Children’s Programs

*Summer Reading for children ages 4 through grade five is ongoing through August 18. Children choose which books they wish to read, record them on their reading record, discuss the books with young adult volunteers and earn incentives for every five books read. A raffle will be held after the reading program ends on August 20 for grand prizes donated by area businesses.

 *Summer Craft Program: Ages 6 and up. Marie Walker will conduct a series of craft workshops on Mondays from 3 to 4 pm, beginning July 9 with a paint your own wooden sailboat craft. Sign up is required for each workshop. There is no fee for this program. Sign up in the children’s department.

 *Passport to Adventure: Children entering grades 2 & 3: Explore the folklore, music, culture, crafts, and foods from around the world with Elise Silkowski. The first stop on this trip around the world is Spain on July 11, 1–2:30 pm. Space is limited, sign up in the children’s department. Please let us know if your child has any food allergies. There is no fee for this program.

 *Fossil Hunter: See, touch, and learn about genuine fossils of all kinds with Walter Heinz on Friday, July 13, 3–4 pm in the meeting room. Mr Heinz has been hunting for and collecting fossils for more than 25 years. Recommended for ages 5 and older. Sign up at the children’s circulation deck. This is a free program sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

  Young Adult

*Roll Out More Fun With Duct Tape! Katie Stevenson will return Wednesday, July 11, from 1 to 2:30 pm to lead more duct tape projects. New this year — trapezoidal bag, roses, and iPod Nano/cellphone holder. For rising grades 5–12 (age 10 and up). Supply fee of $6 is payable at signup. Limited to 15 with preference given to Newtown residents. Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk or call 426-4533.

 *Creative Writing Summer Camp signups are now open for Newtown young people entering grades 6–9 who love to write. The groups will be led by Kathleen Kudlinski, prolific author and Master Teaching Artist for the State of Connecticut, on the following Mondays: July 9,16,30 and August 6,13 (no class July 23). Rising grades 6&7 will meet from 3:30–5:30 pm and rising grades 8–9 will meet 6–8 pm. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions. All sessions will allow time for writing and sharing stories as well as creative activities and one-on-one communication between adults and young people. Sharing is an important part of all writing groups. Space is limited to 10 in each class, with preference given to Newtown residents. Sign up at the Booth Main Floor Circulation Desk or call 426-4533. Speak to Margaret Brown, Young Adult Librarian, for more information.

 *Harry Potter Midnight Madness. Celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last book of the series by J.K. Rowling, on Friday night, July 20, from 10 pm to midnight. This program is limited to 50 young people entering grades 5–12 (or ages 10–18). Preference is given to Newtown residents. Parents must sign up their young people in person and sign a permission form at the Main Floor Circulation Desk by Monday, July 16. No phone signups. Books will be available to prepurchase for $21 and will be distributed at the end of the party. You don’t have to purchase the book to attend the party, but you do have to attend the party to purchase and get a book.

 

Adult Programs

*Nonfiction Book Discussion: Tuesday, September 4 at 1 pm: Teacher Man by Frank McCourt

 *Independent Film: Men at Work tells the hilarious story of four old friends who, driving back from a failed skiing trip, encounter a strange and enormous rock. The men’s frivolous attempt to dislodge the rock gradually disintegrates into a tale of betrayal, defeat, and renewed hope. Their middleclass problems and the absurd phallic rock venture gives rise to great humor.

*Free Concert Series: This year the library concerts will be at a new location, the bandstand at Sandy Hook Center (corner of Glen Road and Church Hill Road). Performances begin at 7 pm, and attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets for seating.

Saturday, July 14, Hollister-Thompson Band, Indie Rock; Saturday, August 4, Easton Banjo Society.

The Book Nook

*School is out and summer is here! Great books for kids are available at the Book Nook for summer reading. Stop by during regular library hours.

 *Art Exhibit — Our featured artist this month is Annette Zavada. Her current exhibit – “Abstract Expressionism Family Relations” is on view at the library during regular library hours.

 *Friends of the Library 32nd Annual Book Sale: June 30-July 4, from 9 am to 5 pm at the Reed Intermediate School (3 Trades Lane) More than 80 categories — More than 120,000 books. There is am admissions charge for Saturday only, $10 from 9 am to noon and $5 noon to 5 pm)