What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in October

October 2, 2014October 2, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

It’s October, leaves are changing on the trees, the days are getting shorter, and Cheshire Library’s got loads of great programs to keep you busy all month long. And it’s BOOK SALE MONTH!

Gargoyles of Yale University

Monday Oct 6, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Mathew Duman, author and photographer of An Education in the Grotesque : The Gargoyles of Yale University, has explored the variety of sculpture found on the buildings of Yale University and has researched and documented these new world grotesques which are much closer but no less interesting than their European counterparts. Registration required.

Cheshire Cats Classics Club

Monday Oct 6, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

For the October meeting, the book club will be discussing All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. Copies of this book may be borrowed at the library. Registration required.

Halloween Read-Aloud with FEA

Thursday Oct 9, 2014, 3:30 – 4:15 PM

Come and read with the Future Educators of America (FEA) from Dodd Middle School! Dress up in Halloween colors to get in the spirit. There will be stories, crafts, and a snack. For ages 3-6. Registration required starting on October 1st.

Fab Film Saturday

Saturday Oct 11, 2014, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Today’s film is Frankenweenie (2012 – rated PG – 1 hr, 27 min). From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton comes the hilarious and offbeat FRANKENWEENIE, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life — with just a few minor adjustments. Feel free to bring your own snacks! No registration required.

Tuesday Movie Matinees

Tuesday Oct 14, 2014 – The Uninvited (1944 – 99 minutes).

Tuesday Oct 28, 2014 – Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941 – 94 minutes)

1:00 – 3:00 PM, No registration required.

Witchcraft Trials of Connecticut

Tuesday Oct 14, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Join Richard Tomlinson, author of Witchcraft Prosecution : Chasing the Devil in Connecticut as he discusses the fears that drove some citizens to seek out and punish accused witches that lived in their community. Tomlinson will explore the witchcraft trials in 1600s Connecticut and highlight three major trials in Connecticut history: the Hartford Witch Panic of 1662-63; the landmark prosecution of Katherine Harrison of Wethersfield; and the trial of Mercy Disbrow, the last woman convicted of witchcraft in Connecticut. Registration required.

Bobcats in Connecticut

Wednesday Oct 15, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Bobcats are common in Connecticut and found in most towns throughout the state. They have been spotted in Cheshire and in other towns in the region. Bobcats are stealthy predators; secretive, solitary and seldom observed, tending to hunt and travel in areas of thick cover. Christine Clark, from Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, will highlight the abilities, adaptations and natural history of the bobcat using slides, video and artifacts. Registration required.

Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale: Members-Only Preview Night

Wednesday Oct 22, 2014, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Preview the popular Friends of the Cheshire Public Library Semi-Annual Book Sale. Memberships can be purchased at the door.

Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale

Thursday Oct 23 – Saturday Oct 25, 2014

Halloween Magic

Monday Oct 27, 2014, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Please join us for a fun-filled Halloween Magic Show with Mr. Magic, Rick Rothstein. Rick will amaze everyone with his illusions with water and other visual trickery. For all ages. Registration required starting on October 1st.

iPad 101

Tuesday Oct 28, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Learn the basics on how to use the most popular tablet on the market. This class will cover everything from changing settings to taking photographs. Please bring your own iPad if possible. The library has a limited number of iPads participants can use.

Topics covered:
Changing your settings
Securing your iPad for unauthorized use
Downloading Apps
Setting up your email
Organizing your life with iCalendar and Reminders
Photo-taking 101

Cheshire Magic : The Gathering Club

Tuesday Oct 28, 2014, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

In Magic: The Gathering, you are counted among the elite spellcasters of the Multiverse—the Planeswalkers. Your deck of cards represents your weapons, containing the spells you know and the creatures you can summon to fight for you. (Cards will be provided to play with if you don’t have any of your own.) Grades 9—12 and up, no registration required.

