What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in June

Summer is our busiest time at Cheshire Library, as anyone who has circled our parking lot on a summer afternoon can attest! Despite being a bit short on staff and tall on construction chaos, we have managed to put together some terrific programming this summer. We’ve got a bit of a railroad theme this month, take a look at what’s on the calendar for June:

The Electrification of the New Haven Railroad

Monday Jun 4, 2018, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

This program will cover the development of the New Haven’s freight and passenger electric locomotives and what made them unique with their pioneering designs. The program will also cover the development of the New Haven’s industry setting AC power and its distribution system. Registration is required.

Scrabble Evenings

Wednesdays, Jun 6, 13, 20, 27, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Bring your friends, family and join your community in a game of scrabble.  Please bring your up to date library card to check out a scrabble board located at the checkout desk.  Please meet fellow players on the third floor area. No registration required.

New Movie Thursday ~ Black Panther

Thursday, June 7, 2018, 5:45pm – 8:00pm

Did you miss the screening of a film you wanted to see in theatres?  Join us for the first Thurday of the month for a screening of a recently released film.  At the conclusion of the movie vote for next months not to miss movie.  June’s movie is…..  Black Panther!    T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, rises to the throne in the isolated, technologically advanced African nation, but his claim is challenged by a vengeful outsider who was a childhood victim of T’Challa’s father’s mistake.

Cat Tales- Writers Group

Thursday, June 14, 2018, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Do you write in secret, or do you publish your own blog? Are you working on your dream novel, a memoir, or poetry? Interesting in being published, whether traditionally or self-published?  Join us at the library for an 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. Join us once, join us every month! Registration required for this adult program.

Passport Event

Saturday Jun 16, 2018, 1:00  –  3:00 PM

Join us for your one stop shop to acquire* or renew your passport.

Please bring the following:

  • Passport Application
  • Evidence of Citizenship
  • Two Forms of ID
  • Payment (2 checks for renewals)

Payments:
–  Checks or money orders only. No credit cards.
–  First-time applicants must bring two checks or money orders:
–  One check or money order for the passport application fee made payable to “U.S. Department of State”
–   A second check or money order for the $25 execution fee – add $15 for a photo if applicable – made payable to “Postmaster”.

*Typical Processing Time for Passports is 4-6 Weeks.
For questions regarding Passports please contact The National Passport information line at 1-877-487-2778 or visit Travel.State.Gov

The Pennsylvania Station in New York City

Monday Jun 18, 2018, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

This presentation will cover the inception of Pennsylvania Station, its sub-aqueous tunnels and the challenges faced in the construction of this massive and impressive undertaking. The tragic demolition of this grand structure by the Pennsylvania RR will also be included. Registration is required.

Chalk Painting Furniture

Thursday Jun 21, 2018, 6:00  –  8:00 PM

Do you have furniture you want to update with a fresh new look? Traci Selinske, the owner of the Posh Pear in Cheshire, will show you the techniques to get that naturally aged look using chalk paint, light & dark waxes, dusk of ages, and distressing techniques. Registration will begin on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 9:00 AM.

Friday After Hours: Lost Acres String Band

Friday Jun 22, 2018, 5:00  –  7:30 PM

Join us as we kick off summer reading with the Lost Acres String Band!  The concert will begin at 6:00 and there will be plenty of fun activities for children of all ages!  Pizza, snacks and drinks will be available for sale from the Friends of the Library. Please register so we know how many goodies to have on hand! There is no admission fee, but there is a suggested donation of $5 per family to help offset costs.  Please note that the Lower Level of the Library will not be open to the public. This concert is made possible by donations given to the Friends of the Library in loving memory of Jo Korten.

Streamlined Trains of the 1930s and Their Industrial Designers

Monday Jun 25, 2018, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

With the popularity of the private automobile and the effects of the Great Depression, passenger travel on the American railroads was in a steep decline. Something was needed to bring passengers back to the trains. This presentation will show how it was done and how the same steps were taken in the 1950s to once again bring passengers back to the trains. Registration is required.

Kids Spa Day

Wednesday, June 27, 2018, 4:00 – 4:45pm

Start the summer off right!  Join us to make your own sugar lip scrub and a stress ball. You will learn relaxation techniques and enjoy snacks with friends!  Registration is required.

