Press Release
SOUTH AMBOY — Whether you’re looking to read the latest graphic novel, join a book club, become healthier, or become more involved in the community, the Dowdell Library is waiting to help you. Here’s a tiny taste of what the Dowdell Library offers South Amboy this May!
The Dowdell Library received a grant to provide the community with telehealth services. The ongoing pandemic has spotlighted inequities in the healthcare system, especially among the community’s most marginalized members. NJHealthConnect@Your Library addresses health inequities in the community by providing iPads that are preloaded with apps and links to telemedicine sites for doctor appointments, multilingual health information, places for mental health support for adults and teens, the latest COVID updates, and crisis hotlines in New Jersey. Telemedicine is a more affordable, portable, and convenient lifeline for people with or without medical insurance to connect with a doctor. Telehealth iPads are available for private telehealth appointments for South Amboy Library cardholders. Contact the Dowdell Library at 732-721-6060 or comments@dowdell.org to make a reservation to ensure a time slot. For a complete list of healthcare apps available on the iPad, please visit Dowdell.org.
The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meets on May 6 and 20 from 3:30 to 4:30. TAB is a teen-led club that invites local teenagers to get more involved at the Library. TAB is for teens ages 13 – 17 that live in South Amboy. To join, please fill out an application at the Library.
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers: give yourself the gift of some much-needed R&R by bringing your little ones to the Dowdell’s toddler programs! Toddler Storytime with Ms. Maryanne runs Monday, May 9 from 10:30 – 11:30 am and May 20 from 1-2:00 pm. Your little learner can join Ms. Maryanne and have fun with magnets, felt board characters, crafts, and listen to delightful stories.
As students begin preparing for the end of the school year, the Dowdell Library is working to support them! Stop by the Library or log onto Dowdell.org and use Brainfuse for free! Brainfuse offers resources for school-age individuals & adults, including powerful study tools, homework help, live academic support, access to job search tools, and live job coaches. Visit Dowdell.org today and click on the Brainfuse logo. All you need is your library card number to access the site.
March Madness continues through MAY! Each slam dunk will earn a chance to win a new basketball! Stop by the Library, take your shot and earn a ticket. The drawing will take place on the last day of the month.
After a 72-year wait, the National Archives just released the 1950 Census since the U.S. government does not publish identifiable information about individuals until 72 years after it was collected. Currently, the National Archives offers 1790 to 1950 = 160 years’ worth of data. Census records include invaluable resource information that can help make connections across generations and provide your family history research building blocks.
As a strategy for locating earlier generations, family researchers generally find it most helpful to begin with the most current census and work backward. It was also suggested to search for the last/first name of the head of the household (plus state and county of residence if known), as that surname was usually written on the form. Multiple filters can be selected to narrow your search. To access the 1950 census, visit https://1950Census.Archives.gov. The community is welcome to drop in the Library for assistance.
In partnership with the city of South Amboy, the senior book club will meet on Monday May 23 at 10:30 am at the Library. Social distancing will be practiced. The city can provide transportation if needed. Please fill out a registration form in the Library to join.
The Library offers programs through our community partners, such as RWJ/St. Barnabas Hospital. Attend online programs like, Stretch It!!! A stretching and flexibility workshop with chair exercises or Stress Reduction thru Guided Imagery to help you relax and destress. A new limited weekly nutrition series will be held virtually every Wednesday. Topics covered will include how to read nutrition labels and learn about healthy beverages. On May 16, The RWJUH Stroke center will present two virtual workshops. One on learning about strokes and the other on how to help prevent them. To register for any of these programs, please email Kathleen.johnson@rwjbh.org. For a complete list of programs, visit Dowdell.org.
Finally, the Dowdell Library will switch to summer hours on Saturday, May 28. Summer hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm; and Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Current Library Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10 am – 8 pm, Wednesday & Friday 10 am – 5 pm, and Saturday 12-4 pm. Comments, queries, compliments? Please visit www.dowdell.org, or contact the Library at 732-721-6060 or comments@dowdell.org. The library is located off John O’Leary Blvd, adjacent to South Amboy Middle High School.
