Author: cheshirelib

Still using the OverDrive app? It’s time to switch to Libby!

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On May 1, 2023, the OverDrive app will be discontinued. Now’s the time switch to Libby, OverDrive’s newer reading app. Libby is made by the same people, with the same goal of connecting you to your favorite books, audiobooks, and magazines, and is streamlined to make finding and downloading digital materials easier than ever!

Why is the original app going away? Libby has actually been around since 2017, and and for that period of time OverDrive offered both options. Since then, Libby has seen much more use than the older OverDrive app, and it no longer made sense to maintain both apps.

Making the switch is easy! Simply download the app on your mobile device to get started. Good news, once you add your library card to Libby, all your loans and holds will be waiting on your Shelf! You won’t lose your place in line for any items you have on hold. If you have a Wish List, you’ll be prompted to import it from OverDrive via an in-app notification. Your wish list items will become a tag that’s available on your Shelf.

After checking out a digital item with Libby, you can read/listen right through the app. Prefer to read ebooks on a Kindle? Check out your ebook through the Libby app, then send it to Kindle and read it there:

  1. Tap Shelf.
  2. Tap loans at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap Read With….
  4. Tap Kindle.
  5. You’ll be taken to Amazon’s website. If prompted, sign into your Amazon account.
  6. Verify the “Deliver to:” device and tap Get Library Book to finish getting the book.

If you use a Kindle Fire tablet, you can sideload the Libby app to your Kindle Fire by following these instructions. You can also use the OverDrive website or Libbyapp.com in your Fire’s browser. 

Finally, if you’re more comfortable using a computer instead of a mobile device to access our digital collection, don’t worry, Libby works on a computer, as well! Visit libbyapp.com to browse, search, read or listen and more on your computer.

Teen Book Reviews: Forestborn & A Thousand Steps Into Night

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Teens: did you know that you can earn community service credit for writing a book review and submitting it to us? Today, we’ll hear from someone who did just that. Find out more about how to earn community service hours from home at cheshirelibrary.org/teens/.

Forestborn by Elayne Audrey Becker. Reviewed by Lydia B.

Forestborn is beyond inventive and beautiful.

I knew I would like this book from the moment I saw it, but after reading it, I was blown away! First of all, the world-building is amazing. From rival kingdoms to magical forests, Becker makes her world both intricate and easy to follow, a must in standalone fantasy books. The forest is especially interesting, as are the animals and the way magic manifests there. There are entirely new takes on magic everywhere in this novel, especially in the main characters themselves! Rora and her brother Helos are both main characters and shapeshifters. I loved how Elayne Audrey Becker used clear limits in their abilities to create impressive but not indestructible powers in these two. There was also so much symbolism in the forms the characters took and why, which I loved just as much.

Let’s talk more about the characters! Usually I’m a fan of side characters and not main characters, but this cast was entirely lovable. We have Rora, a shifter concerned she’s overly selfish but concerned for her friend, Helos, shifter and brother to Rora, and Weslyn, the love interest and older brother of Prince Finley. Finley especially is important because the others have to venture into magical danger to find a cure for the magic plague that he’s contracted which will kill him soon without a legendary cure. Every one of these characters is full of depth and emotion. I especially love the romances in this book, even though they’re absolutely the death of me now.

Basically, Forestborn is a work of art. I’d recommend it to fans of Among the Beasts and Briars and maybe Onyx & Ivory too (haven’t read O&I in a while but from what I remember they’re somewhat similar). This is easily one of my favorite reads of 2021 and I’m so glad to have been able to read it!

5 stars.

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee. Reviewed by Lydia B.

For a book about a girl turning into a malevolence demon, this book is surprisingly fun. This is the story of Miuko, a girl cursed to become a demon unless her human soul can prevail and she can kill the demon prince following her before she fully turns. This book is really told in the style of a fairy tale, which I really love. It reads normally, but the plot structure is like you’re reading a myth, which is so fun. There are also so many interesting characters to observe, between humans Miuko scares or spirits she enlists. My favorites were Senara and Geiki (obviously) but everyone in this story is someone worth reading about. Geiki’s natural charisma really humanizes Miuko even more than before in making her more lighthearted during a hard situation.

The world itself is done so well. I did think it was tiresome to have such a detailed world that you needed footnotes to say what everything was, and I still do, but it thins out after a while to be more manageable. I thought that while the footnotes were cumbersome, it was overall very readable since most things were recurring and not entirely new. Given that Miuko herself doesn’t know everything about the hierarchy of spirits or how on earth she can undo her curse, it’s easy to learn with her.

