Meet the New Head of Adult Services!

January 4, 2022December 20, 2021 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

Lauren Gledhill is the new head of Reference and Adult Services at Cheshire Public Library, following the retirement of Bill Basel last July. Many of you may already know Lauren from the children’s department, where she’s been CPL librarian for several years, keeping watch over much of the children’s media selections. If you haven’t met Lauren before, come on downstairs to the Reference Department and get to know her!

Lauren got her Library Degree from the Dominican University in Chicago, a big change from the rural Pennsylvania area she grew up in. Cheshire certainly falls between the two!

Children’s Librarian to Reference Librarian is a big change. What does she prefer to read? Lauren likes horror, graphic novels, and non-fiction science. Her favorite book as a child was Ferdinand the Bull. If you haven’t read it, Ferdinand is a sweet classic children’s story from 1936 about a bull who prefers to smell flowers rather than fight in the bullring – and not surprisingly was banned as subversive by both Hitler and Francisco Franco! Today, Lauren’s favorite author is Barbara Kingsolver. Her favorite movie? She loves Spirited Away, the animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. Given the chance, she much prefers to listen to audiobooks over print. (Did you know that audiobooks alone make up almost 10% of Cheshire’s offerings?).

Librarians often get the chance to meet world-famous authors at book expos and conventions. Two authors Lauren would love to meet are Neil Gaiman, the multi-award winning author of tales such as Sandman and Coraline, as well as Hugo-award winning author Ursula Vernon, who also writes under the pen name T. Kingfisher. (I hate to mention it, Lauren, but Neil was a guest at Noreast Con 4 the year I went. If I remember right, he emceed the Costume Call.)

Lauren promises to bring new and exciting ideas to the Adult Services Department, so stay tuned and keep checking back to see what’s up!

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in January

December 28, 2021January 3, 2022 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Happy New Year! We had a calendar full of in-person programming all set to go this month, but Covid is not cooperating. Our guidance from the Town and the Health Dept. has been to hold off on in-person programs for kids and teens for at least another month, so in the interest of safety we’re doing just that. Status of adult programs is still to be determined, keep an eye on our Event Calendar for any changes to scheduled programs.

January Art Show: Will McCarthy

All Month

Cheshire Library’s January art show features features Will McCarthy’s atmospheric landscapes. Working in oils, Will creates luminous landscapes featuring images of trees against sky, field, and river that evoke a subtle variation of light and atmosphere. Will’s work will be on view in the lobby and the Mary Baldwin Room from January 4 through January 29.

Teen Virtual Volunteering: Book Reviews

All Month

Teens in grades 7-12 can earn community service hours by submitting a book review for us to add to CPL’s blog! Each submission will be awarded 2 community service hours. Submit a 300 word book review HERE.

Book Buzz Teen Book Club: A Court of Thorns and Roses

All Month

This month we are going to read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Books will be provided and are yours to keep! Books will be provided and are yours to keep! To pick up your Book Buzz book, starting on January 3rd, you must register for this event. Then you can come into the library and pick up your book at the Children’s Desk. Join us online here (our Google Classroom page) to share and hear our different points of view about the book! This book discussion group will be available all month -and beyond- and you can interact with us and post your thoughts any time that’s convenient for you.

Cat Tales Writers Group

Thursday, January 6, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us virtually 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 is required.

Cheshire Anime Club

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 3:00 – 4:30pm

Can’t get enough Anime and Manga? Anime Club will meet monthly, read and talk about what’s hot in the world of Manga, and watch some of the latest Anime releases. For grades 7-12. We hope to be back in-person soon, but for now we’ll meet online. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link on the day of the program.

Great Garden Escapes in New England with Jana Millbocker

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 7:00 – 8:15pm

Do you enjoy touring beautiful gardens? We will show you the best public gardens, nursery display gardens, and private gardens open to the public in the Northeast to visit for inspiration! Learn about each garden’s highlights, ideal times to visit, and enjoy a visual tour of each amazing destination. This is a virtual program, and pre-registration is required to receive a Zoom link on the day of the program.

Online BOOK CLUBS!