Trivia Night

Wednesday Jun 27, 2018, 6:00  –  8:00 PM

Come by yourself or bring your friends. Test your knowledge from general categories, including pop culture, current events, history, music, and of course literature! It’s all For Pride, Not Prize.  Registration for this adult program will begin on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 9:00 AM.

 

10 Royal Reads

On May 19, Britain’s Prince Harry will marry his American love, Meghan Markle. The Royal Wedding will take place at 12pm (7am ET) at St. George’s Chapel,  Windsor Castle. If your invitation got lost in the mail, you can celebrate along with the rest of the world, as the royal festivities will be broadcast online and on several television stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and HBO will all have coverage, among others). We’re even having a Royal Tea Party here at CPL!

To help us all get into a regal mood, we’ve made a list of royal reads to set the proper tone:

The Royal WeThe Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. Unexpectedly falling for the crown prince Nicholas while attending Oxford, practical-minded Bex endures ritzy society gatherings, fashionable outings and unwelcome publicity as well as jealous ex-girlfriends and dark royal family secrets.

The SelectionThe Selection by Kiera Cass by Kiera Cass.  An America Singer is chosen to compete in the Selection–a contest to see which girl can win the heart of Illea’s prince–but all she really wants is a chance for a future with her secret love, who is a caste below her.

Royal WeddingRoyal Wedding by Meg Cabot by Meg Cabot. In the first adult installment of the Princess Diaries series, Princess Mia and longtime boyfriend Michael plan their wedding, while a scheming politico is trying to force Mia’s father from the throne because of a royal secret.

Romancing the ThroneRomancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney by Nadine Jolie. When a scandal at her all-girls school threatens her university prospects, Libby enrolls in her sister Charlotte’s posh boarding school, where they become rivals for the affection of their classmate–the heir to the throne of Britain.

Once Upon a PrinceOnce Upon a Prince by Rachel Kauck by Rachel Hauck. Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation. It’s the ultimate choice: His kingdom or her heart?

The White QueenThe White Queen by Philippa Gregory by Philippa Gregory. A tale inspired by the War of the Roses follows the conflict from the perspective of Elizabeth Woodville, who ascends to royalty and fights for the well-being of her family, including two sons whose imprisonment in the Tower of London precedes a devastating unsolved mystery.

Anne Boleyn : a King’s ObsessionAnne Boleyn: a King's Obsession by Alison Weir by Alison Weir. Henry VIII risks his marriage and the political strategies of Cardinal Wolsey in his obsession with Anne Boleyn, who does not welcome the king’s advances and loathes the cardinal for breaking her betrothal to Harry Percy.

Victoria by Daisy GoodwinVictoria by Daisy Goodwin. Early one morning, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria is roused from bed with the news that her uncle William IV has died and she is now Queen of England. The men who run the country have doubts about whether this sheltered young woman, who stands less than five feet tall, can rule the greatest nation in the world.

Wolf Hall Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel by Hilary Mantel. Assuming the power recently lost by the disgraced Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell counsels a mercurial Henry VIII on the latter’s efforts to marry Anne Boleyn against the wishes of Rome, a successful endeavor that comes with a dangerous price.

Elizabeth IElizabeth I by Margaret George by Margaret George. Growing up at the side of her cousin, Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys struggles to regain power and position for her family while competing against the queen for the love of Robert Dudley, a rivalry that is set against a backdrop of the flourishing Elizabethan age.

 

 

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in May

This May brings a lot of changes to CPL, in both staff and surroundings. Our remodeling project continues on the lower level, and we say good-bye to some key staffers as we head into our busiest season. We will continue to bring you as many awesome programs as we can throughout it all – here are some of the events on the schedule for May:

various computers and electronic devicesDrop-In Tech Help

  • 1:00  –  3:00 PM:
  • Tues. May 1
  • Wed. May 9
  • Wed. May 16
  • Mon. May 21
  • Wed. May 30

Do you have questions about your computer, smartphone, or iPad? Do you need help navigating Facebook or downloading an ebook? Bring your technology-related questions and problems to Cheshire Public Library’s Drop-In Tech Help.  Tech help is available on a first come first served basis, and may be limited to 15 minutes per person. Please be sure your device is fully charged beforehand.

Managing Back Pain

Tuesday May 1, 2018, 6:30 PM

Resolving or managing neck and back pain can greatly improve quality of life. Recent developments in healthcare provide relief for acute, chronic and cancer-related pain, to enable a happier, healthier life. In this interactive session, Board-certified Neurosurgeon Judith L. Gorelick, MD, and Board-certified Pain Management Specialist Tamer B. Ghaly, MD  discuss recent developments in surgical and non-surgical treatments for neck and back pain nand  interventional techniques to manage pain and avoid or significantly reduce the use of opioids. Registration is required.

