July 2019
The Library will be closed on July 4th in observance of Independence Day
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Greetings!
Summertime--when the living is easy, book circulation always goes up by 20%, and there is music everywhere in Norwalk including the library!
Both the main library and the South Norwalk branch library have summer reading challenges for kidz so they can enjoy reading and not lose any skills to the summer slide.
A Universe of Stories is the theme, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Come to the main library in July (and the SoNo branch in August) to try your hand at
launching your own rocket, thanks to NPL’s partnership with the Discovery Museum.
For the adventurous (grade 5 and older), try the
Stranger Things-themed Escape Room challenge at the main library, or if you just want to sit at the beach and read a book, choose one from the library’s book cart at Calf Pasture.
Chris
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Fitch House Miniature Club Exhibition Mini Dollhouses on Display
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The Norwalk Public Library will be hosting an exhibit of dollhouse miniatures, a project of the Fitch House Miniature Club, during the months of July and August. The exhibit is located in the display cases in the library's entryway.
The Fitch House Miniature Club is a member of the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME), whose mission is to promote miniatures through education, collecting, and building friendships and skills through the sharing of experience and ideas. The Fitch House Miniature Club exhibits projects in various scales created by club members.
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American Job Center Career Coach
Free Job Search Assistance
Monday, July 1
10:00 - 12:00
1:00 - 3:00
Curb in front of library
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Ekphrastic Poetry Experience with Poet Laureate Bill Hayden
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Monday, July 1
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Rene Soto Gallery,
1 Wall St., Norwalk, CT
Norwalk’s poet laureate Bill Hayden will host an Ekphrastic Poetry experience at Rene Soto Gallery. All writers, readers and appreciators of poetry are welcome.
Ekphrastic poetry may be defined as poetry written about works of art. In ancient Greece, the term ekphrasis was applied to the skill of describing a thing with vivid detail. In addition to the descriptions of a work of art, an ekphrastic poem usually includes an exploration of how the speaker is impacted by his or her experience with the work.
The poetry workshop will resume meeting at Norwalk Public Library for its second July meeting on Monday, July 15.
For additional information about library programs, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or
clahey@norwalkpl.org .
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Creative Writing for Adults - Summer Writing Fun!
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Mondays, July 8 - August 5
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Carnegie Room
Challenge your imagination in this five-week summer creative writing program. New and experienced writers can try a fresh approach to writing concise, descriptive flash fiction stories, dialogue, a group story in monologue, and more!
Author and fiction writing teacher, Kim Kovach, keeps classes creative and fun! Kim teaches fiction and creative non-fiction classes for adults in Fairfield and Westchester. The author of six fiction books, Kim writes a weekly column for
Halston Media and lifestyles articles for several publications
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Saturday, July 13
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Fodor Farm 328 Flax Hill Rd.
Norwalk, CT
Our Seed Club is for gardeners of all levels. Anyone can attend our meetings, adults and children both!
Cathy Smith, member of the Pollinator Pathway Organization and the Norwalk River Watershed Association will be giving us a guided tour of the native pollinator-friendly plants in the main gardens of Fodor Farm (planted courtesy of Pollinator Pathway!). She will talk about the benefits of native plants for butterflies and bees (and other pollinators), as well as why we need our pollinators, and why they are in sad decline.
Seeds!! Cathy will also be sharing her seed knowledge with us! Topics will include “self-sowers,” “preparing the ground,” and “saving seeds.”
We will visit Sally’s and Maria’s (your friendly Library Assistants) gardens to see what they’ve been up to. If any of you have gardens there, we’ll take a peek!
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‘Hiding Anne Frank’
Actress Prudence Wright Holmes in One-Woman Show
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Wednesday, July 17
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Main Library Auditorium
Norwalk Public Library is pleased to announce the return of Prudence Wright Holmes in a solo performance of her play “
Hiding Anne Frank,” in which she portrays Miep Gies. A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.
Miep Gies was a 32-year old secretary in Otto Frank’s office, when he asked her to help him and his family hide from the Nazis. She immediately said yes. At great risk to her own life, she brought food and other supplies to the Franks on a daily basis for over two years. After the Franks were arrested, she saved Anne’s diary and later went to Gestapo headquarters to try to buy the Franks’ freedom. Miep was knighted by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, and later attended the Academy Awards in 2010, where she won an Oscar for the film based on her book,
Anne Frank Remembered. Miep was 100-years old at the time and died later that year.