In terms of the plot, I did think there were a few too many twists and turns. It wasn’t too many for the book itself, just a lot to keep up with. There was a segment of the book that was entirely unexpected and while it did make everything make sense a bit more, it also delayed the climax of the novel by a lot. This was really the only thing that bothered me though, and as I just said, it was extremely plot-relevant.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to fans of dark fantasy with detailed world-building. Although I personally would’ve gotten fed up with the sexism and exclusion and just became a demon, I enjoyed reading about Miuko’s journey and every part of the book.

4.5 stars.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in April

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We’re springing into April with so many great programs for kids, teens & adults, we can’t fit them all here! Check our Event Calendar for the full list of programs coming up this month.

Movie Matinees

  • Tuesday April 4: Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris (2022)
  • Tuesday April 18: Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Join us for a movie on the big screen! No registration is required and movies begin at 1pm.

This Business of Fighting: A Human Face on WWII

Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Equipped with a Ph.D. in history from Yale and a lifetime of storytelling experience, Arnie Pritchard paints a picture of his father’s WWII experience. Registration is required.

Upcycled T-shirt Party

Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 10:30am – 12:00pm

Reduce, reuse, and recycle your old t-shirts! We’ll provide a variety of sewing and no-sew projects for you to breathe new life into old t-shirts. Bring a t-shirt from home or use a thrifted t-shirt provided by the Library. Registration is required for this adult program.

Wags & Tales (Grades K-3)

Gromit, a Newtown-Strong Therapy Dog will be available to be read to by independent readers in grades K-3. Reading aloud in a relaxed environment is a confidence booster to all readers. 15 minute visits will be available, please register and come with a preselected book to read to Gromit.  Registration is required for each child.

Tween Escape Room: The CPL Art Gallery (Grades 3-5)

Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Work as a team to solve the puzzles and get the final prize! For grades 3-5. Please note this is a school vacation day. Please register in advance.

Adult Loft Knitters

Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Come socialize, learn, and share your techniques with other knitters.  Experience the relaxing and calming effect of knitting. All levels of adult knitters are welcome. Please bring your own yarn and knitting needles (crocheters are also welcome!). This group meets monthly, please register in advance.

Basics of Chocolate Truffle Making

Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

The lecture by Maria Brandriff will include some basic information about chocolate, the various types, and how to work with it. Samples and recipes will include several different types of truffle candies, perfect for giving your loved ones at any time. Space is limited and registration is required.

No-Sew Upcycled T-shirt Tote (Grades 6-12)

Thursday, April 13, 2023, 3:00 – 4:00pm

Keep the earth in mind this month and create your own customized t-shirt tote bag made out of recycled materials. Bring your own t-shirt to upcycle or choose from a selection of washed, thrifted t’s. Registration required.

Cat Tales Writers Group

Thursday, April 13, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us for a monthly open writing group that can help answer your questions on writing, editing, grammar, and publishing. Read a selection of your work to the group for general constructive feedback, or discuss a book you’ve read that might help someone else. Registration is required.

Builder’s Block (kids of all ages)

Friday, April 14, 2023, 10:00 – 11:15am

Block off some time to build freely with LEGOs, Duplos, KEVA Planks, Strawbees, and more! For kids of all ages and their caregivers. No registration required.

Titanic A Date with Destiny

Monday, April 17, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us as we will learn of the Titanic’s celebrated construction, employing thousands during difficult times, its sailing, life on board and final hours. Join us as we share insights about a well-known story that might change your viewpoint of that fateful date with destiny. Registration is required.

Book Club

A monthly book group where you can meet new people, sip a warm drink, and have great discussions. This month we’re reading I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys . Register for our afternoon or evening group.

Life in the White House: The President’s Butler

Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us as former White House butler, Mr. Alan DeValerio, shares his memories, stories and adventures of the 10 years he spent working in the White House under Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He will describe how staff prepares to entertain guests at the White House and how that process has evolved since the time of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Registration is required.

Jellyfish Science: Are You Ready for This Jelly? (ONLINE)

Thursday, April 20, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30pm

Learn about the importance of jellyfish and how studying them is leading to discoveries that could change our lives.These animals have inspired many technologies used in medicine, robotics, and engineering. In this talk learn about the importance of jellyfish and how studying them is leading to discoveries that could change our lives. Presented by Yale graduate student Lauren Mellenthin. Registration is required for this online program.

Earth Day Storytime (All Ages)

Saturday, April 22, 2023, 11:00 – 11:30am

Join us for a storytime focused on celebrating the earth and the ways that we can help it. Complete with a craft which inspires us to use recycled materials from home to make art! All ages. Registration not required.

