@ Your Library
January 2026
New Jersey's Revolutionary Rivals:
The Untold Story of Colonel Tye & Captain Huddy 
 
When: Friday, January 23rd
1:00 PM
 
Kick off America 250, the US's 250th Anniversary, with author Rick Geffken.
Geffken will share the stories of two obscure enemies who died and rose to fame for their beliefs in independence. 
___

After the Battle of Monmouth Court House in June 1778, the Revolutionary War in Monmouth County devolved into skirmishes between local militias and British Loyalists. Chief among these warring factions were revered rebel hero Captain Joshua Huddy and his fierce rival, a runaway enslaved Black man called Colonel Tye who fought for the British. Their deaths would jeopardize Benjamin Franklin's peace treaty negotiations in Paris and even lead to Marie Antoinette's pleas to George Washington to stop the killings.
 
Register Here
  
 
For Youth
Family Storytime
Every Wednesday at 11:00 AM
Join Ms. Laura for stories, songs, and fun for everyone in the Children's room!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Fridays: Music and Movement with Ms. Jenni
Friday, January 2nd 11:00 AM
Let's sing, play, and move with Ms. Jenni as she takes us on musical adventures designed especially for our littlest patrons! Each first Friday of the month at 11:00am, join us as we explore with instruments, dance, and song. Recommended for ages 0-4. Caregivers must attend with their child. Registration is *highly recommended*.
 
Register Here
 
 
Thursday CRAFTernoon: Make a Spy Decoder!
Thursdays, January 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Come by the Maker Space every Thursday at 3:30pm to create your own unique craft! This month's craft: Celebrate One Book, One Cranbury's Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and all things codes and ciphers by making your very own Spy Decoder Wheel! We provide all the materials you'll need, and in just a few steps, you'll be sending and receiving coded messages with the help of this clever device. Registration is *required* to participate. Recommended for ages 8-13.  Register for additional dates on our website.
 
Register Here
 
 
Storytelling Theatre with McCarter Theatre Center: Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus! 
Saturday, January 10th 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Bring your favorite stories to life with McCarter Theatre Center’s exciting and immersive Storytelling Theatre Workshops! After a fun and energetic warmup, we will read a story, prompting questions about the world, characters, and themes along the way. Following this, students will be guided through an immersive and theatrical exploration of the work, inviting them to imagine themselves in the shoes of the characters and in the world of the story. These engaging workshops help develop creative problem-solving, collaboration, imagination, and self-expression! Our first workshop will focus on Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus Universe! Recommended for ages 8 to 12. Registration is *highly encouraged*. This program will be held in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2.
 
Register Here
 
 
Storytime in Motion! 
Friday, January 16th 11:00 AM
Join us as Cranbury Public Library partners with the American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School for an interactive story time sure to keep you on your toes!  Let your youngest learners twirl, jump, and imagine through ballet stories and an interactive ballet demonstration - the perfect program to help us celebrate the Arts! Suggested for ages 21/2 to 12. Registration is *highly recommended*.
 
Register Here
 
 
Toddler Craft Tuesday: Melted Snowmen! 
Tuesday, January 20th 11:00 AM
Calling all crafty toddlers! Join us in the Maker Space for a special seasonal craft perfect for busy little hands. This month: Let's make Melted Snowman Paintings! Recommended for ages 2 to 5. Registration is *highly encouraged.*
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
Pajama Storytime: Northern Lights Edition! 
Thursday, January 22nd 7:00 PM
Wear your snuggliest PJs, bring your favorite stuffie and join us for a special Pajama Storytime! We'll build some blanket forts and gather round for stories to guide us straight on to bedtime. If we're lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis inside the library! Recommended for ages 2-5, but all ages are welcome! Registration is *highly encouraged* for this event.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
For Teens
Teen Mashup Hour (or Whatever)  
Thursdays, January 8th and 22nd 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
 
On the second and fourth Thursday each month, tweens & teens can drop by the Teen Room at 4:00pm for the Teen Mashup Hour (or Whatever). Each month there will be a suggested book to read & discuss and a guided craft to work on - but attendees are welcome to discuss whatever and work on whatever they'd like. Attendees will also learn of volunteer opportunities available at the Library. Light snacks will be offered.

This program is intended for ages 11-18.

The Teen Mashup Hour will meet on the second and fourth Thursday each month at 4:00pm in the Teen Room (unless otherwise stated).
 
Register Here
 
 
For Adults
Winter Coat Drive 
December - January 
Cranbury Public Library is hosting a Coat Drive! We are accepting donations of gently used coats, gloves, scarves, and boots. All donations will go directly to Rise, a local organization dedicated to supporting families in need. 
 
