Now On View

*Precious Moments In Your Life: To help the library celebrate its 75th anniversary, Newtown resident Carole Lee Berlin has placed her Precious Moments figurines on public view. Ms Berlin’s collection fills two display cases on the library’s main floor, one just near the stairs and elevator corridor and the other within the Children’s Department.

Ms Berlin received her first Precious Moments collectibles, called “Loving Is Sharing,” 30 years ago while dating Maurice Berlin, who would become her husband. Today her collection numbers more than 150 of the dewy-eyed figurines and includes pieces currently in production as well as retired and suspended production figures.

The collection will remain on view until July 13, and Ms Berlin has even placed a card near a figurine of a little girl holding a cake that says Happy 75th Birthday Booth Library.

 

Children’s Programs

*Summer Reading Kick-off and Children’s Book Sale: June 26 is the first day of the C.H. Booth Library Summer Reading Program for children ages 4 through grade 5. This independent reading program is designed to encourage children to read all summer long. Sign ups begin June 26, and the program will run through August 18.

Also that day, Full Effect Productions will perform Paws, Claws, Scales & Magic Tales at 11 am and 1 pm.

 For Young Adults

*Cool Drinks & Cool Stories: Join us Wednesday, June 27, from 4 to 5:30 pm, for the Tweens & Teens Summer Reading Kickoff for rising sixth graders and above.

Beat the heat with a delicious fruit smoothie made just for you, then settle back to listen to myths and folktales told by Martha Bishop, an awesome storyteller and “Tellabration” leader.

*Creative Writing Summer Camp: Sign-ups are now open for Newtown’s young adults entering grades 6-9 who love to write and are interested in expanding their talent this summer.

Groups will be led by Kathleen Kudlinski, a prolific author and Master Teaching Artist for the State of Connecticut, on Mondays, July 9, 16 and 30, and August 6 and 13 (no class July 23). Rising grades 6 and 7 will meet from 3:30 to 5:30 pm and rising grades 8 and 9 will meet from 6 to 8 pm. Participants are expected at all five sessions.

Sessions will allow time for writing and sharing stories as well as creative activities and one-on-one communication between adults and young people. Sharing is an important part of all writing groups. 

Space is limited to ten in each class, with preference given to Newtown residents. Sign up in person or call 426-4533 and ask to speak to Margaret Brown, Young Adult Librarian,.

*Harry Potter Midnight Madness: Celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last book of the series by J. K. Rowling, on Friday night, July 20, from 10 pm until midnight.

This program is limited to 50 young people entering grades 5-12 (or ages 10-18). Preference is given to Newtown residents. Parents must sign up their young people in person and sign a permission form at the Main Floor Circulation Desk by Monday, July 16. No phone signups.

Books will be available to pre-purchase for $21 and will be distributed at the end of the party. You don’t have to purchase the book to attend the party, but you do have to attend the party to purchase and get a book.

Adult Programs

*Summer Concerts: This year the library’s summer concerts will be at a new location, the bandstand at Sandy Hook Center (corner of Glen Road and Church Hill Road). Performances begin at 7 pm, and attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets for seating.

The concerts will begin this weekend with Redstone Ridge on Saturday, June 23, performing contemporary bluegrass.

*Children’s Book Sale: The Book Nook will be sponsoring a Children’s Book Sale on Tuesday, June 26, at the library’s children’s department from 10 am to 3 pm. We will have great books for preschool through young adults including early readers, picture books, series, box sets, and also a great selection for mom and dad in the Book Nook.

*Big Book Sale: Friends of the Library’s 32nd Annual Book Sale will return Saturday, June 30, to Wednesday, July 4, running daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

There is an admission charge for Saturday only, $10 between 9 am to noon and $5 from noon to 5 pm. Admission is free for the remainder of this big event. Over 80 categories are being sorted and we have more than 120,000 books to offer. The sale will be at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane.

*Independent Film Series: Men at Work tells the hilarious story of four old friends who, driving back from a failed skiing trip, encounter a strange and enormous rock. The men’s frivolous attempt to dislodge the rock gradually disintegrates into a tale of betrayal, defeat, and renewed hope. Their middleclass problems and the absurd phallic rock venture gives rise to great humor.

This film will be screened in the air-conditioned lower meeting room on Tuesday, July 3, at 7:30. Admission is, of course, free.

*The Book Nook: School is out and summer is here! Great books for kids are available at the Book Nook for summer reading. Stop by during regular library hours.

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