Prudence Wright Holmes has appeared in the films:
Sister Act I and II, with Whoopi Goldberg;
Kingpin, with Woody Harrelson;
Dreams, with Annette Bening;
My Own Love Song, with Renee Zellweger;
After Life, with Liam Neeson; and
God’s Pocket, with Philip Seymour Hoffman. On Broadway, she appeared in
Happy End, with Meryl Streep;
Lettice and Lovage, with Maggie Smith;
Inherit the Wind, with George C. Scott; and
The Light in the Piazza. She wrote and performed her critically-acclaimed solo show
Bexley, OH! at New York Theatre Workshop. She is currently touring her solo show,
Call Me William, the Life and Loves of Willa Cather, as well as her interactive murder mystery,
Agatha is Missing.
For more information about this performance contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or
clahey@norwalkpl.org.
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Through the Fall
Darline Noel-Perpignan
Saturday, July 13
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Main Library Auditorium
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AuthorSpeak at Norwalk Public Library welcomes
Darline Noel-Perpignan will discuss her book
Through the Fall.
A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.
An author, motivational speaker and consultant from Stamford, Connecticut, Perpignan teaches that, “No one should just settle to be satisfied in life. Everyone should live each day with purpose, while working on the dreams needed to meet destiny.” Besides her faith, she believes in smart work and relentless commitment to maximize every failure to produce a glorious outcome.
Perpignan shares her personal experience with sexual abuse, marital struggles, neglect and isolation, to inspire and motivate others around the world. As a life coach, she has revitalized the meaning of transformation.
Besides her faith, Darline believes in smart work and relentless commitment to maximize every failure to produce a glorious outcome. She earned both her bachelor's in international political economy and her master's in global development and peace from the University of Bridgeport.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
For more information contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or
clahey@norwalkpl.org.
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A Book of Poems
Lester G. (Neddy) Smith
Saturday, July 27
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Main Library Auditorium
AuthorSpeak at Norwalk Public Library welcomes Lester G. (Neddy) Smith who will discuss his book
A Book of Poems. A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.
A Book of Poems is a collection of works reflecting a dynamic change and growth of a poet. The experiences of the streets from traveling the US and other parts of the world and experiencing different cultures have infused a sense of gratitude to share with others.
From the Island of Jamaica to Connecticut, to the streets of New York and the tent city Los Angeles and traveling to various cities around the world instilled a cultural richness expressed in this two-volume book of poems. In book one, the first few poems reflect musicality, traveling the seas, art, and love, etc. Musicologist sets the mood from an early time and experiences as a musician-songwriter expressed with a deep sense of consciousness and knowledge as a composer.
Book two is darker but filled with exploration and conflicts beginning with "Angry Women" then developed further into a dramatic and sad ending, "Ode To A Friend (Prata)."
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About the Author:
Lester G Neddy Smith is a musician, an author, and a poet. He holds a BS from Empire State College and an MA Ed from the University of Phoenix. As an artist, he has several recordings to his credit, a novel and published poems collaboration peers. Neddy is the author of Valerie Palmary: A Small-Town Girl.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
For more information contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or
clahey@norwalkpl.org.
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Wives of Henry VIII
A four part series
Jane Seymour
Friday, July 26
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Main Library Auditorium
A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.
The Norwalk Public Library is pleased to present a four-part series, "Wives of Henry VIII," about four of the six wives of the King of England, who reigned from 1509 - 1547. Historian and Reference Librarian Ramona Garcia will present a fascinating view of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr, all of whom left more than a passing influence on the monarch's life.
If you love historical fiction, romance and intrigue, you won't want to miss the real stories behind the fiction! Join us for the third program in the series featuring Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour.
Known throughout Fairfield County for her dynamic history presentations, Ramona Garcia works as a part-time Reference Librarian. She has a PhD in history, and has taught European
history at the college level. She has presented conference papers in the United States and Great Britain, and has been published in her field of English history.