Scrabble board and game piecesScrabble Afternoons

Wednesdays,  May 2, 9, 16, 23, 12:30-2:30 PM

Bring your friends, family and join your community in a game of scrabble.  Please bring your up to date library card to check out a scrabble board located at the Checkout Desk.

"May the Fourth be With You" Star Wars Day logoLibrary After Hours – Star Wars Edition!

Friday May 4, 2018, 5:00  –  7:30 PM

MAY THE ‘FOURTH’ BE WITH YOU!  Jedi Younglings and Padawan will learn the ways of the force with the Olympic Taekwondo Academy from 6:00-7:00pm.  Face painting, special crafts, and a photobooth will be available from 5:00-7:00pm. Pizza and drinks will be available for sale by the Friends of the Library.  There is no admission fee, but there is a suggested donation of $5 per family to help offset costs.  Registration is required so that we know how many goodies to have! (Please note that the Lower Level of the Library will not be open to the public. )

Jean Bauer with her dog Rudy, and her book "Joy Unleashed"The Gift Of Therapy Dogs: Remembering Bella, Meeting Rudy

Saturday May 5, 2018, 11:00 AM  –  12:30 PM

What exactly is a therapy dog? What do they do? Come hear author and speaker Jean Baur, and her new therapy dog, Rudy. Jean wrote a book about her first therapy dog, Bella:  Joy Unleashed:  The Story of Bella, the Unlikely Therapy Dog. Bella worked for six years, visiting nursing home and hospital patients as well as going to schools and colleges. Jean will share Bella and Rudy’s stories, how she trained them, and most importantly explore with us what they do and why they’re so good at it.  Copies of Jean’s book will be available for sale. Children are welcome, but please leave your fur friends at home. Registration is required.

Kids Crafternoon: Huichol String Art

Saturday May 5, 2018, 3:00  –  4:00 PM

Create your own yarn painting inspired by the Huichol tribe of Mexico!

Eastern coyoteEastern Coyotes in Connecticut

Monday May 7, 2018, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

This presentation focuses on the history of coyotes in Connecticut, an overview of coyote habitat, diet, behavior, and reproduction.  It also provides practical recommendations for optimum coexistence with our coyote population.  Coyote artifacts will be shared with the audience. Registration is required.

Cheshire Library Director Ramona Burkey and Head of Children’s Services Lucas FranklinReception for Ramona Burkey and Lucas Franklin

Wednesday May 9, 2018, 4:00  –  6:00 PM

Join us in saying farewell to two wonderful staff members who are leaving Cheshire for new positions, Library Director Ramona Burkey and Head of Children’s Services Lucas Franklin. Visit with your favorite Cheshire librarians and enjoy refreshments, including a show-stopper of a cake from our friends at Cheshire Baking! Simple activities and crafts will be available for our youngest guests. Please register so we know how many goodies to have!

Phil Klein with a white dogCertified Dog Listener, Phil Klein

Thursday May 10, 2018, 6:00  –  8:00 PM

Learn how canines see the human world,  the importance of eye contact and movement in canine communication, the underlying reasons for your dog’s behavior problems.  The best news – learn the simple, dog-friendly changes in how to interact with your dog to transform its behavior in a kind and lasting way. In doing so, you will have a calmer, happier dog and a more enjoyable relationship with it. Registration is required for this program, please bring your questions but not your pets.

Black Bear with a cubThe Bear Reality

Monday May 14, 2018, 6:30  –  8:00 PM
The black bear population in Connecticut has continued to increase since the 1980. It’s important for residents and outdoor enthusiasts to learn real facts about black bears enabling them to stay safe, protect themselves and their property and make possible coexistence with bears. Felicia Ortner, a Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist (MWC) and a bear enthusiast, will provide education and facts about bears and help dispel myths and common misunderstandings. Registration is required.

civil war soldier with a Newfoundland dofAnimal Mascots of the Civil War

Thursday May 17, 2018, 6:30  –  7:30 PM

The Civil War was fought by citizen armies that often had their own, very un-military, ways of fighting. One thing they did was to bring or adopt animals of many kinds. This talk will focus on those much-loved unit mascots. Professor Hamish Lutris, History, Capital Community College, presents the idea of using animals to represent military units throughout history will be discussed, as well as the particular animals honored in Civil War lore and memorialization. Registration is required.

royal wedding photos of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of EdinburghRoyal Tea Party

Saturday May 19, 2018, 1:00 PM

The Royal Public Librarians of Cheshire request the honor of your presence at our Royal Tea Party in celebration of the British Royal Wedding!  Have your picture taken at St. George’s; participate in royal wedding trivia and a best fascinator contest. Enjoy tea and treats.  A video presentation of past royal weddings will be showed as well.   Please bring your favorite teacup! Registration will begin Saturday, May 5, and  is required for this adult program.

