Now On View

*Spirit Dolls: Paula Brinkman’s career has unfolded gradually, from art buyer and freelance illustrator to substitute teacher, Broadway wig stylist, and now doll maker. Her latest art has been to create spirit dolls, each of which is handmade, unique, and about seven inches tall. “A Collection of Spirit Dolls by Paul Brinkman” is on view in the Olga Knoepke Memorial Meeting room until November 30.

Children’s Programs

*Author Program and Quilt Show: The Author Friendship quilts created by volunteers under the guidance of the Sew Together Gals and quilted by the Scrap Bag Quilters are now complete. We have four beautiful unique quilts featuring the signatures of 20 distinguished children’s authors and illustrators.

Four of the authors and/or illustrators — Leonard Everett Fisher, Nancy Tafuri, Jennifer Thermes, and Paul Meisel — will be on hand Sunday, November 18, for a book signing in the meeting room from 1 to 3 pm. Copies of books by each of these authors will be available for purchase during the program, or just come to meet these talented folks.

Refreshments will be served, and no signup is required.

Programs For Young Adults

*Return of The Writers Salon: The 5th Annual Young Writers’ Salon for ‘tweens and teens who like to write will be on Sunday, December 9, at 3 pm. Young people in grades 6–10 are invited to read their original poetry, stories, and other work to an admiring audience in our coffeehouse atmosphere. Snow date is December 16.

Participants must register and submit their pieces by December 4. There will be a rehearsal with snacks at 1 on the day of the program.

Sign up at the Main Floor Desk or call 426-4533.

Adult Programs

*Got Stuff? Stratford Senior Reference Librarian Anne Killheffer will show you how to uncover the history and value of your antiques and collectibles by using tools at the library and the Internet — cautiously — to dig up valuable information, on Saturday, November 17, at 3 pm.

The seminar will include a tour by library staff of the library’s 3,000-plus collection of books on antiques and collectibles.

*Book Discussions: Upcoming programs will include the Daytime Group meeting on Monday, November 19, at 1 pm, to discuss Saturday by Ewan McEwan, and the Non-Fiction Book Group gathering to discuss The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman on Tuesday, December 4, at 7:30 pm.

Newcomers are always welcome.

*Searching for Shakespeare: The series continues in November with a focus on Othello. A screening of the 1995 film starring Laurence Fishburne will be offered on Tuesday, November 20, at 7 pm, in the lower meeting room. Kenneth Branaugh is also featured in this story of jealousy and rage.

A lecture by Dr Mark Schenker from Yale College will be on Tuesday, November 27, at 7 pm, and then a discussion led by retired English teacher Barbara Rudolf will take place on Thursday, November 29, at 7 pm.

For additional information about these programs visit the library’s website and click on “Learn More About the Shakespeare Series.”

*Our History, in Print! On Wednesday, November 28, at 7 pm, the library will host a book signing to unveil the latest book by Dan Cruson, The Cyrenius H. Booth Library & Earlier Reading Institutions: A History. The Town Historian will speak for about 20 minutes on some of his findings, then answer questions.

Paperback editions of the town historian’s new book will be sold that evening. They are priced at $12 each.

The library recently expand its hours and is now open earlier every morning. The new hours are Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 9:30 am to 8 pm; Friday from 11 am to 5 pm; and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. The library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached at 426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org.