eLibraryNJ [NOTE: Digital Magazines are also available on the Libby app]
No Flying No Tights: Graphic Novel reviews
NPR Best Young Adult Books of the Year (2013 - 2021)
NPR 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels (2012)
Planet eBook: Free classic literature for your device (EPUB, PDF, MOBI)
Reading Rants: Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists
Recommended Reading Lists for Teens & 'Tweens (South Plainfield Public Library)
Select Reads Newsletters
(personalized recommendations of books, audiobooks, dvds, and music)
Teen and Young Adult Literature (New York Public Library)
Teen Book Series & Sequels (Bettendorf Public Library, IA)
Teen Book Suggestions (Pasadena Public Library, CA)
YA Books Central Teen Book Reviews
Young Adult Reading Lists by Topic (Ocean County Library, NJ)
Young Adults' Reading Choices Archive and Favorites Awards NEW (International Literacy Association & the Children's Book Council)
«««« NEWS »»»»
«««« SCHOOL »»»»
SCHOOL
Click here for EBSCOHost
or EBSCOHost Mobile.
Brainfuse HelpNow offers live online tutors in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP and state standardized tests. Other features include Personalized eLearning Tools, 24-Hour Writing Lab for constructive feedback, expert guidance on homework questions, Adult Learning Center, and Foreign Language Lab/Spanish-Speaking Support. Apps for Android or Apple mobile devices are available from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Homework Links (South Plainfield Public Library)
Research Databases & Premium Resources «Library card required»
College info links (South Plainfield Public Library)
AP Central (Advanced Placement exams)
See also: Peterson's Test and Career Prep «Library card required»
College Payoff: More Education Doesn't Always Mean More Earnings (Georgetown University)
College Readiness Resources (PTA)
College Success Skills: Study Tips (Park University)
Introduction to College Research (free eBook)
Studying 101: Study Smarter Not Harder (UNC)
Study Skills E-Guide To Academic Success (Dartmouth College)
Free Online College-Level Courses:
Class Central (Search Engine for Free Online Courses & MOOCs)
MOOC.org: Massive Open Online Courses
The Great Courses (on Kanopy «Library card required»)
Spark Notes and other Study Guides (on Freading «Library card required»)
Universal Class Personal Enrichment Courses «Library card login required»
«««« JOBS/CAREERS »»»»
CRISIS
Call or text 988 for the NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE
if you are in suicidal crisis or emotional distress
IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, PLEASE CALL 911!
ASIF: Adolescent Self-Injury Foundation UPDATED LINK
Bullying: Are You Being Bullied?
StopBullying.gov: Get Help Now
NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence Statewide Hotline: 800-572-7233
Dating Abuse Helpline: Love is Respect (live Chat, text LOVEIS to 22522, or phone 1-866-331-9474) (includes Types of Abuse)
Middlesex County Support for Victims of Sexual Assault: Sexual Assault Response Team, 732-745-3271
NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault Statewide Hotline: 800-601-7200
No More: Resources to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
LGBTQ youth: TrevorLifeline (live chat, text 'START' to 678-678, or phone 1-866-488-7386)
LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743
Mental Health: Teen Central (Teen Help for Teen Problems)
Young Adults & Mental Health (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Mental Health Resources for Teens and related links
More Mental Health & Stress Management resources
NJ Youth Resource Spot Resources & programs for young people in NJ who have had some sort of involvement in the NJ Department of Children and Families (foster care, Transitional Housing, etc.)
Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929, plus email, or live chat)
Save a Friend: Tips to Prevent Suicide
«««« HEALTH »»»»
ACTIVISM
Points of Light (formerly Generation On)
Spark Movement for Antiracist Gender Justice
Americorps (National & Community Service) & Peace Corps
Learn About Current Events & Issues
Find More Volunteer Opportunities:
BE A VOLUNTEER TUTOR!
«««« Click here for tutor application & info. »»»»
«««« NEWS »»»»
CREATIVITY
...ART......MUSIC......MEDIA......THEATER......WRITING......MORE...
See our annual Staycation Guide for information about art, music, and theater venues in the South Plainfield area.