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Part 4 - Catherine Parr - Friday, August 30
Register
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Library Front Lawn / Free and open to the public
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How to Start and Operate a Good Business
Thursday, July 11
6:00 - 8:00 pm (check in starts at 5:30)
Main Library Auditorium
Do you want to start and own your own business? If so, please attend this workshop to learn the keys to creating and growing your successful company from someone who has done so
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- The early steps to open a business
- What it takes to operate a successful business
- How to beat your competition
- Define your marketing strategy
- Hire the right people
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Presenter: Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett owned and operated 2 Nissan dealerships and 1 Chevrolet dealership from 1988 thru 2015. Bruce was a member of Nissan's Dealer Advisory Board for 8 years at both the regional and national level. He also sat on Nissan Advertising committee with Chiat Day. In 2015 Bruce owned and operated a Pro Hockey Team in Danbury.
Bruce Is currently a Danbury City Councilman, sits on the board of Family & Children Aid and is a SCORE Mentor
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Readers Choice Book Group
Chariot on the Mountain
Jack Ford
Wednesday, July 10
2:00 PM
Norwalk Senior Center
11 Allen Road, Norwalk, Ct
Norwalk Library's Director of Library Information Services, Cynde Bloom Lahey, will lead a discussion of
Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford. Based on little-known true events, this astonishing account vividly recreates a treacherous journey toward freedom, a time when the traditions of the Old South still thrived—and is a testament to determination, friendship, and courage . . .
Two decades before the Civil War, a middle-class farmer named Samuel Maddox lies on his deathbed. Elsewhere in his Virginia home, a young woman named Kitty knows her life is about to change. She is one of the Maddox family’s slaves—and Samuel’s biological daughter. When Samuel’s wife, Mary, inherits her husband’s property, she will own Kitty, too, along with Kitty’s three small children.
Already in her fifties and with no children of her own, Mary Maddox has struggled to accept her husband’s daughter, a strong-willed, confident, educated woman who works in the house and has been treated more like family than slave. After Samuel’s death, Mary decides to grant Kitty and her children their freedom, and travels with them to Pennsylvania, where she will file papers declaring Kitty’s emancipation. Helped on their perilous flight by Quaker families along the Underground Railroad, they finally reach the free state. But Kitty is not yet safe.
Dragged back to Virginia by a gang of slave catchers led by Samuel’s own nephew, who is determined to sell her and her children, Kitty takes a defiant step: charging the younger Maddox with kidnapping and assault. On the surface, the move is brave yet hopeless. But Kitty has allies—her former mistress, Mary, and Fanny Withers, a rich and influential socialite who is persuaded to adopt Kitty’s cause and uses her resources and charm to secure a lawyer. The sensational trial that follows will decide the fate of Kitty and her children—and bond three extraordinary yet very different women together in their quest for justice.
Norwalk Library's Director of Library Information Services, Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or
clahey@norwalkpl.org.
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Books Sandwiched In
The Dry
Jane Harper
Thursday, July 25
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Carnegie Room
Bring your lunch and join Reference Librarian Susannah Violino for a lively discussion of
The Dr
y by Jane Harper.
After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.
Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have
always
hidden big secrets.
Books Sandwiched In meets the last Thursday of every month.
For further information, please contact Susannah Violino at (203) 899-2780 ext 15115, or
sviolino@norwalkpl.org.
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Zumba with Karen
Children & Parents - Mondays
5:00 - 5:45 pm
Adults & Teens - Mondays
6:00 - 7:00 pm
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Low Impact Aerobics with Linda
Tuesdays & Thursdays
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Teen Room
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QiGong by Bill Wrenn
On a summer break - Will return in the Fall
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For additional information on our programs, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext 15133 or
clahey@norwalkpl.org
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How do I Get in the Game?
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It's simple, just
register and play! Game begins 6/15 and ends on 8/31. Contact the Norwalk Public Library at 203-899-2780 x 15131 or the Rowayton Library at 203-838-5038 with any questions.
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Rocket Launch with Discovery Museum
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The Norwalk Public Library and Discovery Museum staff have opened the partnership’s hands-on rocket launching program. Students and other library visitors will have the opportunity to engage with Discovery Museum staff in the Engineering Design Process of asking questions, brainstorming solutions, building prototypes, testing, evaluating, and redesigning their own paper rockets.
The
rocket launching program will run for 10 weeks through August 25. The program will move to the South Norwalk Branch Library for the last two weeks in August.
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Stranger Things Escape Room
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An escape room is a life-size adventure game in which players solve a series of puzzles using clues, hints and strategy to complete the objectives at hand. Players are given a set time limit to unveil the secret plot which is hidden within the room. No prior knowledge of Stranger Things necessary.
This program is for rising 5th graders through adults ONLY. Any 5th-8th grader who is registered must be attending with an adult. One child per adult.
