Now On View

*Far From Finished: Newtown resident Shannon Hicks spent a week in Biloxi, Miss., a few months ago and took hundreds of pictures while she helped a crew begin building a home for a woman who had lost hers most than a year earlier to Hurricane Katrina. Dozens of Shannon’s photographs, along with mementos, journal entries and other found items from that week, are being displayed in “Katrina Relief: Far From Finished.” The exhibition is in the three display cases near the library’s main circulation desk, and has been extended to March 31.

*Human Nature: Southbury resident David Clark enjoys photography, and he has created a collection of interesting images for an exhibition at the library this month. “Human Nature: Eclectic Images by David Clark” is a collection of Mr Clark’s photographs and limited edition giclée prints. They are on view in the Olga Knoepke Memorial Meeting Room until March 30.

*An Up & Down Hobby: Newtown resident William Armstrong is sharing his collection of more than 200 yo-yos in a special exhibit on display in the library’s lower lobby. The display, in the glass cases near the elevator until at least the end of March, includes a brief history of yo-yos and other yo-yo related memorabilia.

 

Children’s Program

*Story Time Registration: Registration for story times for children ages 12-24 months, 2- to 3-year olds and 3- to 5-year olds will continue until March 26. Sessions begin the week of April 2.

Forms are available in the children’s department. No phone registrations will be accepted. The story times are free, and open only to Newtown residents.

*Wild Zoofari with Jim Knox: Join television host and wildlife educator Jim Knox and a few friends from the Beardsley Zoo for an hour of fun and exploration on Saturday, March 24, from 3 to 4 pm, library’s meeting room.

Copies of the DVDs Alphabet Safari and Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo will be available for purchase at the end of the program.

Recommended for ages 6 and up, no registration necessary.

 

Programs For Young Adults

*NewtownREADS…for Young Adults: Let’s talk about Mississippi Trial 1955 by Chris Crowe, about the Emmett Till murder case, along with To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Join us if you’ve read at least one of these books on Wednesday, April 4, from 4 to 5 pm, in the Antiques Room on the library’s third floor. These two books about southern life and justice explore many similar themes.

Copies of both books are available at the library. Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk, call 426-4533, or just drop in.

*Calling young authors: The Booth Library Creative Writing Group for Young Adults will offer Mysteries and Adventure Thrillers this spring.

The group will be led by Julie Stern, a professor, writer and Newtown resident, with assistance from Philip Kotch, one of the library’s adult writer volunteers. All sessions will allow time for writing and sharing stories in progress.

The group will meet from 6 to 8 pm on five consecutive Monday evenings, April 9-May 7 (no class on April 16).  There is a limit of ten students in grades 6-8.  There is no fee.

Participants are expected to attend all five sessions, and preference is given to Newtown residents.  For more information, speak to Margaret Brown, YA librarian.  Sign up at the Main Floor Desk or call 426-4533.

 

Adult Notes

*NewtownREADS 2007: One book, one community… The whole town is encouraged to read and then discuss a single book.

We’ve chosen To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It’s the unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it.

Related programs include the following: March 20, book discussion led by Julie Stern at Mocha Coffee House, Glen Road in Sandy Hook, at 10 am; March 29, screening of the 1962 film To Kill A Mockingbird at Town Hall, 2 and 7:30 pm, tickets $2, and the evening screening will offer an introduction and post-screening discussion with film historian Jack Leopold; April 10, book discussion with Gordon Williams at the Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, at 1 pm; April 24, book discussion with Joanne Rochman, at CH Booth Library, 7:30 pm; April 26, Author Talk with Charles Shields, the author of Mockingbird: Portrait of Harper Lee, at Newtown High School, 7:30 pm; and April 28,  Mock Trial/Theatrical Performance, directed by Doug MacHugh, 2 pm (tickets $5) and 7 pm ($10), at Newtown Meeting House.

*Book Discussions: Upcoming programs will include April 3, The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology by Simon Winchester, at 1 pm; April 9, Arabian Jazz by Diana Abu-Jaber, at 1 pm; and April 19, The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, at 7:30 pm.

*Book Nook News: Think Spring! Check out the gardening and baseball titles at The Friends of the Library Book Nook, on the main floor around the corner from the circulation desk.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached by calling 426-4533.