Smartphone Photography

Monday, April 24, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Professional Photographer Andy Mars will show you how to take better photos with your smartphone and/or iPad. Learn tips on photo composition and how to gain control over your
shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. Then learn to edit your photos with the free editing
app Snapseed. Registration is required.

Plant & Seed Swap

Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 3:00 – 8:00pm

Calling all plant enthusiasts! Bring your healthy house plants, outdoor plants, cuttings, seedlings, seeds, and containers to the library and swap them out for others. Maybe your houseplant has had a major growth spurt and needs to be tamed- take some cuttings and bring them to the swap! Maybe you bought 14 packets of pumpkin seeds but now realize you don’t actually want to be a pumpkin farmer- bring some to the swap! This is a great way to diversify your collection, try growing a new type of plant, and see what others are growing. Drop in anytime between 3:00 and 8:00pm, registration is required.

Explore New Worlds: Virtual Reality

Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 6:00 – 7:30pm

Experience virtual reality with the library’s Oculus headsets. Choose from a wide selection of tours adventures and games all in an interactive virtual world. 30 minute spots available from 6:00 to 7:30. Registration is required, you will be contacted prior to the program to select your spot.

TAB: Teen Advisory Board (Grades 6-12)

Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 3:45 – 4:45pm

The Teen Advisory Board is a group of teens in grades 6-12 who want to take an active part in helping the library and the community. Giveaways and snacks will be provided. Registration is required.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in March

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Is it winter or is it spring? No matter what it’s doing outside, you can count on Cheshire Library to keep you occupied inside. This month we’re learning about Ireland through lectures, films, and music. We’ve also got a spooky After Hours program featuring Dustin Pari of Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International! More of a nature lover? Check out our programs on opossums, backyard beekeeping and migrating birds. Check out our Event Calendar to sign up for these programs and more!

Open Art Studio

Fridays from 1-3pm

Bring your works in progress and supplies to this weekly drop-in art program. This is an opportunity to create in a collaborative environment with other artists. No formal instruction will be provided, but informal critiquing for those who want it is encouraged. Table covers will be provided. There is a sink in the room for basic cleanup (please do not bring turpentine).

Family Storytime

Saturday, March 4, 2022, 11:00 – 11:30am

Family Storytime is a drop-in, interactive storytime for children and family members! Learn through talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing! This storytime is for children of all ages. No registration is required.

Anniversary of Ireland’s Civil War

Monday, March 6, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

The Irish Civil War 1922-1923, the period represents perhaps one of the saddest times in Irish history. This lecture, through use of multi-media presentation, will discuss the events leading to Civil War, the leaders, the violence, and its aftermath. Registration is required.

Movie Matinees

  • Tuesday March 7: Ticket to Paradise (2022)
  • Tuesday March 21: Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)

Join us in the Library Loft for a movie on the big screen! No registration is required and movies begin at 1pm.

Miss Representation – Film Screening and Discussion

Wednesday March 8, 2023, 5:30 – 8:00pm

In honor of National Women’s History Month, the Cheshire Public Library, Cheshire Human Services and Chesprocott Health District are partnering to hold a screening and discussion of the film Miss Representation. This documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newsom exposes startling facts and statistics of how the mainstream media’s often disparaging and limited portrayal of women and girls contributes to their under-representation in positions of power and influence in America. Following a screening of the film, Michelle Piccerillo, Cheshire Director of Human Services and Kate Glendon, Chesprocott Public Health Specialist will facilitate a round table discussion of the themes presented in the film. Please register in advance.

Adult Loft Knitters

Wednesday March 8, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Come socialize, learn, and share your techniques with other knitters.  Experience the relaxing and calming effect of knitting. All levels of adult knitters are welcome. Please bring your own yarn and knitting needles (crocheters are also welcome!). This group meets monthly, please register in advance.

Classic Movie Series: The Third Man (1949)

Thursday March 9, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00pm

The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir stars Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. Set in postwar Vienna, the film centers on American Holly Martins (Cotten), who arrives in the city to accept a job with his friend Harry Lime (Welles), only to learn that Lime has died. Viewing his death as suspicious, Martins elects to stay in Vienna and investigate the matter. Registration is required.

Cat Tales Writers Group

Thursday March 9, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us for a monthly open writing group that can help answer your questions on writing, editing, grammar, and publishing. Read a selection of your work to the group for general constructive feedback, or discuss a book you’ve read that might help someone else. Registration is required.

