Children’s Programs

Library Volunteers: Young adults interested in volunteering for the library summer reading program should plan to attend one of the brief training sessions on June 8, 4-5 pm, or Saturday, June 9, 10:30-11:30 pm, in the children’s program room. Volunteers must be entering 6th grade in the fall. Your volunteer time at the library is spent listening to children talk about the books they are reading for the summer reading program. A typical shift lasts no longer than two hours. The number of volunteer hours available will depend on the number who sign up to work. For more information call the children’s department: 426-3851.

Author Visit: Caldecott Medal-winning children’s book illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky will visit the library on Sunday, June 10, at 2 pm in the library meeting room. Copies of some of his award-winning books will be available for purchase on the day of the program. Mr Zelinsky will sign books immediately following his presentation. This is a unique opportunity for aspiring artists to learn first hand what it is like to be a professional book illustrator. The program is free and open to the public.

Bring Your Dad to Story Time: In honor of Father’s Day, we invite children ages 3-7 to bring their dad to the library for an evening story time. Stories, songs, and action rhymes will make up the 45 minute program on June 11, 6:30-7:15 pm in the library meeting room. No registration is necessary.

Summer Reading Kickoff: June 26 is the first day you can sign up for our annual summer reading program. You can sign up anytime on or after the 26th through August 18. A $2 donation is appreciated to cover the cost of the materials. Our poster and reading record is an original design by our own Bruce Degen. The kickoff program will take place on the library side lawn at 10:30-11:30 am. This year we will feature George Franzen, “the funniest magician on the planet.” The Friends of the Library will hold their second annual children’s book sale on the same day from 10 am to 1 pm in the meeting room. All books will be 50 cents and under.

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 and no registration is required. Recommended for ages 3-6.

PJ 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, pj’s optional. Fun for the entire family.

Book Donations: Spring is officially here, time to clean out those cellars and attics and bring those unwanted books to the library. Volunteers are hard at work organizing for our Labor Day Book Sale.

Summer Concerts in the Library’s Backyard: The library’s summer music series will be kicking off on Friday, June 15, with an outdoor folk concert by our state troubadour, Kevin Briody. 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. Erik Bagger of Newtown will be opening for Mr Briody at 6 pm. Mr Briody will follow around 7 pm. The concert is free and open to the public. Other concert dates are Mary Beth Sippin and the Diamond Spurs on July 13 and River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs on August 17.

Daytime Book Group: For all of you unable to make the evening book discussion please consider joining us at the library for a new daytime group. On June 18 at 1 pm the group will be discussing Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert. Ms Gilbert has written a funny, warm novel about a young woman determined to bring an end to an age-old fishing feud. The group will also be putting together a list of books to read in future months, so if you have a recommendation we’d love your input.

 Evening Book Group: On Thursday, June 21 the evening book group will discuss Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball. Ball’s book explores the plantation story of his white slave-owning ancestors as well as the slaves that “shared” in the plantation heritage. The group will meet at 7:30 pm in the Special Collections room on the third floor. New members are always welcome. We are putting together a list of books to read for next year, and we’d love your input as to what we should read next.

Free Blood Pressure Screening: The screening is available from 10 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