Read the book first or see the movie first?

July 17, 2015July 6, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

Some interesting books are coming to a theater near you soon. Are you the type who wants to read the book first to see if the movie would be worth going to, or do you look at who’s starring in the movie and see it first and then read the book later? Which one of the following movies do you think you’ll go see?

Book

Mr. Holmes (PG) – based on the book A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Gullin. Starring Ian McKellen, Laura Linney. Release date July 17, 2015. “In 1947, ninety-three-year-old Sherlock Holmes lives out his retirement in a remote Sussex farmhouse with a housekeeper and her young son, Roger, who stumbles upon information about Holmes’s secret past and long-ago infatuation with Mrs. Keller, while the one-time master detective tends his apiary, writes in journals, and copes with the fading powers of his mind.”

Book

Dark Places (R) – based on the book by Gillian Flynn. Starring Charlize Theron. Release date August 7., 2015 ” After witnessing the murder of her mother and sisters, seven-year-old Libby Day testifies against her brother Ben, but twenty-five years later she tries to profit from her tragic history and admit that her story might not have been accurate.”

Book

Paper Towns (PG-13) – based on the book by John Green. Starring Cara Delevigne and Nat Wolff. Release date July 25, 2015. “One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin “Q” Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q’s neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.”

Book

Black Mass(R) – based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill. Starring Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch. Release date September 18, 2015. ” A profile of FBI agent John Connolly and James “Whitey” Bulger, the godfather of Boston’s Irish Mob, describes how these two childhood friends, who grew up together on the tough streets of South Boston, conspired to bring down Boston’s Italian mafia in a scheme that spiraled out of control, leading to drug dealing, racketeering, and murder.”

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in July

July 1, 2015July 22, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

A Summer of Learning, that’s what’s happening! Most of our summertime programs are geared towards kids, promoting reading and learning over the summer. There’s still time to sign up for our Summer Reading club, and we’ve got plenty of activities to keep you busy during the summer months. Here’s just a taste:

Puppet Making with Artsplace

Tuesdays Jul 7 & 14 2015, 10:00 AM

Learn to make puppets using unique and everyday items. Robin McCahill, local artist at Artsplace, will be our artist in residence leading this workshop on puppet making. For grades K-2, Register online starting June 15.

Teen Read to Tots

Wednesdays (Jul 8 – Aug 12), 9:30 AM

Teens entering grades 7 and up will be paired with preschoolers (ages 3-5) for stories and a craft. All participants must attend at least 5 sessions. Register online beginning June 1st.

Going for the Stars

Thursday Jul 9, 2015, 6:00 PM

Lift-off to learning with this hands-on multimedia presentation. Meet Robo the friendly robot who talks, moves and interacts with the audience. Learn about orbits, microgravity, rockets, living in space and much more. Volunteers from the audience, dressed in astronaut flight suits, perform live demonstrations and experiments. Along with the use of computer aided technology and numerous props, this presentation creates a fun learning experience.Grades K-8, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Summer Fab Film : The Spongebob Movie – Sponge Out of Water

Wednesday Jul 15, 2015, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

When a diabolical pirate above the sea steals the secret Krabby Patty formula, SpongeBob and his nemesis Plankton must team up in order to get it back! Running Time 1 hour, 32 minutes. Rated PG. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Wild Around the World

Thursday Jul 16, 2015, 4:00 PM

The Stamford Museum and Nature Center will be bringing animals from all over the world to visit at the Library. This program will be both educational and fun! For ages 4 and up.Register online starting July 1.

‘Who Was’ Book Club: GEORGE LUCAS

Thursday Jul 23, 2015, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

If you love reading books from the ‘Who Was’ series, than this is the book club for you! July 2015 book: Who Is George Lucas? In honor of the upcoming new Star Wars flick, we’ll talk about the original Star Wars creator himself and have a little surprise fun with some of the library’s new technology. Copies of the book are available in the Children’s Room. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED, all ages are welcome!

Creating Musical Readers: Manuelo the Playing Mantis

Tuesday Jul 28, 2015, 10:00 & 10:45 AM

Literacy and music combine in Creating Musical Readers, designed for kids ages 4-7. A cellist from the New Haven Symphony Orchestra will bring his cello and read Manuelo, the Playing Mantis by Don Freeman. Come see the story come to life through music, a great way to learn about the instruments of the orchestra! This program is best for ages 4-7. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Space is limited, please register online beginning July 1.