Please bring donated items to the circulation desk, and a staff member will assist you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pilates for Wellness 
Mondays, January 5th, 12th, and 26th 4:30 PM 
Candice Wisaksono is a certified Pilates instructor dedicated to guiding others toward deep relaxation, healing, and inner balance. With a passion for holistic wellness, she combines the restorative power of Pilates to help her students find peace, clarity, and renewal. Her classes offer a nurturing space to release stress, reconnect within, and restore harmony to the body, mind, and spirit. Please bring your own mat.  Walk - ins are welcome. 

Register HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
Button Maker Monday! 
Mondays, January 12th and 26th
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Want to gussy up that backpack? Or give your jacket the flair it deserves? Come by the Maker Space every Monday from 3:30-4:30pm with your pre-printed designs, or draw an original piece, and we'll make a button out of it! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cardio Dance Yoga 
Tuesday, January 6th 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Stephanie Cuddahy is a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer who has taught classes in several local gyms, including most recently RWJ Fitness and Wellness Hamilton and the Hamilton Area YMCA.  Her cardio chair dance class came from her love of low impact aerobic exercise and the need to make the class appropriate for all bodies and fitness levels. AND it needs to be fun!
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spinning Yarns 
Tuesdays, January 6th and 20th 6:30 PM 
Register for additional dates on our website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cooking Workshop: South Indian Masala Dosas  
Saturday, January 10th 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Warm and spicy! Masala dosas are a perfect food for a cold day!
Enjoy cooking South Indian style crepes eaten with a delicious
lentil soup and coconut chutney. Find out about the
difference between cuisines from North India and South India.
Learn about the Asian Food Pyramid and the spices used in
Indian cooking. Join us to cook this simple vegetarian dish
that is healthy, mouth-watering and appetizing. Potential Allergens. All ages, adults with families are welcome. Space is limited. Registration required.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
Gentle Yoga 
Wednesdays, January 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Join us for an hour of gentle stretching, breath work, and meditation. This class is perfect for beginners or experienced practitioners.  Please bring your own mat.  Walk-ins-welcome.
Beth Glasberg  has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. After studying the mind-body connection as part of her work as a behavior analyst, she decided she needed a deeper education in yoga. The more she learned, the more she fell in love. She became certified as a yoga instructor through the Yoga Renew program and joined the Yoga Alliance. Since then, Beth has been teaching both foundational and vinyasa flow classes regularly. She is also in the process of becoming certified to work with individuals who have suffered a trauma. She is passionate about using movement and breath to build strength, flexibility, balance, and peace, and committed to making the practice available to individuals of all fitness levels and backgrounds. When not on the mat, you can find Beth enjoying time with her family, visiting new places, or relaxing at the beach. in Motion Fitness is a boutique fitness studio located in Princeton, NJ.  Walk-ins welcome, no registration required.
 
Register Here
 
 
Caregiver Support Group 
Monday, January 12th 11:00 AM
There are different types of caregivers and ALL are welcomed. This is a judgment free safe place to share, to learn and/or to just listen. It’s a place of love, empathy and respect. It is a place to share the triumphs, the challenges, the disappointments, the accomplishments or simply a place to vent and reset ourselves so we can carry on one day at a time. Stress - free, safe environment respectful of everybody's level of comfort and pace of engagement.

Kat welcomes you with open arms! Kat Verdi is a Certified Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Trainer. She serves as a sound referral resource for anyone caring for a loved one. Her mission are the “3E’s” - to Educate, Empower and Encourage caregivers.

This support group will take place in Meeting Room 3. Meets the 2nd month of every month. 
 
Register Here
 
 
Senior Arts & Crafts with Caregiver Coach, Kat
Monday, January 12th 1:00 PM
Welcome to Senior Arts & Crafts with Caregiver Coach, Kat Typically, each month there will be a craft for Seniors to enjoy. Occasionally there may be a bingo session, but that will be announced a few weeks before.  Meet new people, share stores, and have a great time!  Please note, that for craft months, there is a limit of 12 participants. For Bingo, there is not limit on the number of participants.
Located in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2.
 
Register Here
 
 
CPL Cinemates Film Club 
Monday, January 12th 6:00 PM
Movie-lovers of all kinds are welcome! Whether you're a casual viewer or well-versed in auteur theory and the works of André Bazin, we invite all who wish to share in the cinematic experience and spirited (but civil) discussions. Screenings will vary in rating, so we advise using discretion on deciding whether to attend a screening.
 
This program is suggested for teens and older.
Refreshments will be provided, but you may also bring your own snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. Most importantly: bring your love for movies!  This program will meet in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2 on the third Monday of every month.  
 
Each month's selection is inspired by a specific theme and is voted on by club members. Be sure to submit your email address on the questionnaire below to be included in the voting for each month's film!