Murder by the Book Mystery Book Club: Thursday, January 20, 2022, 2:00 – 3:30pm

Art League Book Club: Friday, January 21, 2022, 11:00am – 12:30pm

This month the Murder by the Book Mystery Book Club will discuss Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers, a classic from the golden age of detective fiction. The Art League Book Club will discuss Renoir’s Dancer: the Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon by Catherine Hewitt, plus the readers’ choice from the following list: Camille Claudel: A Life by Odile Ayral-Clause, Rodin’s Lover by Heather Webb, or Mind of Steel and Clay: Camille Claudel by Enrique Laso. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link on the day of the program.

Houseplant Swap

Saturday, January 22, 2022, 9:00am-4:30pm

Looking for a new houseplant to brighten up your indoor space this winter, or wondering what to do with yet another cutting from your overgrown plant? Bring at least one healthy, pest-free cutting or houseplant to swap. Please register on our Event Calendar.

Books Over Coffee: Miss Benson’s Beetle

Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 12:00 – 1:30pm

Want to engage in great discussions about books? Meet new people? Join us for an adult monthly book club program called Books Over Coffee. We will be meeting on Zoom this month. This month’s book is Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. Registration is required.

Trivia Night

Thursday, January 27, 2021, 6:30 – 8:00pm

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 is required, registered participants will receive a link via email to join the event.

Family Listens for Holiday Travel

December 21, 2021November 18, 2021 / Lauren / Leave a comment

Raise your hand if you’re traveling for the holidays! Road trips to Pennsylvania are a regular part of the holidays for my family, and good listening material is the key to keeping everyone in the car happy and sane (or as sane as you can be, when traffic stops for no apparent reason). In situations like this, I often turn to fantasy, adventure, and sci-fi audiobooks. The plots move fast enough to keep my attention engaged for long periods, and they’re usually hefty books that will keep me occupied for a while. Plus, otherworldly settings mean that not only can I disconnect from my everyday worries, but it makes it easier for multiple generations to enjoy the same story. You don’t necessarily get that with realistic fiction, which is a popular genre here in the Children’s department, but it’s much more targeted to its specific age group. Four straight hours of fictionalized minutiae of elementary school? Most adults I know would rather spend that time listening to politics podcasts. But four straight hours of a kid who’s raised by ghosts in a graveyard? Tell us more. No, please – make it eight hours.

The following titles have various runtimes to get you to wherever your holiday destination might be – and we’ll even give you some ideas of cities whose travel time from Cheshire is about the same as the book’s runtime. As a bonus, almost all of them are available in our Playaway format, which is a self-contained audiobook player. All you provide is an auxiliary cord with a 3.5mm jack to connect to your car’s stereo, or a regular set of headphones for solo listening. For those of you lucky enough to have Bluetooth connectivity in your car, look for downloadable audiobooks that you can play through your phone.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Runtime: 2.5 hours

Listen while you drive to: Boston, Massachusetts

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this “wishtree” watches over the neighborhood.You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Runtime: 4 hours

Listen while you drive to: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there, and her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island’s hostile inhabitants.

Star Wars, The Force Awakens: A Junior Novel by Michael Kogge

Runtime: 5.5 hours

Listen while you drive to: Montreal, Canada

Many years have passed since the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance were victorious over the evil Empire, and the galaxy has been at peace. But now a darkness is rising. The brave men and women of the Resistance must stand against Kylo Ren and the villainous First Order.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Runtime: 7 hours

Listen while you drive to: Bar Harbor, Maine

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!

Spaced Out by Stuart Gibbs

Runtime: 7 hours

Listen while you drive to: Richmond, Virginia

In 2041 twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is a resident of Moon Base Alpha, and at the moment he is faced with a number of problems: coping with the nasty Sjoberg twins, finding out how the commander of the base has managed to disappear from a facility no bigger than a soccer field, and dealing with the alien Zan who communicates with him telepathically from afar–and who is hiding a secret which may threaten the whole Earth.

One Jar of Magic by Corey Ann Haydu

Runtime: 8 hours

Listen while you drive to: Pittsburgh, Pennsyvlania

Joining her family in her community’s annual New Year’s Day magic-capturing ceremony, a 12-year-old girl who has always been lucky captures just one tiny jar of magic, revealing the true nature and beliefs of her loved ones.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

Runtime: 8.5 hours

Listen while you drive to: Toronto, Canada

Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Conner leave their modern world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Runtime: 9 hours

Listen while you drive to: Cleveland, Ohio

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge—with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch.