Storytime at Cheshire Park

Wednesday Jul 29, 2015, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Meet us at the Cheshire Park this summer for a special program in the park! Bring your lunch and we will read stories and have fun with our parachute. Look for our Cheshire Public Library banner. If it’s raining, we will see you on the next sunny Wednesday! All ages welcomed, but stories will be best for kids ages 3 and up. Drop-in, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures

Thursday Jul 30, 2015, 4:00 PM

Let Nature Nick introduce you to the true heroes of the animal kingdom. Learn about falcons used in World War II and even a kangaroo that saved a boy in Australia! For ages 4 and up. Register online starting July 1.

All NEW! Teen Games

Friday Jul 31, 2015, 2:30 – 4:30 PM

We just got a Nintendo WiiU with Super Mario 3D World, NintendoLand, Mario Kart 8, Super Smashbrothers, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, and The Wonderful 101! We’ve got all-new card and board games too- like Channel A, Killer Bunnies, SuperFight! and Munchkin- so come play games and nibble snacks, FTW! For grades 6—12, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in June

June 1, 2015May 31, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

There’s lots going on at CPL in June: including our new hours and the start of summer reading! Take a look:

Just in time for summer – NEW HOURS!

Beginning June 1st, the library will be open 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM Monday – Thursday, and 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday and Saturday (Saturdays 9-1 in July & August).

Volunteer Vacations

Tuesday Jun 2, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Don’t just take a vacation, immerse yourself in vacations that give back & make a difference! Join Sheryl Kayne, author of several books including Immersion Travel USA, awarded The Society of American Travel Writers Foundations award for Best Travel Guidebook, as she shares with you amazing trips all over the US. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Is This Thing On? with Abby Stokes

Thursday Jun 4, 2015, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

The digital divide widens with the rapid pace of new innovations and gadgets. What is out there and how it might benefit you can be lost in all the tech talk. Should you buy a tablet or a computer? Stick with your PC or move onto an Apple? How do you maximize your searches and why on earth do people want to share on Facebook? Abby helps you understand what everyone is talking about and how to decide what might work best for you. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Online Marketing: Email Campaigns, LinkedIn for Business, Social Media Time Savers

Tuesday Jun 9, 2015, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

This presentation will be a practical look at best practices, tips, and tools for marketing with email campaigns, LinkedIn, and social media. Attendees will come away from this 90 minute session with concrete “to-do” actions that will help them be more effective online marketers. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Fab Film Saturday: Song of the Sea

Saturday Jun 20, 2015, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

From the writer and director of the Academy Award-nominated The Secret of Kells comes an enchanting fable about loss, magic and the love of family. Featuring the voices of Brendan Gleeson (Braveheart) and Fionnula Flanagan (The Others), The Song of the Sea is a “delightful piece of magical animation” (Mark Adams, Screen International)! Running Time 1 hour, 33 minutes. Rated PG. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Summer Reading Signup

Monday Jun 22, 2015

Summer reading has never been easier! Keep up your reading log when you’re at home and when you’re on vacation. Don’t worry about losing your reading record—just print it out when you’re done! See the Kids Page of our website for details!

Plant Science

Monday Jun 22, 2015, 2 sessions, 2:00 and 3:15 PM

Explore the growth, reproduction, special features and uses of plants through fun hands-on activities with local naturalist Eric Nelson. Please register online beginning June 1.

Toddler Dance Party

Thursday Jun 25, 2015, 2 sessions, 10:00 and 11:00 AM

Enjoy music and movement in this high energy program. Songs help children develop listening skills and pay attention to the rhythms and rhymes of spoken language. Clapping along to rhythms helps children hear the syllables in words and helps them improve motor skills. The 10:00 session is for ages 1-2, the 11:00 session is for ages 2-3. Children must be accompanied by a care giver. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Local Author Talk: America, Freedom and Enlightenment

Thursday Jun 25, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Cheshire author John White discusses his new book, America, Freedom and Enlightenment: An Open Letter to Americans About Patriotism and Global Society. Join Mr. White and your fellow citizens for a lively discussion about the founding principles of our nation, where our country is today, and what it means to be an American. Please register online.

