Currently On View

*Newtown artisan Mike Agius has very kindly lent the library a collection of his beautiful collection of wooden bowls carved from locally sourced wood, which continue to be on view. Our thanks go to Mike for sharing the results of his expertise with library patrons.

*Curator Mary Thomas would like to invite other residents of Newtown to share their collections with library patrons for display on a temporary basis. Please call the library if you’re interested in sharing your special interest with others.

Children’s Programs

*Summer Reading Kick Off and Children’s Book Sale: Summer reading officially begins Tuesday, June 22.

Danny Magic will perform at 11 am and 1 pm. Tickets are free and will be available at the children’s desk for both performances on the morning of June 22.

The Friends of the Library Children’s Book Sale will also take place from 9:30 am to 5 pm in the children’s story hour room. Shop the wide selection of reasonably priced children’s books and get ready for a summer of reading enjoyment.

Children ages 4 through grade 5 may sign up to participate in our summer reading program. We have lots of great incentives this year including free passes to Westerners Baseball games, The Sports Center in Shelton and Golf Quest in Brookfield.  Children read books they choose and stop by the library at their convenience to discuss the books with a young adult volunteer and collect their prizes.

If you can’t be here June 22, sign up is ongoing throughout the summer. The program will run until August 14.

Young Adult Programs

*Cool Drinks & Cool Stories with storyteller Rona Leventhal is Monday, June 21, from 3 to 5 pm.

Enjoy your choice of fruit smoothie, then kick back and listen to Rona spin “Mysteries, Puzzles and Mind Twisters.” This is the kickoff to the 2010 Teen Summer Reading Challenge for Newtown students and residents entering grades 6-12 in the fall.

The program is limited to the first 50 young adults who sign up online.

*Hardware Jewelry, a new craft program led by Katie Stevenson, will be Thursday, June 24, from 2 to 4.

Make necklaces, pendants and bracelets using stuff from a toolbox! Bring small nuts, washers, beads and things that can be strung together. More materials will be provided.

Limited to 15 participants who will be entering grades 5-12 (age 10-18), there is a $6 supply fee payable at program.

Sign up online.

*Intro To Creative Writing: Current fifth graders who love to write stories and poems, come on Monday, June 7, from 6:30 to 7:30, for an introduction to our Creative Writing program.

Bring a parent and meet the leaders and hear how it works from current students.  Rising sixth graders are ready for our summer camp in July and fall programs.

Signups appreciated online, but drop-ins are welcome too.

Programs For Adults

*Book Discussions: The Daytime Book Group will meet on Monday, June 14, at 1pm, to discuss Serpentine by Thomas Thompson; and the Evening Book Group will meet Thursday, June 17, at 7:30 pm, to talk about A Frozen Woman by Annie Ernaux.

*Varian Fry, America’s Oscar Schindler: On Tuesday, June 15, at 7:15 pm, Rita Frost of the Newtown chapter of Hadassah, will give a short presentation on local hero Varian Fry, who saved over 2,000 artists and writers who were trapped in Nazi controlled Vichy, France, in 1940.

Among those rescued by Fry were Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, Jacques Lipchitz and Marcel Duchamp. Varian Fry lived and worked in Easton and Ridgefield and yet few of us living in Connecticut have ever heard of him or his extraordinary deeds.

Special guest Gys Landsberger, whose in-laws were saved by Fry, will also be attending this very special program. Refreshments will be served, and space is limited early reservations are suggested. Contact Rita Frost at 203-426-8787, Bernice Ullmann at 203-270-6333, or Rosalind Burger at 203-792-9186.

*Job Search Help with Cheryl Schwartz: Cheryl Schwartz will provide important tips on the interview process on Thursday, June 17, from 3 to 4:30 pm. Please sign up online.

C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street in Newtown. Call 203-426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org to register for any of the above listings, and for information on additional programs and offerings.