WESTFIELD — The Westfield Memorial Library continues to offer a diversified menu of in-person and virtual presenters for large audiences and technical assistance for individuals. The library is located at 550 East Broad Street.
On Tuesday, April 30, at 7 p.m., historical re-enactor Ken Serfass will present “Grant’s Friendship with Lincoln.” In his memoirs, Grant confessed that he was “by no means a ‘Lincoln man’” in the years before the firing of the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter, S.C. By the time General Grant accepted the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, however, the cauldron of four years of war had forged a strong partnership between Grant and Lincoln — one that, for all intents and purposes, saved the Union.
Mr. Serfass puts on General Grant’s uniform and lectures as Grant, displaying a wealth of knowledge regarding this general and later 18th President of the United States. For the past 48 years, Mr. Serfass has studied Ulysses S. Grant continuously and has presented his living-history reenactment of Grant since 2004. He has presented other historical figures at the library as well.
Until Thursday, June 20, the library will continue to offer its new program of one-on-one technical help, every other week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sessions run for 30 minutes between 1:30 and 3 p.m. People interested in receiving help must register in advance through the library’s online calendar (only one time slot per day). Technical help is available in the Local History Room on the second floor of the library.
A librarian provides assistance with cell phones, tablets and computers in areas such as connecting to the Internet, downloading apps, downloading digital eBooks and eAudiobooks, using library apps such as Hoopla or Libby, and the library’s databases and other resources. However, the library is not able to fill out forms/applications, provide legal/medical advice, or fix devices.
On Wednesday, May 1, at 3 p.m., the library will host another author in the Virtual Author Series — New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt. He will speak about his debut non-fiction work, “The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I.” This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.
September 29, 1913: the steamship Dresden is halfway between Belgium and England. On board is one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine is on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrives at his destination. He vanishes during the night and headlines around the world wonder if it was an accident, suicide or murder.
After rising from an impoverished European childhood, Diesel had become a multi-millionaire with his powerful engine that does not require expensive petroleumbased fuel. In doing so, he became not only an international celebrity but also the enemy of two extremely powerful men — Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and the richest man in the world. The Kaiser wanted the engine to power a fleet of submarines that would finally allow him to challenge Great Britain’s Royal Navy. But Diesel had intended for his engine to be used for the betterment of the world.
Mr. Brunt reopens the case and provides a compelling new conclusion about Diesel’s fate. He is the host of the top-rated SiriusXM author podcast “Dedicated with Doug Brunt.” A Philadelphia native, he lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children.
To register for these programs, sign up for a library card or to learn more about the library’s resources, visit the library’s website at https://wmlnj.org/ . Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