ART STUDIO
Art 21: Twenty-First Century Art & Artists VIDEO
Art & Writing Awards (Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)
How to Draw Manga & Anime Characters
Making Mini-Comics [Archived page]
New Moon Girls: Submit Your Work
OpenToonz Animation Production Software
River of Words Environmental Art and Poetry Contest
Tumbln' with Kiki Magazine (Jewelry, Fashion & Craft projects) [Archived page; expect broken links]
Universal Class «Library card login required»:
Adobe classes (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
Photography 101 - Beginner to Intermediate
MUSIC STUDIO
BBC Music Maker Advice VIDEO [Archived page]
Drummer World Drum Clinic AUDIO
From the Top Celebrates Disabled and Neurodivergent Musicians NEW VIDEO
Gaiada Virtual Audio Loop Machine for DJs, Performers and Musicians
Guitar Basics lessons, plus Virtual Guitar Tuner, Scales & Chordbook VIDEO
Piano/Keyboard Lessons Online VIDEO [Free registration required; paid membership required for full access]
Universal Class «Library card login required»: Introduction to Music Appreciation NEW
MEDIA STUDIO
Careers in Film (click on 'Additional Resources' tab)
Motion Picture Craft [Archived page]
Movieola Coffee Break Film School VIDEO
Multimedia Tutorials (audio, video, photography, web, and more)
Open Broadcaster Software for video recording and live streaming
Podcasting 101 (Book Club for Kids) AUDIO
Radio Diaries: DIY Radio Handbook
Transom Public Media Tools and Techniques
Universal Class «Library card login required»:
Final Cut Pro X NEW
Youth Radio DIY: How to Make a Podcast and other DIY topics
THEATER
Actorama.com Monologues & Scenes
American Theatre Wing (AWT): Working in Theatre
AWT on Vimeo NEW
National Theatre (UK): YouTube channel (includes How We Made It series) VIDEO
WRITING
Art & Writing Awards (Alliance for Young Artists & Writers)
Be All Write: Writing Challenges (Ilkley Literature Festival, UK)
BookTrust Writing Tips for Teens
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Resources for Young Writers
New Moon Girls: Submit Your Work
New Pages: Young Authors Publishing Guide
Polyphony Lit Magazine (poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from high-school-aged writers)
River of Words Environmental Art and Poetry Contest
Thesaurus.com Writing Prompts To Kickstart And Improve Writing
Universal Class «Library card login required»:
Creative Writing for Beginners
MORE
ArtsEdge Creative Arts How-To Videos (Kennedy Center Education)
Copyright Law and Fair Use for Creative & Digital Artists & Filmmakers: Online Comic Book
Intellectual Property Law: Why Should I Care?
«««« TECH »»»»
«««« NEWS »»»»
DRIVING
First Driver License/ID (age 16) NEW & Graduated Driver License (NJ)
I Just Got My License - Now What?
Parent-Teen Driving Agreement (CDC)
Parent-Teen Driving Agreement (AAA) [Link opens a PDF]
FITNESS & SPORTS
Food, Fitness, Exercise & Sports
Mental Skills Training: Sport Imagery for Athletes
Nutrition: Eating for Sports (TeensHealth)
Sports Nutrition Webinar (Central Washington University, hosted on YouTube) NEW VIDEO
Sports Fitness links (Medline)
Steroids: Get Smart About Drugs
Youth Sports Participation During COVID-19: A Safety Checklist
Useful Websites: More Fitness links
Kids' Sports & Coaching Webfinder
«««« OUTDOORS »»»»
«««« HEALTH »»»»
HEALTH & SAFETY
«««« Click here for CRISIS LINKS »»»»
TeensHealth & TeensHealth Safety
Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers
Nutrition for Teens (My Plate)
See also Nutrition: Eating for Sports and related links, above.
How food companies design ads to manipulate you
Ingredients in popular snack foods can make them addictive NEW
10 Steps to Positive Body Image and related resources UPDATED LINK
Body Image Challenges Related to Disability
Eating Disorders in Males UPDATED LINK
Bullying: Teens Against Bullying
Webfinder: People with Disabilities
Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco: Tips for Teens UPDATED LINK
Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
SmokeFree TXT for teens: text QUIT to 47848
Love is Respect: Healthy Relationships
That's Not Cool: Is this abuse?
How to Make Healthy Decisions about Sex
Trevor Project: Q & A on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and more (for LGBTQ Youth)
Military Teens: Health & Wellness NEW
Military Youth and Teen Programs NEW
Distracted Walking; Heads up, Phones Down
Self-Help Brochures on Mental Health topics
Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Webfinder: Meditation & Stress Reduction AUDIO VIDEO
Talking to Your Parents (Or Other Adults)
Dealing With Your Parents' Divorce
Dealing with Parents who have a Drug or Alcohol Problem
Coping with Mental Illness in the Family
When Your Parents Have Mental Illness
Youth & Young Adult Books and Articles for people with LGBTQ parents [Archived pages]
Advice for teens with Alzheimer's Disease in their family
Helping teens understand dementia
TECH HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES:
Lithium-Ion Batteries: Fire Safety
Log Off Movement: Social Media Awareness
Social Media Tips for Teens NEW VIDEO
USEFUL WEBSITES: Health & Fitness & HOMEWORK LINKS: Health
«««« CRISIS LINKS »»»»
«««« FITNESS & SPORTS »»»»
JOBS/CAREERS
«««« PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR IDENTITY & YOUR PRIVACY WHILE JOB-HUNTING »»»»
After you get a job offer: Apply for NJ Working Papers
Career Readiness Resources (PTA)
Employment Considerations for Youth With Disabilities NEW
Disabilities: Resources for Job Seekers with Disabilities
Youth with Disabilities: Disclosure and the Workplace - Why, When, What, and How
More Career Resources for Students with Disabilities
Idealist.org Internships & Volunteer Opportunities
My Next Move: What Do You Want to Do for a Living?
