Holiday Closing

Please note the library will be closed on Sunday, October 12, and Monday, October 13, in observance of Columbus Day.

Now On View

*Photography Exhibit: Carol Gibson, a photographic designer, will be exhibiting her work at CH Booth Library through Wednesday, October 29, during regular library hours.

Programs For Children

*Halloween Craft: Children ages 6 and up are invited to make a Halloween craft with Mrs Walker on Saturday, October 18,from 1 to 2 pm, in the story hour room.

Space is limited, and a $3 material fee is due upon registration. Sign up at the children’s circulation desk.

*Preschool Music Program: Professional singer and musician Francine Wheeler will entertain young children with both familiar and original songs on Monday, October 20, at 10 am, in the library’s meeting room.

The program is recommended to ages 1 to 5, and there is no registration required.

*Register for Story Time: Registration for the next story hour session begins October 14 and continues through October 22.  Classes are offered for children ages 12-24 months, 2-3 year olds and 4-5 year olds.

Classes meet once a week for six weeks.

Registration needs to be done in person at the children’s circulation desk beginning. No phone registrations will be accepted. Children must be a resident of Newtown to participate in this free program.

*Adam’s Amphibians & Reptiles: Adam Harris will bring a variety of amphibians and reptiles to the library on Friday, October 24, at 3:30 pm.

Adam will talk about how each animal is suited to live in their natural habitat, and there will be an opportunity for children to view the animals up close and ask questions during the program. The event is recommended for ages 5 to 12. Registration is requested and can be done at the children’s circulation desk.

Young Adult Programs

*The Mask & Wig Players, the young adult dramatic group led by the marvelous Mrs Martha Bishop, is underway for the season on Tuesdays from 3 to 4:30 in the Story Room. All Newtown students in grades 6-12 are welcome at any time.

We’ll be doing a play for Halloween, plus honing our storytelling skills, encompassing all the acting skills you can muster. Finally, we’ll explore mask-making along with music to liven up the staging.

Call the library’s Young Adult department for additional information or just join us one Tuesday afternoon.

*Creative Writing: Poetry Outside the Box will be offered Mondays, October 20 through November 17, from 6 to 8 pm each week. Mrs Liz Arneth, retired English teacher and Newtown resident, will lead the five-week program.

More information is on the YAWebSpot (biblio.org/YAWebSpot), or from the YA Librarian. Additional details will also be printed in this space next month.

*Picture Magic: Young people in grades six and up (and parent or guardian) are invited to join us for “Picture Magic: The Art of Digital Manipulation” on Saturday, October 25, from 9:30 to 11:30 am.

Participants will learn to use free Internet resources, including Picasa, to edit and share images. Instructors are Ken Graff, an experienced professional photographer, and Anne Eigen, the digital photo instructor for Newtown Parks & Recreation.

There is a limit of ten students, and registration can be done at the main floor circulation desk or by calling the library.

Adult And Family Programs

*Historical Society program preview: Newtown Historical Society will welcome Dan Wolinsky on Tuesday, October 14, at 7:30 pm. Mr Wolinsky will present “From Second Banana to Headliner: The Process of Presidential Succession” in the library’s lower meeting room.

Far from the days when a Presidential candidate would choose an opponent for a running mate in order to silence him in the closet of the Vice Presidency, we are watching a campaign in which the interest and excitement following the under-ticket is nearly as great as that of the top candidates.

Not paid much attention in the first half century under the Constitution, the vice Presidency suddenly took on the importance for the country in 1841, when William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia and John Tyler became President.

There is no charge for the program, and refreshments will be served.

*The People’s Choice: A Mini Series.

In America it seems like politics is about doing whatever you have to do to get elected. Sometimes it’s low and dirty, sometimes it’s taking cheap shots, but if you don’t get the people’s vote you end up as a minor footnote in the history books. During this election season we will read a classic novel, watch a hit film and hear a lecture featuring the music and history of the 1856 US Presidential campaign.

All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren will be discussed on Wednesday, October 15, at 7:30 pm. Julie Stern will lead the discussion.

Primary Colors will be screened on Wednesday, October 22, at 7:30, and Julie Stern will again lead a discussion following the movie.

To conclude the series, Rick Spencer will give a concert and lecture on the backbiting, mudslinging US Presidential campaign that pitted Buchanan vs Freemont. The songs and poems are insightful, humorous, patriotic but mostly inflammatory! Mr Spencer’s program will be Wednesday, October 29, also at 7:30.

Sign up for one or all three of these lectures at the main circulation desk or by calling the library at 426-4533.

*Identifying Possible Delays: A four-person panel will discuss developmental stages in primary school-aged children and the signs and behaviors that may indicate something is wrong when a new series, “Identifying Possible Delays in Your Child’s Language, Social Skills and Learning” begins on Tuesday, October 28, at 7 pm.

The first program of the series, called “Is Something Wrong,” will include special education teacher Nonna Neal, licensed social worker Rose Coladarci, speech pathologist Mary Connell, and occupational therapist Lynn Friebel. The discussion will be moderated by Danbury school psychologist Joan Nash.

Subsequent programs will include “How To Get Help: Negotiating the Special Education Maze” on Tuesday, November 18, and “Learning About Additional Services in the Community,” on Tuesday, December 2. Both of these programs will also begin at 7 pm, and additional information will be offered in upcoming weeks.

C.H. Booth Library is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 8 pm; Friday from 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; and Sunday from noon to 5 pm (closed Sundays in July and August).