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Runtime: 9.5 hours

Listen while you drive to: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

All light in Chattana is created by one man – the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. Set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world, this twist on Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables explores the difference between law and justice.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Runtime: 11 hours

Listen while you drive to: Detroit, Michigan

Born on the unluckiest day of the year and blamed for all misfortunes that occur in her community, Morrigan Crow is doomed to die at midnight on her 11th birthday. That is, until she is unexpectedly whisked away by a stranger on horseback who brings her to the magical city of Nevermoor, where she learns she has been chosen to compete for a position with an organization comprised of highly talented individuals. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests–or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Runtime: 11 hours

Listen while you drive to: Charlotte, North Carolina

Haunted by the bus accident that ended his best friend’s life, seventh grader Tristan Strong dreads a visit to his grandparents’ Alabama farm before a bizarre living doll snatches away his friend’s notebook and draws him into a world of burning seas, iron monsters and Black folk heroes exhausted from battle. In order to get back home, Tristan and his new allies will need help from the god Anansi – but bartering with the trickster always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Runtime: 13 hours

Listen while you drive to: Chicago, Illinois

At age 12, Sophie learns that the remarkable abilities that have always made her different from others actually identify her as an elf. After being brought to Eternalia to hone her skills, she discovers that she has secrets buried in her memory for which some would kill.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in December

November 30, 2021November 17, 2021 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

We’re working our way back to in-person programming this month, with a variety of programs meeting in-person, on-line, or a hybrid of both. Here’s what we’ve got planned for December:

December Teen Volunteering Challenges

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All month long

Earn community service hours by submitting a photo, video, or other content that may be added to CPL’s social media pages! Each submission will be awarded 2 community service hours. December’s challenges include:

Art: It’s the month of Decembird! You can draw, paint, or sculpt, but make it for the birds- 12 birds of Christmas, backyard winter birds, or whatever kind of bird you like!
Writing: We challenge you to write a tiny holiday story! Any holiday. Any story. Fact or fiction or something in between. But it must be 200 words or less.
Food: December 8th is National Brownie Day- select your favorite brownie recipe, and bake a batch of brownies. Share them with someone special!
Reading: Read a book about a holiday you don’t celebrate at home.
More Reading: Read a book while wrapped in a favorite blanket. Add a cup of hot cocoa if you’d like.
Even More Reading: Think ahead: What’s something you want to learn more about in the New Year? Read a book on that topic to get a jump start!
Extra Credit: Change your life forever by learning a new language- check out Mango Languages on our website, and send us a screenshot of what you are working on… ganbatte!!

If you participate in the challenges, earn community service credit by submitting your creations so we can share them on our social media pages.

Book Buzz Teen Book Club: Two Can Keep a Secret

All month long

This month we are going to read Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. Books will be provided and are yours to keep! To pick up your Book Buzz book, starting on November 1st, you must register for this event. Then you can come into the library and pick up your book at the Children’s Desk. Join us online here (our Google Classroom page) to share and hear our different points of view about the book! This book discussion group will be available all month -and beyond- and you can interact with us and post your thoughts any time that’s convenient for you.

Cheshire Art League: The Art of Colonial America

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 6:30 – 8:00pm

The Cheshire Art League is hosting lecturer Bob Potter, who will discuss the The Art of Colonial America, and featuring the works of artists such as Charles Wilson Peale, Benjamin West, Gilbert Stuart, John Singleton Copley, and more. This is a hybrid program, register to attend either in-person or online.

Minecraft Mania

Thursdays, December 2, 9, and 16, 2021, 3:30-5:00pm

Join Minecraft Mania for an afternoon of challenges, building, and creativity! Learn physics, statistics, and engineering concepts through hands-on activities! You will be given access to a free Minecraft account. Best for kids and teens in grades 5-12. This is a hybrid program, register to attend either in-person or online.

Theremin and Piano

Friday, December 3, 2021, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us as we explore the music and the history of the Theremin, one of the world’s strangest insturments. The library’s own Jared Goldman and pianist Perla Palomo will perform a mix of modern hits and classics. This concert will feature music as well as a look at how the instrument works and it’s uses throughout the century. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

Meditative Mondays

Mondays, December 6, 13, 20 from 2:00 – 3:00pm

Learn to master your thoughts, be in control of your mental & emotional well-being, and discover a world you never thought possible. This 7 session online class will be teaching you various meditation techniques along with topics of awareness for inner transformation. Dress comfortably and enjoy the experience! Please register in advance to receive a link to the presentation an hour before the start time.