Library After Hours: Documenting the Dead with Dustin Pari

Friday March 10, 2023, 6:00 – 7:30pm

We’ll leave the lights on for this educational (and creepy) exploration of paranormal research and spirit communication from the past to the present. Dustin Pari, paranormal investigator and cast member of Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International, takes a look back at his own efforts to conduct paranormal research and brings it back even further to some of the earliest spirit communication techniques. This program is appropriate for adults and teens, please register in advance.

Concert–Celtic Music with the Carroll Sisters

Saturday March 11, 2023, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Join us for our annual celebration of Celtic music and St. Patrick’s Day! This year we are welcoming the Carroll Sisters, a young group known for their lively traditional Celtic tunes, beautiful harmonies, intriguing counterpoints, and unique musical arrangements on fiddle and cello. 

Wags & Tales (Grades K-3)

Gromit, a Newtown-Strong Therapy Dog will be available to be read to by independent readers in grades K-3. Reading aloud in a relaxed environment is a confidence booster to all readers. 15 minute visits will be available, please register and come with a preselected book to read to Gromit.  Registration is required for each child.

Explore New Worlds: Virtual Reality

Experience virtual reality with the library’s Oculus headsets. Choose from a wide selection of tours adventures and games all in an interactive virtual world. 30 minute spots available from 6:00 to 7:30. Register for the date you want, you will be contacted prior to the program to select your spot.

Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them (ONLINE)

Wednesday March 15, 2023, 6:30pm – 8:00pm

The story of the Orphan Trains, which relocated children from the eastern cities to rural farmlands, has become a part of American popular culture. This ONLINE presentation explores the facts behind the legends, follows a group of children “placed-out” in 1880, and, provides information on resources available to learn more about the orphan trains and their riders. Please register in advance to receive a link to join the program.

Backyard Wildlife: All About Opossums

Thursday March 16, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue for an overview of wildlife rehabilitation and their rescue efforts with opossums. Adults and kids can learn what makes opossums awesome, and how you can give support to wildlife in your neighborhood. There will be time for questions and a meet-and-greet with the opossum ambassadors! Registration is required.

Backyard Beekeeping

Saturday March 18, 2023, 10:00 – 11:00am

Join us as Paula from the Backyard Beekeepers Associaton teaches us all the basics of keeping backyard bees. At this all-ages program we’ll learn about starting and maintaining a hive and get to see examples of a beekeeper suit, smoker, and healthy honeycomb. Registration is required.

Happy Place: Torn Paper Landscapes

Monday March 20, 2023, 10:30am – 12:00pm

Need to take a little time for self-care? Find your happy place with soothing music, hot drinks, socializing, and low-stress crafting. This month we’ll be making landscapes from torn construction paper and listening to Gentle Love‘s instrumental jazz renditions of video game music (trust us). Registration is required.

Book Club

A monthly book group where you can meet new people, sip a warm drink, and have great discussions. This month we’re reading Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Register for our afternoon or evening group.

Builders Brigade

Thursday March 23, 2023, 2:30 – 3:45pm

Budding engineers are invited to build freely with LEGOs, Duplos, KEVA Planks, Strawbees, and more! For kids of all ages and their caregivers. No registration required.

TAB: Teen Advisory Board (Grades 6-12)

Tuesday March 28, 2023, 3:45 – 4:45pm

The Teen Advisory Board is a group of teens in grades 6-12 who want to take an active part in helping the library and the community. Giveaways and snacks will be provided. Registration is required.

The Quinnipiac (Indigenous People)

Wednesday March 29, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

The Quinnipiac once lived throughout South Central Connecticut; along the shoreline from West Haven to Clinton and north to Cheshire and Meriden. The heart of their homeland was the Quinnipiac River. The presentation will focus on the 14,000 years of Indigenous history in the region, the changing life over time, and the impact of European settlement on their way of life. Registration is required.

Lights Out Connecticut: Help Save Our Migrating Birds

Thursday March 30, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Why Lights Out? Each fall and spring, millions of birds pass through Connecticut on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Artificial lights from buildings and other structures can attract and disorient birds, leading to fatal window collisions. The result is catastrophic: Almost 1 billion birds killed in the United States every year. Come find out more about how you can help millions of birds migrate safely through our state. Registration is required.

One Book, Three Readers: 3 Teens Review “Beartown”

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Teens: did you know that you can earn community service credit for writing a book review and submitting it to us? Today, we’ll hear from three teens who did just that, and get their different takes on the same book. Find out more about how to earn community service hours from home at cheshirelibrary.org/teens/.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Reviewed by Jocelyn C.