Before the Auto: Transportation in Cheshire during the 19th Century

Wednesday Oct 29, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Learn how turnpikes, the Farmington Canal, steam railroads, and electric trolleys provided transportation in Cheshire in the nineteenth century. Presenter Richard DeLuca is the author of “Post Roads and Iron Horses,” which looks at transportation in Connecticut from Colonial Times to the Age of Steam.

Halloween Storytime and Costume Parade

Thursday Oct 30, 2014, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Join Miss Nicole for a Halloween Storytime and Parade in the library! We’ll read some stories and then go treak-or-treating around the library! Be sure to wear your costume! For ages 8 and under. Registration required starting on October 1st.

Anime Club Halloween Cosplay Extravaganza

Friday Oct 31, 2014, 3:00 – 4:45 PM

Dress up and act like your favorite character: anime or otherwise! Prizes will be awarded for effort and creativity. Japanese refreshments will be provided, but the major event will be the cosplay contest, so start planning your costume and moves today—this is one event you won’t want to miss!! Grades 6—12. No registration required.

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know You Can Do at the Library

September 16, 2014October 7, 2014 / Mary / Leave a comment

Sure, everyone knows you can check out books, audiobooks, movies, and music but did you know you can learn how to use a computer? Put on a puppet show with your kids? Take a cooking class? Today’s libraries are full of a wide variety of interesting, fun, and even unusual things to do.

Here’s a small sample:

Watch a Movie. For free.

We show movies nearly every week at our library. From classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Some Like it Hot to blockbusters like Divergent and Frozen, you can watch a wide range of shows. BYOP. (Bring Your Own Popcorn.)

Love the movies? We have DVDs and Blu-rays available for checkout and an ever-growing streaming video collection from Overdrive.

Build with Legos

Builder’s Brigade occurs twice a month. (Check out the Builders Brigade blog.) Kids and their parents get to express their creativity by building amazing Lego creations, which are then displayed in the children’s room. And for those who cannot wait for Wednesday afternoons to roll around, we have a stash of Legos always available at the Children’s Room at the Lego table.

If you are looking for some creative ideas for Legos try The Lego Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination.

Play Minecraft

Want to become a really super Minecraft player? You can borrow The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Minecraft from the library.

Schedule a computer lesson

We offer one-on-one lessons for beginning computer users. If you need help learning to navigate the Internet or would like a basic course in email or how to use Microsoft Word, contact our Reference Department to schedule an appointment. It won’t be painful. We promise.

If you can’t wait, you can peruse Teach Yourself Visually Android Phones and Tablets or Kindle Fire HD The Missing Manual

Go to a concert

On various evenings and weekends throughout the year, talented musicians and singers perform in the Mary Baldwin room. All concerts are free and open to the public, courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Check out our Calendar of Events for upcoming shows.

In between shows, you can find nearly every type of music in our collection from The Magic of Lang Lang (classical piano) to Diary of a Madman (Ozzy Osborne)

Try an Exercise Class

From Zumba for Kids to an introduction to the martial art of Hapkido, the library hosts a variety of fitness programs throughout the year. It’s a great way to sample an exercise program before actually enrolling.

Don’t know what to try? Check out Fitness for Dummies, which describes a variety of exercise programs from cardio training to yoga.

Change Your Lifestyle

Learn to mediate. Hear about the benefits of detoxification. Enjoy an evening delving into the characteristics of introverts versus extroverts. Talk to a professional decorator. Learn about nutrition.

Some good titles to get you going: Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening or The Clean in 14 Days Detox

Join a Drum Circle

Children (and adults) can learn the fundamentals of music while playing interactive rhythm games with drums and hand-held percussion instruments from around the world. And have the fun of making a lot of noise in the library!

If you love world music try the Putumayo Presents World Groove CD.

Food, Food, Food

Attend cooking classes and demonstrations. Meet cookbook authors and local chefs. And samples, samples, samples. Learn some new cooking skills, discover new recipes, and try out tasty treats.