Bedtime Math’s Crazy 8s Club

Friday Jun 26, 2015, 10:00 AM

Crazy 8s is an over-the-top fun math club that helps kids appreciate the math that’s all around them! Each session focuses on a math topic with an engaging activity: like glow in the dark geometry, toliet paper olympics, bouncy dice explosion, and a zip line zoo. The activities are designed for kids entering kindergarten through grade 2. Crazy 8s is funded by the Bedtime Math Foundation, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to putting the fun and discovery back into learning math. This club runs for 8 weeks. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED, but we will build on math skills week to week, so come to as many sessions as you can! Kids must be accompanied by a caregiver.

LEGO® Brunch at the Library

Saturday Jun 27, 2015, 11:00 AM

Enjoy donuts, coffee, juice and more in this special LEGO® storytime. We will start with a short storytime focused around building. Kids will then have an opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using LEGO® . ALL AGES, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Night Skies Planetarium

Monday Jun 29, 201, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Night Skies is a program featuring Mike Francis using Starlab, the inflatable planetarium dome and projector system. A remarkably realistic night sky awaits groups of up to 30. There is no need to worry about the weather, time of day or travel. The experience of entering the giant bubble fascinates. The excitement of being able to identify that bright red star from last night’s sky or locating an elusive constellation sparks the imagination.

Family Drum Circle with Garden of Beats

Tuesday Jun 30, 2015, 10:00 – 10:45 AM

Join us as we create a lively “Garden of Beats” with drum circle leader Conga J. With hand drums of every size and lots of shaky and percussion toys we introduce the world of rhythm to people of all ages. Drumming encourages creativity, community, individuality, working together, culture, self confidence, and coordination (to name a few). All ages, kids must be accompanied by a caregiver. Space is limited; register on our website beginning June 1.

National Nurses Week – May 6-12, 2015

May 6, 2015April 30, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

Everyone has had some kind of interaction with a nurse – starting from the day you were born! In 1994, May 6-12 (May 12th is Florence Nightingale’s birthday) was officially designated National Nurses Week. It is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on, and appreciate, the vital role that nurses play in our lives. If the opportunity arises, please take the time to thank a nurse for all they do.

Nurses are popular in the literary world too. The library has a great assortment of books and DVDs that feature nurses.

Fiction

The English Patient – Michael Ondaatje

My Name is Mary Sutter – Robin Oliveira

The Carousel – Richard Paul Evans

A Violet Season – Kathy Leonard Czepiel

The Life We Bury – Allen Eskins

Stella Bain – Anita Shreve

Bittersweet – Colleen McCullough

Never Change – Elizabeth Berg

Non-Fiction

The Secret Rescue – an untold story of American nurses and medics behind Nazi lines – Cate Lineberry

The Good Nurse – a true story of medicine, madness and murder – Charles Graeber

Nightingales: the extraordinary upbringing and curious life of Miss Florence Nightingale – Gillian Gill

Children’s

Nurses – Marlene Targ Brill

Florence Nightingale – Demi

Clara and Davie – Patricia Polacco

DVD’s

Nurse Jackie

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

Call The Midwife

China Beach

To see a complete listing of titles about nurses, click here.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in April

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 / cheshirelib / 2 Comments

Lots of great stuff happening at Cheshire Library this month, including a terrific schedule of programming for School Vacation Week, and at the end of the month, it’s BOOKSALE time!

Navigating Your Financial Landscape: The Basics

Thursday Apr 2, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

In your 20s and 30s and wondering how you’ll ever afford a house, your future kids’ college expenses, and retirement? Now is the perfect time to start planning your financial future! You’ll learn all about 401ks, investing, building and maintaining credit, and lending options. Presented by Jonathon Dibble of Morgan Stanley. Register on our website.

Cheshire Cats Classics Club- Ben-Hur

Monday Apr 6, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The Cheshire Cats Classics Club meets once per month on a Monday evening. Ben-Hur will be discussed at the April 6th meeting. Copies are available to check out from the library.

There is limited seating for this event. For more information regarding this program, contact Jennifer Bartlett at jbartlett@cheshirelibrary.org.

