Children’s Programs

Summer Reading Program: Sign-up is on-going for this year’s summer reading program, “Readers of the Round Table.” The poster, bookmark, and reading record is an original design by our own Bruce Degen. Children ages 4 through grade 5 can sign up any time between June 26 and August 17. Participants will receive incentives for every 5 books or every 50 pages that they read during the above dates. My Place has donated a free pizza slice, Dunkin Donuts a free donut, Big Y a free helium balloon, and the Friends of the Library a free paperback for those who finish the program and read 20 books.

Middle School Madness is an independent reading program for young adults entering grade 6 and up. Newtown businesses have donated 30 prizes that will be raffled off after August 18. Participants do not have to register. They simply fill out an entry form for every 50 pages read between June 26 and August 18 and enter it in the box at the library. A special thank you to Marie Walker and the generosity of area businesses that donated to this worthwhile program.

Young People’s Production

Encore! Encore! The Young People’s Production will be holding another workshop July 12 through August 4. Practices will be held on Thursdays from 1 pm to 3 pm and on Saturdays from 11 am to 12 pm. Signup will run from July 2 through July 7 at the children’s desk in the library. The session will be limited to 20 children between the ages of 7 and 11.

Musical Mondays: Music, stories, and a children’s book on video will be offered every Monday in July (2, 9, 16, 23, and 30). The program will take place in the meeting room from 10:30-11:15 am. No registration is required. Recommended for ages 3-6. Erik Bagger will perform July 2 and July 9.

P.J. Story Hours: Listen to bedtime stories, sing songs, and enjoy a puppet show in your pajamas Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:15 pm, July 11 through August 1. No registration is required; p.j.’s optional. Fun for the entire family.

Adult Programs

Summer Concerts in the Library’s Backyard: The library’s summer music series will be continuing on Friday, July 13, at 7 pm with an outdoor concert by Mary Beth Sippin and the Diamond Spurs. The Diamond Spurs combine styles of traditional and contemporary country, western swing, and bluegrass to create a sound that’s energetic and diverse. So grab a picnic dinner and some friends and join us under the stars for a great evening of music and fun in the Booth backyard. The concert is free and open to the public. The third concert in the series will be with River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs on August 17.

Daytime Book Group: The daytime book group will be meeting on Monday, July 9, from 1 to 2:30 pm to discuss We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. The meeting will take place on the third floor in Special Collections. This novel by Oates tells the story of the Mulvaney family, a family blessed by all that makes life sweet – a hard working father, a loving mother, three fine sons, and a pretty, bright daughter. They are confident in their love for one another and their position in the rural community of Mt Ephraim, New York. But something happens on Valentine’s Day 1976 – an incident that is hushed up in the town and never spoken of in the Mulvaney home – that rends the fabric of their family life... with tragic consequences. Join us for good fellowship and discussion. Future selections include The Missing World by Margot Livesy on August 13 and Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro on September 10. Please call the library at 426-4533 if you have any questions.

Free Blood Pressure Screening: The screening is available from 10:00 am to noon the fourth Wednesday of every month in the Genealogy room. The next screening date will be June 27. This service is provided free of charge and is sponsored by Ashlar of Newtown.