While you’re at it, you can also peruse our cookbook collection, which offers everything from America’s Most Wanted Recipes to Weber’s Big Book of Burgers.

10. Grab a Cup of Coffee

Or tea or even a cup of hot chocolate. Our coffee bar has something for everyone. And what could be better than sipping the hot beverage of your choice while browsing for a good book. Or movie. Or audiobook. Or CD. Or graphic novel. Or…

Well, you get the idea.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in September

September 2, 2014September 2, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Summer may be over, but lots of great programming continues at Cheshire Library! Here are some of the special programs we’ve got lined up this month:

SAT Preparation Seminar

Tuesday Sep 2, 2014, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Prominent language arts tutor, Ellis Ratner will address all aspects of the Reading and Writing Sections, including sentence completion, reading comprehension, grammar and essay writing. Attendees will also receive, free of charge, and SAT Preparation Primer. Register on our website.

Reckless: True Story of the Legendary Korean War Pony

Thursday Sep 4, 2014, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Janet Barrett, author of They Called Her Reckless — A True Story of War, Love And One Extraordinary Horse, will appear to discuss the story of Reckless, a small Korean pony who became a real-life hero during the Korean War. She saved many lives, raised spirits and won the love and respect of all who knew her. Reckless hauled ammo, brought back dead and wounded Marines, boosted the troops’ morale, was awarded two Purple Hearts and finally brought back to the U.S., where she lived out her years at Camp Pendleton, California. Register on our website.

Zumba for Kids

Saturday Sep 6, 2014, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Join Tracy Brody in a great Zumba program designed just for kids!
Zumba is an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired dance-fitness program. Classes specifically for kids are formatted in a way to make getting fit fun. Kids can just let loose and be themselves! Register on our website.

Cheshire Cats Classics Club – The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford

Monday Sep 8, 2014, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

The Cheshire Cats Classics Club will resume after a summer break on Monday September 8 at 7 p.m. at the Cheshire Public Library. The book club will read The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford in honor of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Register on our website. Copies of this book may be borrowed at the library.

Our Health in the Balance: Toxic Lawn Pesticides

Tuesday Sep 9, 2014, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Concerned about your health, your children’s health, your pet’s health, and the health of the environment? Find out more when presenter Dr. Jerry Silbert, a physician trained in Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, and Environmental Health, speaks about toxic lawn pesticides and chemical trespass. Register on our website.

Builder’s Brigade

Wednesdays, Sep 10 and 24 2014, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Kids have the opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using Lego and Mega blocks. They can work alone, or in a team with peers. A different theme is picked for each session and kids can build on that theme or build a creation of their own. At the end of each session, kids can put their creations on display at the library for all to see until the next club is scheduled! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Silly Song Sing-a-long

Saturday Sep 13, 2014, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Silly Song Sing-a-long is a mix of popular children’s songs, musical games, dance movements, and rhythms. Children and adults will be encouraged to participate and act silly along with Edward Leonard and his guitars, drums, and maracas. Register on our website.

Fab Film Saturdays: ERNEST AND CELESTINE

Saturday Sep 20, 2014, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Ernest & Celestine (2012). Academy Award Nominee (Best Animated Feature) and featuring the voices of Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy, and more! This is the gorgeously animated story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a mouse named Celestine. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Bring your own snacks!
Running Time 1 hour, 20 minutes. Rated PG.

Occult and Demonology in the Civil War

Monday, Sep 22, 2014, 7:00 PM

Join Matthew Bartlett, local author and Gettysburg historian, as he discusses demonology and the occult in the Civil War. Register on our website.

Halloween Science Workshop – 2 Sessions

Saturday Sep 27, 2014, 1:15 PM and 2:30 PM

Explore a Halloween skeleton, the science of darkness, the inner workings of Halloween toys and gadgets, and live spiders and other scary creepy-crawlies in a fun hands-on workshop conducted by local naturalist and amateur scientist, Eric Nelson. Register on our website.