Where to Hike in Cheshire

Monday Apr 6, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

This program will introduce hiking opportunities located in Cheshire. From meadows to Connecticut’s second largest waterfall, Cheshire has over 1,500 acres ready for exploration. Free hiking maps, property descriptions and directions will be available. The town website, a valuable resource for open space information, will be highlighted. Seating for this event is limited. Register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Squishy Circuits

Monday Apr 13, 2015, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Electricity + play-doh = lights? Awesome! Squishy Circuits are a great introduction to the fundamentals of electronics. We will use play-doh that can conduct electricity. Once you know the basics, you can plug in lights and motors to bring you already cool sculpture to new levels of awesome. Drop in anytime between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Ages 6 and up welcomed. No registration required.

LEGO® Junior Maker

Tuesday Apr 14, 2015, 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Do you love building with LEGO® Blocks? Then LEGO® Junior Maker is perfect for you. We will start with a short storytime focused around building. Kids will then have opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using Lego and Mega bloks. They can work alone, or in a team with peers. A theme will be given for kids to design around based on stories read. All ages welcomes. No registration required.

Rocks and Minerals

Tuesday Apr 14, 2015, 2 sessions: 1:00 PM and 2:15 PM

Local naturalist Eric Nelson will introduce children to the identification, characteristics, and historical use of rocks and minerals through fun hands-on activities and exciting demonstrations. For ages 6 and up. Register on our website starting on April 1st.

Ctrl Alt Achieve: Float Your Boat

Wednesday Apr 15, 2015, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

As part of our Ctrl Alt Achieve series, kids can test their creativity and engineering skills at building a boat. Kids will build boats using assorted materials and see how much weight they can hold. For grades Kindergarten – 2nd. No Registration Required.

Touch a Truck at Bartlem Park

Thursday Apr 16, 2015, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Come visit the children’s librarians at Bartlem Park for Touch a Truck. We’ll be present with our book cart for kids to touch and have special prizes to give out. Please bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Cheshire Food Pantry.

Have you ever wanted to board one of those huge trucks? Your chance has arrived! This event is made possible due to the generosity of local companies and Cheshire Town Agencies. You may see fire trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, pay loader, rescue trucks, law enforcement vehicles and more. There will be a free raffle of toy trucks.

Where: Bartlem Park – 520 S. Main St, Cheshire

Open to All Ages

Robot Petting Zoo

Thursday Apr 16, 2015, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

The first ever CPL Robot Petting Zoo brings out friendly robots for kids & teens to touch, operate, and even program! Some robots follow a line and are programmed with color, some are controlled with apps on a smart phone or tablet. They can look like a ball, a cube, a bird, or even a race car! Come meet our many unusual robots and learn a bit about circuits and electronics at our Robot Petting Zoo. For grades 4—12. No registration required.

Edible Insects with Stamford Museum and Nature Center

Thursday Apr 16, 2015, 6:00 PM

Discover the who, what, where and why behind eating bugs. From mealworm spaghetti to roasted tarantula, we’ll find out why people have been eating insects and invertebrates for hundreds of years. We’ll meet some live bugs that might be on a menu somewhere as well as some animals that eat bugs. Brave participants will also have a change to try an edible snack, if desired, at the end of the program. For ages 5 and up. Register on our website starting on April 1st.

Fab Films: Penguins of Madagascar

Saturday Apr 18, 2015, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Come enjoy some great box office kids’ movies with Fab Film Saturdays at Cheshire Public Library!
Penguins of Madagascar (2014). From the creators of Madagascar comes the funniest movie of 2014, starring your favorite penguins – Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private – in a spy-tacular new film!Running Time 1 hour, 32 minutes. Rated PG. No registration required. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Sinatra and Me

Tuesday Apr 21, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Join Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Franz Douskey as he discusses his book Sinatra and Me: The Very Good Years, an intimate look at the legendary Frank Sinatra by one of his closest friends Tony Consiglio, as told to the author. Seating is limited, please register on our website.

Skype Video Chat with Friends and Family

Saturday Apr 25, 2015, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Here is your chance to “visit” that person who lives too far away to just drop in on! A member of the Rotary eClub of the Southwest will stop by the Cheshire Public Library on Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00am – 1:00pm to sit with you as you make a Skype video call from his computer to the computer of a friend or family member. The webcams and microphones on both computers will let you see and hear each other–almost like sitting in the same room together!
Register on our website, sign up slots will be 30 minutes in duration.