Contract Library &

Contract Manager

Collaborating Partners

Project Focus

East Brunswick Public Library,

East Brunswick, NJ

MaryEllen Firestone, Library Assistant Director

East Brunswick School Libraries (3 school libraries)

Project expects to result in a teacher’s resource center in the school district, an expanded parent’s resource center in the public library, and monthly programs for siblings of autistic children.

The Children's Institute (TCI) School, Verona, NJ

Carol Piersa, School Librarian

Caldwell Public Library

This project is related to the school curriculum for research skills and also socialization. Some HS students at TCI have been working in the library and will continue to do so; some will do research in the public library; there will be public programs for the community and book talk discussions between TCI students and students from Mt Saint Dominic School.

Saint Peter's University Hospital Medical Library, New Brunswick, NJ

Jeannine Creazzo, Library Manager

Hospital Pediatric Dept and the Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County

Hospital library is setting up a new consumer health section and will start with autism resources. Staff will work with the county association which now includes a focus on ASD in its charge.

Scotch Plains Public Library, Scotch Plains, NJ

Meg Kolaya, Library Director

Fanwood Public Library, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school libraries and the Children's Specialized Hospital Library, Mountainside, NJ

Project expects to result in a staff training video with a professional film maker as well as informational programs for the local communities.

West Caldwell Public Library, West Caldwell, NJ

April Judge, Library Director

Caldwell/West Caldwell Recreation Department and Caldwell College (Psych Dept)

Project expects to result in programs for children with autism in three age levels, including pet therapy; includes formal staff training to work with the autism community.

Edison Public Library, Edison, NJ

Judy Mansbach, Library Director

ASPEN (local nonprofit) and a group of Edison parents, PEACH -- parents of children with autism. The Edison Township Council passed a resolution supporting these groups.

The library is expanding library resources and doing programs in the schools for children with autism and informational programs for the community. The parent group included a signed petition of support for the Edison PL’s application.