Now On View

*“A Passport to Newtown’s Past,” a collection of 36 amazing photographs rescued by The Newtown Historical Images Archive depicting daily life in Newtown during the late 1800s through the mid 1900s, is on view until the end of the month.

The collection is on view in the library’s lower meeting room. The exhibit is sponsored by The Friends of the Library and the archive is a project of Newtown Historical Society.

*Sandy Hook resident Liz Alpert Fay will be presenting a collection of her hand-hooked rugs in the gallery space on the library’s main floor beginning next week.

Liz is an award-winning rug designer and hooker, and some of her original rugs will be on view from August 16 until September 30. In addition to sharing her works, the show will serve as a primer for the Annual Newtown Rug Show, which returns in November.

Children’s Programs

*Summer Reading: A reminder that our Summer Reading Program ends on August 20.

Children should plan to come into the library on or before that date to give their reports and collect their prizes.

*PJ Story Time: Our final PJ Story Time will take place on Wednesday, August 17, at 6:30 pm. The puppet play will be The Three Little Pigs. Recommended for ages 2 to 7 and no registration is required.

*Fall Story Times: Registration for our fall story times for children ages 2-5 will begin August 24 and continue through September 7. Children must be a resident of Newtown and  at least 2 years of age on or before September 12 to be eligible to participate. No phone registrations will be accepted.

Young Adults

*Visit the Young Adult Area under the bicycle all summer for fliers and new information on all our programs! Preference is given to Newtown residents.

Information is also available online at www.biblio.org/YAWebspot/

*Let’s Talk About: The next young adult book discussion will be on Wednesday, August 17, from 1 to 2 pm, in the library’s Story Room.

Join us for a discussion of Neal Shusterman’s Full Tilt, a 2006 YA Nutmeg nominee. In order to save his daredevil younger brother and himself, Blake must survive seven carnival rides before dawn. The catch is, each ride preys upon one of Blake’s fears.

The discussion is open to readers entering grade six and up.

*Make A Memory Box: Young adults (ages 10 and up) are invited to sign up for a Memory Box workshop to be offered at the library on Monday, August 22, from 2 to 4 pm. This workshop is limited to just 15 participants, with preference given to Newtown residents.

Collect your souvenirs, memorabilia and computer printouts or photocopies of photographs and join Katie Stevenson to learn creative ways to decorate a special box for your keepsakes. Visit the Young Adult area of the library to see an example of what we’ll be creating.

Cost is $5 for supplies, which needs to be paid when you sign up. Visit the main floor circulation desk to sign up, or call the library for additional information.

Adult Programs

*Books Under The Big Tent: The 30th Annual Labor Day Book Sale will be held at Fairfield Hills this year.

Watch for more details!

*Stunning September: Programs being planned for September at C.H. Booth Library include a month-opening discussion of Fred Ikle’s book Every War Must End on September 6 at 1 pm; a discussion of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence on Monday, September 12, at 1 pm; a Pakistani cooking class on September 14; a book signing with Cheryl Wicks and Lorraine Warren, the co-authors of Ghost Tracks, on September 15; an author talk and discussion with Dr Herrick on “100 Q&A’s on Depression” on September 20; and a slide show presentation about Spanish gardens with Patricia Carr on September 29.

Look for more details on these and other programs in future columns.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached at 426-4533.