Protect Yourself, Your Identity & Your Privacy while Job-Hunting
Soft Skills to Pay the Bills - Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success
Skills to Succeed Academy (Accenture)
Teens 4 Hire: Top 10 Qualities Employers Want Most
Teens 4 Hire: Best Things for Teens to Do if You Can't Land a Job
Young Entrepreneurs Tutorial: Starting a Business (U.S. Small Business Administration)
Young Workers: You Have Rights! (OSHA Worker Safety)
Young Worker Safety & Health (CDC)
Young Workers in NJ: Rights and Protections
More Resources for Young Workers (U.S. Department of Labor)
Babysitting Student Guide / Worksheets [Link opens a PDF]
Building Trades: Earn While You Learn Apprenticeships (Associated Builders and Contractors NJ)
Government Jobs & Internships for Students & Recent Graduates
Seasonal Jobs: NJ State Park Service
Instagram Scam Alert for aspiring social media influencers
Best practices for social media influencers and content creators
NEWS
«««« Disinformation Stops With You! »»»»
Fake News & Fact Checking links
Bad News game NEW INTERACTIVE
Spot the Troll NEW INTERACTIVE
Data in Journalism: Verification Handbook For Disinformation And Media Manipulation
Resilience Series Graphic Novels
DIY: How To Be an Ethical Journalist
Multimedia Tutorials (audio, video, photography, web, and more)
Story Craft: Nieman Storyboard
Student Voices UPDATED LINK
Universal Class: Journalism 101 UPDATED LINK «Library card login required»
Homework Links: Current Events, Issues & Controversies
«««« TECH »»»»
«««« MEDIA STUDIO »»»»
«««« ACTIVISM »»»»
«««« WRITING »»»»
OUTDOORS
See our annual Staycation Guide for information about outdoor recreation in South Plainfield and the surrounding area.
Highland Wood Environmental Reserve
South Plainfield Environmental Commission Facebook page
South Plainfield Recreation Department
Other local parks and recreational facilities
Staycation Guide: Things to do in the South Plainfield area
Summer Safety Center for Teens
«««« FITNESS »»»»
MONEY & SHOPPING
Be a Smart Consumer: Common Deceptive Marketing Tactics
Consumerpedia Podcast: Whatever Happened to Truth in Advertising? AUDIO
Elements of Money VIDEO
Hit the Road: A Financial Adventure Game INTERACTIVE
Money Talks: Financial Literacy Videos for Teens VIDEO
Credit Cards for Young Adults NEW
Next Gen Personal Finance Arcade Games & Interactives VIDEO INTERACTIVE
Reality Check: Calculate the Cost of Your Dream Life
The Story of Stuff videos UPDATED LINK VIDEO
So Kind Gift Registry (from Center for Biological Diversity)
Clean Clothes Campaign: Where Can I Buy 'Clean' Clothes?
More Green Living, Green Shopping, and Recycling links
«««« JOBS/CAREERS »»»»
TECH
«««« CYBER SAFETY: Online Safety Tips for Teens NEW, Connect Safely: Quick Guides, and Online Privacy & Security »»»»
«««« CYBER PRIVACY: Privacy Tips for Teens, 8 Creepy Things Your Smartphone Knows About You, and Apps & Privacy links »»»»
More COMPUTER & TECH RESOURCES
NOTE: Most of the sites below include VIDEOS INTERACTIVES
Introduction to Computer Science (Harvard)
Khan Academy: Computing Lessons NEW VIDEO
More free Computer Science courses (listed on ClassCentral.com)
Alice: Learn Computer Programming in a 3D Environment
Blender: Open Source 3D Content Creation Software
Cognitive Class: Free Data Science and Cognitive Computing Courses
Free Code Camp (Learn to code HTML, CSS, Javascript & more)
The Coding Train: Beginner-friendly creative coding tutorials & challenges
Inkscape: Free Vector Graphics Software
Lithium-Ion Batteries: Fire Safety
Log Off Movement: Social Media Awareness
Thonny: Python IDE for beginners
Invent Computer Games with Python & Scratch (eBooks are free to read online)
Scratch: Create and Share Interactive Stories, Games, Music & Art
Sketchup Free 3D Modeling Tool [NOTE: Free registration required]
SourceForge: Download, Develop, and Publish Free Open Source Software
