Now On View

*“Antique Tools”: Newtown resident and artist Stephanie Adam has works on view this month in the Olga Koepkne Memorial Meeting Room (the library’s lower meeting room). A collection of acrylics on canvas offers a look at some of Mrs Adam’s recent works. Visitors can enjoy that exhibition during regular library hours until February 27.

*Cityscapes & Landscapes: Newtown artist Ruth Newquist, famous for her lovely watercolors of familiar Newtown landmarks and scenes of SoHo, is offering an exhibition of her works on the library’s main floor until February 29. The show can be viewed during library hours.

The exhibition, “Cityscapes & Landscapes: Oils & Watercolors by Ruth Newquist,” features new works by Mrs Newquist in both oils and watercolors focusing on the vibrant street scenes of New York City as well as the tranquil meadows and barns of Newtown.

Children’s Programs

*“When I Was Built” Workshop: Jennifer Thermes, the author and illustrator of the book When I Was Built, will conduct a workshop for children ages 7-10 at the library on Saturday, February 28. The program will run from 1 to 2 pm in the children’s department.

Mrs Thermes’ picture book tells the story of a very old house and the changes it has seen over the years. In the course of the workshop, Ms Thermes will lead the children through a story-making and illustration project of their own using an old object that they have brought from home, such as an old tool, toy, photo or diary. The children will then craft a story from their object’s point of view.

Mrs Thermes lives in Newtown with her family and is currently working on her second book.

Copies of When I Was Built will be available for purchase in the children’s department. The workshop is free, but the class size is limited to 15 participants. Call 426-3851 for more information or to register for the program.

*Happy Birthday Dr Seuss: Join a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Dr Seuss’ birthday, on Tuesday, March 2. Beginning at 6 pm in the Olga Koepkne Memorial Meeting Room, library staff will be cooking up batches of green scrambled eggs and ham, The Young Adult Players will present a Shakespearian interpretation of Green Eggs and Ham, and there will be a special visit from The Cat in the Hat.

Children will be required to stay seated during dinner and for the stories that follow.

The program is free and open to all ages, but registration is required and seating is limited to 50. Call the children’s department directly at 426-3851 for details.

 

Young Adults

*Book Discussion: Let’s talk about Hippolyta and The Curse of The Amazons on Wednesday, February 25, at 4:30 pm. This one-hour program will concern Jane Yolen’s second book in her “Young Heroes” series, where 13-year old Hippolyta, a princess of the Amazons, fights to save her people from destruction after her mother, the queen, refuses to sacrifice her second-born male child.

Copies of this title are available in the Young Adult area. Registration is requested, and can be done in person or by calling the library.

 

Adult News

*Book Groups: Take time out from your busy schedule and do something for yourself. Join a book discussion at the library.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer will be discussed on Tuesday, March 2, at 7:30 pm.

*Foreign Film Series – Newtown a la Cannes: The library has started a new series in February, where we will offer first run, award-winning, independent films from foreign countries.

On Thursday, February 26, at 7:30 pm, the library will show Inch’Allah Dimanche, from France. This film provides viewers with a deeply moving memoir of an Algerian immigrant family and their experiences in post World War II France. The film is in French with English subtitles.

On March 4 the featured film will be Marion Bridge. This is the story of three grown women brought together after years apart to care for their adult mother. Each daughter is caught up in the complexities of her personal life yet the reunion sets in motion a chain of events that allows the family to reconnect with the world and one another.

Future titles and their screening dates are May 13, Light of My Eyes; and May 27, Ali Zaoua.

*Can Great Literature Be Funny? Gordon Williams and Liz Arneth will resume their book discussion series, “Can Great Literature Be Funny” on March 11. This series is taking on plays by great playwrights that see the lighter side of life. Attendance at early discussions is not mandatory; newcomers are still welcome.

The two plays left to discuss are George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, on Thursday, March 11, and then Shakespeare’s As You Like It on April 1.

Discussions are in the Special Collections room on the library’s third floor, and they begin at 7:30 pm.

Multiple copies of each play are available, just ask at the circulation desk. Registration is requested.

*Computer Class: A beginner’s computer class will be offered on Saturday, February 21, from 9 am to noon, and an intermediate class is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, also 9 am to noon. The beginner’s class is free, but there is a $10 fee for the intermediate class.

Registration is requested for either class. Call or visit the library to sign up.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached at 426-4533. Winter hours are 10 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday, noon to 5 pm on Friday, 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and 1 to 5 pm on Sunday.