Beartown is a novel that discusses extreme topics that aren’t usually talked about in books and also needs an extreme trigger warning! To start off the book, we see the small town of Beartown, Sweden preparing for and anticipating the semifinal hockey game. With the 17 year old hockey star Kevin Erdal, the junior hockey team might finally have a chance to win. This wing could lead to an economical boost for the entire town. Peter Anderson of Beartown, was a NHL star in Canada, but eventually returned back to his hometown with his wife Kira, and their kids Maya and Isak. The whole family suffered a tragic loss when their son Isak died from a childhood illness at a very young age. This definitely affected the family for the rest of their lives.

Sune, the A-team coach thought that something was missing on his hockey team. This is when he discovers Amata and recruits him. Amat faces many struggles. He is sort of an outcast, and when his friends find out that he is moving up, they aren’t too thrilled. Amat is bullied in the locker room, on the ice, and even outside of school and the rink. Amat, though, refuses to give up and plays in the semifinal. Maya has had a crush on Kevin for the longest time, but Amat has a crush on Maya. While Amat attempts to ask out Maya, Kevin rudely interrupts and invites Maya and her best friend Ana to his party. This is where things take a turn for the worse.

At Kevin’s home full of drunk teenagers and no parents, Kevin makes a bet with one of his friends that he will be able to sleep with the GM’s daughter. This does not go over well. While the two of them are extremely drunk, Kevin lures Maya up to his bedroom where he sexually assults her. With the encouragement of Ana, Maya tells her parents right before the hockey final, and Kevin is arrested just as they get on the bus to leave. No one knew what happened and they were all extremely confused. Everyone claims that she was lying, little do they know Amat walked in and saw the whole thing. After the hockey season is over, Sune starts an all girls hockey team to change the town’s sexist hockey culture. Everyone steps in to teach the young girls to play so they can become the next Beartown hockey stars. This novel is extremely well written and has an incredible message behind it.

5 stars.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Reviewed by Ella K.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman is a novel centered around a local hockey team from the small Swedish town of Beartown. The sport of hockey is incredibly important to the town and the entire social hierarchy revolves around the team. The star of the hockey team, Kevin, is the most popular guy in town. His rich parents have funded his obsession with hockey since he was young. The town, being extremely isolated, has a struggling economy. All hopes lie with the hockey team to win the championship in order to get a new school centered around hockey built within the town.

The entire town is rooting for Kevin and the team, but things change after a house party takes a turn for the worst and the lives of the entire town are uprooted. This book has great commentary on the harmful effects of locker room talk and prevalent issues in society. Loyalty versus morality is also an important theme that is discussed throughout the story. This book made me emotionally invested in the characters and I felt things for the characters when they went through the hardships that they did. Backman writes the characters extremely well and you cannot help but get caught up in the small world of Beartown.

Anyone who is even remotely interested in realistic fiction should pick up a copy of this book. Not only is its commentary on society important, but it is also a book filled with suspense and intrigue. Backman’s writing discusses the influences and inner workings of a small town that can be detrimental on the health of its children. All in all, the book is well written and well worth the read. It is important to understand the negative effects of the mob mentality and how the internet can be harmful to one’s mental health. All these things and more are prevalent issues in the small community of Beartown.

5 stars.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Reviewed by Juliana J.

Beartown was an absolutely jaw-dropping book to be able to read, and I would read it again in a heartbeat. Set in Beartown, Sweden, a has-been hockey town that wishes to revive itself, the book is written in third-person and jumps from multiple perspectives between characters in the novel. The book grapples with mature themes from the mindset of a teenage girl, as well as her parents, and some of her peers. The imagery used throughout made the book even more tantalizing, and I felt myself wanting to read the whole book in one sitting on many occasions. The subtle foreshadowing leaves you even more curious about how the novel will turn out, and what conclusion will be brought forth. Styles such as plays on words and usage of dramatic irony kept the novel interesting, and there wasn’t a dull moment for me as I read through the entire book.

There are many plot twists throughout the novel, but they were all executed well. The book had excellent examples of friendships displayed throughout, especially for the age group. They had moments of heartbreak in friendship– finding out your friend isn’t who they thought they were, feeling abandoned or hurt, as well as moments of peace and solidarity– standing by them when no one else would, and forgiving past mistakes. One of my favorite parts of the book was the use of repetition in subtle themes hinted at throughout the book. The novel also puts a great stress on the presence of ‘locker room talk’, which is a toxic mindset. Beartown helped to showcase some of the greatest damages of how locker room talk can affect young people and their adolescent years, even extending further into adulthood. It also brings to light important discussions such as how to handle adult-themed topics as a friend, a sister, a parent, or even a peer.

5 stars.