Now On View

*Newtown resident and artisan Mike Agius has very kindly lent the library his beautiful collection of wooden bowls carved from locally sourced wood.

Our thanks go to Mike for sharing the results of his expertise with library patrons.

*Curator Mary Thomas would like to invite other residents of Newtown to share their collections with library patrons for display on a temporary basis. Please call the library if you are interested in sharing your special interest with others.

Programs For Children

*Register for Story Times: Registration for the next session of story hours for 3-5 year olds will take place March 17-24. Children must be at least 3 years old on or before March 29 and a resident of Newtown to be eligible for this free program.

Classes are offered on Monday and Tuesday at 10 am and on Monday and Wednesday at 1 pm. The six-week story time session begins the week of March 29 and ends the week of May 10.

Young Adult Programs

*Creative Writing Group: Sign-ups are open for “Creative Writing: Mysteries and Adventure Thrillers,” which will meet on Thursday evenings starting April 1.

The group will be led by Julie Stern, assisted by Philip Kotch. The group will meet from 6 to 8 pm on five Thursdays, April 1, 8, 15 and 29 and May 6. There will be no class during school break, and a makeup date of May 20 is being held if needed.

There is a limit of ten students in grades 6-8. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions, and preference is given to Newtown students and residents. There is no fee. Sign up online or call the library for details.

*Chess Lessons: Another series of three two-hour lessons, running 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday mornings, will commence March 20 and continue March 27 and April 10.

These lessons are for students ages 9-12, who must know how to move the pieces and the basic rules of chess. Instructor is US Chess Federation Expert Glenn Budzinski.

A $25 fee is payable at first class.  Instructor:  US Chess Federation Expert Glenn Budzinski. Registration can be done online or by calling the library.

*Battle of the Books Update: A practice round is planned for Wednesday, March 24, from 4 to 5 pm (snow date Thursday, March 25). At least one member of each team must attend.

Adult Programs

*Literature And Life, A Three-Part Lecture Series: In three lectures, Mark Schenker will discuss the relationship between literature and life for readers who see themselves as what Virginia Woolf called “the common reader”: the regular, literate reader who seeks more than pleasure and escapism from literature but who is not a professional critic or literary practitioner.

Programs will be on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 pm and will open with “The Role of Literature in Life” on March 17. Subsequent lectures will be “Charles Dickens” on April 14 and then “James Joyce” on April 28.

There is no charge but space is limited and so registration is requested. Visit the library’s website to register.

*Book Discussions: The Evening Book Discussion Group will meet Thursday, March 18, at 7:30 pm, to talk about The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

*Independent Film Series: Join us at 1 pm on Wednesday, March 24, for a screening of Mine (United States, 81 minutes).

*Be Bear Aware: Master Wildlife Conservationist and bear enthusiast Felicia Ortner will be presenting a program on black bears on Thursday, April 8, at 7 pm.

Felicia will dispel some of the myths associated with bears, provide natural history, information and talk about some of the results of the black bear research conducted by wildlife biologists in the state. Please register online or by calling the library.

C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street in Newtown. Call 426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org to register for any of the above listings, and for information on additional programs and offerings.