Below is a short questionnaire to assess what types of films participants would like to screen. Please feel free to share your thoughts by submitting a form and be sure to leave your email to stay up to date with Cinemates happenings!

Cinemates Film Club Questionnaire
 
Register Here
 
                                                   
iPhone 101
Tuesday, January 13th 12:30 PM
Learn all about how to use your iPhone or iPad!  In this workshop, we will have an open forum for any troubles you might encounter with the iPhone or other Apple devices. In previous sessions, we discussed the camera, security measures, and data storage. Beginner to intermediate experience with an iPhone or Apple device is suggested.  Meeting Room 1
 
Register Here
 
 
Afternoon Book Discussion
Wednesday, January 21st 1:30 PM
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month in Meeting Room 3.

January Title: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
 
Register Here
 
 
New Jersey's Revolutionary Rivals:
The Untold Story of Captain Tye and Captain Huddy
Friday, January 23rd 1:00 PM
Kick off America 250, the US's 250th Anniversary, with author Rick Geffken. Geffken will share the stories of two obscure enemies who died and rose to fame for their beliefs in independence. 

After the Battle of Monmouth Court House in June 1778, the Revolutionary War in Monmouth County devolved into skirmishes between local militias and British Loyalists. Chief among these warring factions were revered rebel hero Captain Joshua Huddy and his fierce rival, a runaway enslaved Black man called Colonel Tye who fought for the British. Their deaths would jeopardize Benjamin Franklin's peace treaty negotiations in Paris and even lead to Marie Antoinette's pleas to George Washington to stop the killings. 
 
Register Here
 
 
 
Coffee and a Concert featuring Black Cat Habitat 
Saturday, January 24th 1:00 PM
Join us for an afternoon of live music and refreshments featuring the indie rock band, Black Cat Habitat. 
 
Black Cat Habitat is a soulful and shamelessly melodic original indie rock band with groove tendencies and beautifully worn ‘90’s sensibilities. Under the backdrop of upbeat rock and groove, their songs center on the themes of love, overcoming and finding your own habitat. Singer-songwriter Rachel McCullough, with guitarist Neal Blumberg, bassist Danny Walker, and drummer Jay B. Wade take the audience on a high-rev ride with powerful "wickedly sweet" vocals, slamm'n beats, and rich, textured guitar.  Black Cat Habitat’s unique sound reflects the band’s wide-ranging influences. Picture "If the Cranberries met the Allman Brothers and grooved it out." 

Check out their music at: https://blackcathabitat.com/
 
Register Here
 
 
Literary Cafe
Monday, January 26th 7:00 PM
Discuss your recent reads with fellow bibliophiles. This discussion group promises thought-provoking and engaging discourse. Meets the 4th Monday of the month in Meeting Room 3.
 
 
Stars: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly - An Afternoon Q&A with Journalist and Cranbury resident Barbara Hoffman
Thursday, January 29th 4 - 5 PM
Join us in hearing about everything from the sweet to salacious lives of the rich and famous, as we sit down with Cranbury's own, Barbara Hoffman, to discuss her 40+ years in journalism. Following the interview, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. 

Barbara was a features writer and editor at the New York Post. She has written for the Bergen Record and started her career at the Gloucester Daily Times in Gloucester, MA. Her freelance work has been published in Cosmopolitan, Parenting Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, Highlights for Children and "Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother." She is also the co-author of two nonfiction titles, The Uncle Sam Diet and Joseph Trippetti & Cloisonné.
 
Register Here
 
 
Special Announcements
NEW MUSEUM PASSES COMING SOON!
FREE with your library card!
Visit the circulation desk to borrow your pass today!    
Click Here to learn more
 
 
Kanopy 
Get free access to thousands of movies with your library card!  
Simply add your Cranbury Public Library card number and PIN.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notary services are now available by appointment  
The Cranbury Public Library offers, free of charge, notary public services for the benefit of the residents of Cranbury and for Cranbury Public Library cardholders. In lieu of fees, a donation may be made to
the Cranbury Public Library Foundation. Persons seeking notary public services who are not Cranbury residents or Cranbury cardholders shall be charged a $2.50 fee per signature.
 
Schedule an Appointment Here
 
*Please note our Notary is not an attorney licensed to practice law and may not give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matter or accept fees for legal advice.*
 
 
Now offering free digital access to the NY Times and WSJ for CPL cardholders! 
Links to the NY Times and WSJ can be accessed from our homepage, and from the Digital Services page on our website. 
 

 
Library Hours and Closings
LIBRARY CLOSED 
Thursday, January 1st
and
Monday, January 19th
  
Monday thru Thursday - 10 AM to 8 PM
Friday - 10 AM to 5 PM
Saturday - 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday - 12 PM to 4 PM
 

Cranbury Public Library
30 Park Place West
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512
609-722-6992

www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/