Small Business Lending
Monday Sep. 29, 2014, 7:00pm

Sheldon L. Pollock, Banking Consultant and former Bank CEO, will explain the points that a business owner should consider when applying for a small business loan. Register on our website.

At the Library: Get a Job

August 30, 2014July 25, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Need to perk up a tired, out-of-date resume? Want to learn how to successfully navigate an interview? Like some suggestions on where to begin your job search?

We can help! JobNow is the name of a wonderful online service available via the Cheshire Public Library’s website.

You can find all kinds of job search assistance on this site from resume resources to interview tips and career assessments. You can also conduct a job search from the JobNow homepage. Search by job title, keyword or even company name. Refine your search by city, state, or zip code.

And the best part? JobNow coaches are available seven days a week 3:00PM – 11:00PM EST for live interview coaching.

Take a look at some of these great JobNow features:

Resume Templates
Hints, tips & explanations of how to write the perfect resume
Free resume writing tutorial
Resume Lab: Submit your resume & receive constructive comments from a resume expert
Helpful tips for interview success
Common Interview Questions & Sample Responses
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Online Resources: Carefully-selected resources to help you prepare for your interview

There is even a section describing the don’ts of interviewing (like don’t wear cologne or perfume, don’t be negative, and please, don’t arrive late!)

And for those who want to change careers or who aren’t certain what type of work suits them, JobNow offers career self-assessment tools and career aptitude tests that can help you discover the type of work activities and occupations that you would like and find exciting. I tried some of the assessment tools and discovered that I should be working in a literary or technology career, which makes library work a perfect fit. I’d say those tests are pretty darn accurate.

So before you jump into the job market, take a look at JobNow. It can give you that edge you need to succeed.

At the Library: Puppy Love

August 16, 2014October 7, 2014 / Mary / 2 Comments

Once upon a t dog ime (just a few months ago on a Saturday, actually) a family came in to the Cheshire Public Library to use the library’s computers. They wanted to fill out an application to adopt a dog from a rescue shelter in North Carolina.

The family (dad, mom, son, and daughter) was excited about adopting this dog. They showed his picture, which included his name, to Cara, the librarian on duty. She agreed the dog was a cutie.

It was near closing time, and the application was a long one. The family needed to provide a lot of information and had to make a few calls to get names and phone numbers for references. Cara tried to disable the computer reserve system, which automatically shuts off all computers at closing. To her dismay, the computer shut off before the application was submitted.

“Did we get the dog?’ the little girl asked excitedly.

She did not realize they had just lost all their information. The application had to be submitted by 5:00PM on that same day. The family did not have a working computer at home.

The library was closing so the family left knowing they missed the application deadline.

Feeling bad about what had happened, Cara returned to her computer, found the website, and after some searching located the dog the family wanted to adopt. She sent an email to the animal shelter, explaining what had happened, describing how the entire family had come in together to fill out the application and how much they wanted the dog. She asked the shelter to not make any decisions until Monday when the family could return and use the library’s computers to submit an application.

She thought about the family and their dog for the rest of the weekend. She never expected to hear back from the shelter.

But hear back she did. The woman from the shelter who responded to her email was impressed that she had taken the time to contact them about the family and was delighted that the entire family had been so involved with the application process. She agreed to wait for the application.

In the meantime, the family found a friend with a computer and submitted their application that weekend.

A few days later, the family returned with flowers for Cara. The shelter had told them what she had done for them. In addition, the shelter said that her description of their family and their excitement for owning the dog, plus the fact that Cara had thought highly enough of the family to send the first email, were the best recommendations that they could have had. The shelter knew, the woman told them, that they were sending the dog to a good home.

So a rescue dog has a new family and a family has a new pet to love.

Librarians can make a difference in your life.

If you’d like to learn more about adopting a dog, try our non-fiction shelves under 636.7!