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Perspectives of the Past:
Exploring Connecticut’s Revolutionary War Era History
Written by Candi Sterling, Librarian
This month is the time for ice cream, beach days and Fourth of July celebrations. It’s also the perfect time to stop by the Norwalk History Room and discover Connecticut’s role in the nation’s independence. History can be learned from many viewpoints and each one contributes to building a comprehensive picture of the past. To truly experience history, one must look at the nuanced details that surrounded the major outcomes… these are the details that the History Room is full of!
When seeking to understand Connecticut life during the American Revolution, there are several resources that give unique insights from distinct perspectives. One example of this is
From Puritan to Yankee, Character and the Social Order in Connecticut, 1690-1765
by Richard L. Bushman. A book that examines colonial society from political and economic perspectives, this resource provides an introductory backdrop of daily life and the surrounding circumstances that existed at the dawn of the Revolutionary period.
Connecticut Education in the Revolutionary Era
by J. William Frost is another informative, history filled gem. Focused on the years 1763 - 1800, this resource gives insight into how education was part of the social fabric of colonial life. It also presents the notion (among others) that an educated colonial population was a driving force of the Revolutionary War.
In Connecticut’s Black Soldiers 1775 - 1783
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David O. White highlights the contributions and impact of black Americans during the years surrounding the war. Through this work, the author studies and curates research and historical accounts that illuminate black participation in the Revolution in the midst of eighteenth century colonial society.
As Norwalk is situated along Connecticut’s coastline, the city has its merit as being part of Revolutionary maritime history. In
History of Maritime Connecticut During the American Revolution, 1775 - 1783, Volume One
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author Louis F. Middlebrook guides readers through the harbors, ships and expeditions that are unique to Connecticut and Norwalk during this period. Volume two focuses on Revolutionary era Congressional records and Connecticut privateers.
Interestingly enough, some of the Revolutionary War history continues to have relevance today. Norwalk’s documented Yankee Doodle controversy is one such example. At the center of this matter is the debate on how Yankee Doodle’s mysterious origin has been connected to Norwalk by some yet regarded as legendary folklore by other history experts. The Yankee Doodle files within the History Room reveal much about the long-standing local issue!
Like the Yankee Doodle files, all of the Revolutionary War resources above (and more!) accessible at the Norwalk Public Library/History Room. If you wish to find out more about the Norwalk History Room, please go to our
webpage
on the NPL website:
http://www.norwalkpl.org/162/Norwalk-History-Room
Come and visit! Learn more about your hometown!
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History Room Online Database
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Our first online records are
postcards of Norwalk scenes, most dating from the beginning of the 20th century. We will follow these with regular additions from our collection of thousands of documents and photographs. Search by keyword or use the advanced search feature. The postcards can also be viewed randomly.
The
Norwalk History Room and archive combines the library's former Local History Collection with the archival collections of the former Norwalk Museum. The lower level of the main library building at 1 Belden Avenue houses this large array of published and unpublished books and papers, photographs and maps, and more, covering over 300 years of Norwalk history.
The mission of the Norwalk Public Library History Room is to preserve the archival materials, including manuscripts, photographs, maps, newspapers, and books, which illustrate the history of Norwalk, Connecticut. This History Room online database will further our goal of promoting
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NPL has partnered with
drivers-test.org
to bring you the current CT DMV driver's practice tests for free! Included are car, motorcycle, CDL practice test, and the driver's manuals for each test. Also included are accessibility tools that let users hear selections read aloud, make them into MP3s, translate pages into other languages, magnify text, and mask portions of the screen for greater visibility on the practice tests.
This driver education program contains the following CT-specific information:
- 11 car practice tests
- 9 motorcycle practice tests
- 12 CDL (commercial driver's license) practice tests
- 3 online driver's manuals (car, motorcycle, CDL)
- A FAQ section with detailed answers to over 100 DMV-related questions
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Social Security @ Npl
The Social Security Administration offers their Video Service Delivery program at the Norwalk Public Library.
This service is available every Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in a small study room on the first floor of the Main Library.
People needing to speak with a Social Security employee will be able to do so. Video conferencing equipment has been set up so people can speak face to face with the Social Security employee. No appointment is necessary. This service was made available as a result of the closing of the Social Security office in Norwalk a few years ago.
For more information call the reference desk at 203-899-2780 ext. 15109
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