Adios, Chanel! DIY Herbal Perfume

Tuesday May 29, 2018, 6:00 PM

Ditch your store-bought perfume! Most contain dozens of chemicals that do not have to be disclosed on the label. Become a mad scientist! Experiment with base fragrances, mid-tones, and top notes to create your own scent. The mother-daughter team of Velya Jancz-Urban and Ehris Urban are back to teach us, hands-on, how to make our own signature scent. Each participant will leave with a unique, new personal perfume. Sitting is very limited and registration is required.

SYNC Up Free YA Audiobooks This Summer

Sync audiobooks for teens, sponsored by Audiofile magazine

What if I I told you that you could download 26 audiobooks this summer, and keep them as long as you want,  FOR FREE? It may sound too good to be true, but it’s not. The SYNC Summer Reading program has been giving away free YA (also known as Teen, but adults love them, too) downloadable audiobooks all summer long since 2010, and they’re at it again this year.

Starting April 26, 2018, SYNC will give away two complete unabridged audiobook downloads per week – pairs of high interest titles, based on weekly themes. This awesome program is sponsored by Audiofile Magazine and titles are delivered though OverDrive.

SYNC titles aren’t part of the library’s regular OverDrive collection, however. They are part of a separate collection from audiobooksync.com. Head to their website to preview the titles that will be available this summer. The first two titles, available April 26 – May 2, are The Great War : Stories Inspired by Items From the First World War and A Study in Charlotte: a Charlotte Holmes Novel by Brittany Cavallaro.

What do you need to know about SYNC?

1)  Each pair of audiobooks is available for 1 week only. Per agreement with the publishers, the free audiobooks are not available after their original Text synca to 25827download week. The files are available from Thursday morning 7am Eastern Time until the following Thursday morning at 7am Eastern time, when the new audiobook titles become available. You may download more than once if you have more than one device. You can sign up for Text Alerts when new books become available, so you won’t miss out. Text  synca to 25827 or visit audiobooksync.com to arrange alerts.

OverDrive app icon2) You’ll need to have the original OverDrive app (not the newer Libby app) to download the SYNC audiobooks. You can listen to the audiobooks directly through the OverDrive app, download and transfer from Windows or Mac computers to MP3 compatible players.

3)  The audiobooks you download are yours to keep, but bear in mind they can take up a lot of space on your mobile device. If you are using a mobile device SYNC iconlike a smartphone or tablet to listen to the audiobooks, it is recommended that you download to a computer and transfer the audiobooks over as you want to listen to them.  When you’ve finished a title, you can then delete it from your device but still keep the original file on your computer for as long as you want.

Take advantage of this opportunity to build up a collection of quality YA audiobooks, absolutely free. Just think of how you can expand your reading time by listening in the car, around the house, waiting in line. Multitasking was never so enjoyable!

Staff Picks are everywhere!

If there’s one thing we love, it’s recommending books. A walk through our main & lower levels will reveal a dozen or more themed book displays featured throughout, which we change and update frequently. There’s also our “Reader’s Depot” on the main level, which features the current NYT Bestsellers Lists, release dates for upcoming titles, read-alike lists, and more.

Anyone going through the Checkout area has seen our Staff Picks wall. This wall is filled in daily with books our staff members have read and enjoyed. There’s ALWAYS something good to read there!

You may not know that there is also a “Staff Picks” page in our catalog. Staff members have put together some themed book lists there for you to peruse. You can browse these Staff Picks right from home, and if you see something you like, reserve a copy online!

 

If you’re reading this blog, you already know there are a ton of reading suggestions here. Elsewhere on social media, our Tumblr is full of book lists & book news, too.  And of course, you can always come right out and ask us for reading suggestions. Or let us know about a book you enjoyed. We love getting book recommendations almost as much as giving them!