Ball and Socket Project: Where Do We Stand?

Monday, December 6, 2021, 7:00 – 8:00pm

Please join us as Ilona Somogyi, President and Co-Founder of the Ball & Socket Arts, Inc. will update the community on construction progress and answer questions. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

Chinese for Families

Tuesdays, December 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021 4:00 – 5:00pm

(classes will continue in January)

We are so excited to partner with NeuLingo, a live, engaging online Chinese program to offer free Chinese language and culture classes for children! Join us to go on a virtual tour of the most charming cities in China, learn and experience the traditions and stories behind Chinese festivals, pick up a few Chinese words, and practice them with other children through meaningful social interactions! This is an online program, best for ages 5-12. Register once per family to attend all classes.

Author Talk: No Dead Air by Larry Rifkin

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Larry Rifkin’s career in Connecticut broadcasting spans five decades and includes varied roles including television programming executive, radio personality and now podcaster. In his new book, No Dead Air: Career Reflections from the TV Executive who Kept Barney the Dinosaur from Becoming Extinct, Larry Rifkin reflects on an improbable career that spawned two groundbreaking hits, ‘Barney & Friends’ and ‘UConn Women’s Basketball’. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

Cat Tales Writers Group

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Trivia Night

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 6:30 – 8:00pm

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. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

Food Explorers: Cookie Decorating

Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 5:00 – 6:00pm

Join Food Explorers for a holiday cookie extravaganza! Frost and decorate your own holiday cookies by coloring your frosting with fruits! This program is nut free but will contain dairy and/or eggs. For children in grades 3-8. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

Builder’s Guild

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 4:00 – 4:45pm

Design, build, and play with different building materials in this program for budding engineers! Today, we’ll challenge ourselves to design structures with wooden Keva Planks. For children in grades K-3. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

Books Over Coffee: Winter’s Tale

Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 12:00 – 1:30pm

Want to engage in great discussions about books? Meet new people? Join us for an adult monthly book club program called Books Over Coffee. We will meet in person in the library Loft! This month’s book is Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin.

Coding for Teens and Tweens

Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 2:00 – 4:45pm

Learn HTML/CSS/JavaScript programming! For grades 6 through 12. Each person will need their own laptop (it can be one you bring from home- or you can use one of the library’s laptops) and you’ll need a personal email/password in order to open an account on the website repl.i t. Then you will learn how to create your own website! For kids and teens in grades 6-12. This is an in-person event at the Cheshire Library. Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed for the entire event. Registration is required.

November is NaNo Month!

November 16, 2021November 3, 2021 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

It’s NaNoWriMo season again!

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, run by a non-profit group aiming to help young, new, and aspiring writers to find their voice and learn to hone the craft of writing. It began in 1999, with a challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Hundreds of thousands of writers participate each year. Once you sign up and log in, your progress is tracked in real-time, and you can reach goals and earn reward stickers.

Hundreds of thousands of people will try and may actually succeed in completing the challenge, but does it really get you anywhere? Mmm, depends on how good you are. Water for Elephants began its first draft as a NaNoWriMo project. It was picked up, sold more than four million copies, and in 2011 became a major motion picture. So yeah, dreams do happen.

I must make this perfectly clear: Dreams do happen, after LOTS AND LOTS OF EDITING. Please don’t send your finished first draft to any non-family member to read. Poor editing will kill your chances before you even think of your book cover. Edit, edit, edit. If you can’t pay for a professional editor, then check out some books and learn to do it yourself.

But have no fear! Cheshire Public Library can help you with that as well. Join us once a month for Cat Tales, an open group for writers of anything, beginner to published, playing with a rough idea or finished draft in hand. Talk about the ins and outs, the how-tos, editing, publishing, development, and more. Read us something you’d like feedback on, or maybe try a writing prompt. Subject doesn’t matter – Memoir, non-fiction, fiction, romance, science fiction, action-thriller, young adult (Who doesn’t love Hunger Games?) – we can talk about them all. Learn how to take that NaNoWriMo novel and beat it into shape.

Cat Tales has been meeting virtually during the pandemic, but will be returning to in-person meetings this winter. Check the calendar for the next meeting!