January Events at the Southbury Public Library

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Hello, Friends!

Happy almost January! Southbury Public Library will be closed Monday, January 1, 2024, for New Year's Day, and Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We look forward to seeing you all the other days this month!

We are excited to announce that this is the first month of Southbury Public Library's inaugural Adult Reading Challenge event! Consisting of 12 different reading challenges, one per month, this is an ongoing event that will continue throughout the 2024 calendar year. After reading a book for this month's challenge, complete a short paper or digital form to tell us about the book. You will then be eligible for this month's prize! Submit a form for each of the 12 monthly challenges throughout 2024 and you will be eligible for the Reading Challenge's grand prize at the end of the year! Like all our events, this reading challenge is open to any adult regardless of town of residency. For more information, including this month's reading challenge and prize, see below or click here!

All ages (children, teens, and adults) are invited to submit work to our Tiny Art Show! Your only limit is a 4x4" canvas: use any art style or medium you like as long as it fits. Pick up a canvas from the Second Floor Circulation Desk anytime during library open hours. Find out more (including submission requirements) on our website here.

Grades 3-5: Join us for our new children's Graphic Novel Book Club on Tuesday, January 16 from 4:30-5:30pm! This month we're reading Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse. Find out more on our website here.

To find out more about all our exciting events in January, see below!

If you know of friends or relatives who have trouble receiving this newsletter even though they signed up for it, information is available on our website here about how to make sure it goes through. Anyone with questions is also always welcome to contact us at 203-262-0626 ext. 2 for more information.

As we reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024, we are reminded of how lucky we are to have such wonderful patrons. Thank you for all your visits this year, borrowing (and talking to us about) books, joining us for events, and all the other ways you helped to make our working days and our year great!

Best wishes,
The Staff of the Southbury Public Library

Southbury Public Library Adult Reading Challenge
Adult Events
- Wednesday and Evening at the Movies
- Adult Book Clubs
- Technology Help
Children and Teen Events
- Children and Teen Reading Challenges
- Children's Events
- Teen Events
The Friends of the Southbury Public Library
Brinker Fireplace Room Display: Southbury Public Library’s Puzzle Collection
Artist of the Month: David Merrill

Southbury Public Library Adult Reading Challenge

Southbury Public Library Adult Reading Challenge
Ongoing, On Paper and Online on Beanstack

We invite everyone to participate in Southbury Public Library's inaugural Adult Reading Challenge event! Consisting of 12 different reading challenges, one per month, this is an ongoing event that will continue throughout the 2024 calendar year. After reading a book for this month's challenge, complete a short paper or digital form to tell us about the book. You will then be eligible for this month's prize! Submit a form for each of the 12 monthly challenges throughout 2024 and you will be eligible for the Reading Challenge's grand prize at the end of the year! This event, like all Southbury Public Library programs, is open to anyone regardless of town of residency.

The reading challenge for January 2024 is to read an uplifting book! A drawing will occur at the end of the month to decide the winner of a $25.00 gift card to Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe!

To be eligible for this month's prize, after reading, complete a short paper or digital form to tell us about the book you chose for this challenge. Reading recommendations and paper forms are available at the library’s Reading Challenge display. Visit Beanstack to get started online. Completed forms must be received by Wednesday, January 31.

Adult Events

Information and Registration: Reference Department at 203-262-0626 ext. 2

All programs require registration unless otherwise noted. The majority of programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. Library programs are not funded by the town fiscal budget. For all virtual adult programs requiring registration, registrants will receive an email with the Zoom links the morning of the program.

David K. Merrill Artist Talk and Book Signing
Sunday, January 7, 1-4:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Join us for an artist talk and book signing by David K. Merrill. David K. Merrill is an artist known for "Realistic renderings of rural New England, capturing the nostalgia of a passing era." He exhibited at the Kent Art Association in Kent, Connecticut, the Northern Vermont Artists Association, and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Art. Merrill also painted murals for the University of Maine and the town of Southbury. His book "David K. Merrill's Lifetime of Painting" will be available for sale at this event. This event will also take place on Sunday, January 21. To register, click here.

The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
Thursday, January 11, 2-3:30pm, Online and in the Kingsley Room, Registration Required

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy stunned a nation and, short-circuited, perhaps, the potential of younger candidates seeking to occupy the Oval Office and change the course of the nation. This presentation will review the course of America from 1945 to 1965. For Zoom Program, register here. For Kingsley Room, register here.

Adult Graphic Novel Club
Friday, January 12, 11:30am-12:30pm, Online and in the Brown Room, Registration Required

Join us for the Adult Graphic Novel Club! This is an adult focused group to discuss graphic novels and manga. Come with your ideas, experiences, opinions, and an open mind as we explore this amazing world of visual realism and fantasy! This month we'll be discussing One Piece, Volume 1 by Eiichiro Oda: As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally gained the power to stretch like rubber…at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years, later, Luffy sets off in search of the “One Piece,” said to be the greatest treasure in the world... Copies of One Piece, Volume 1 are available at the Circulation Desk. For more information, click here.

Essential Computer Questions
Friday, January 12, 2-4pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

There are lots of confusing concepts and jargon surrounding our computers and their use. In this class we will discuss many, many of the questions that you may have, or maybe didn’t even know that you have! And of course, come with questions of your own! To register, click here.

Write it, Polish it, Publish It: A Writing Group - Session 3, Writing and Polishing
Saturday, January 13, 10am-2pm, Brown Room, Registration Required

Come join Southbury Poet Laureate Faith Vicinanza as she leads a writing workshop as part of a year long series. Explore the writing process through writing prompts and sharing your work. Continue your writing journey with us. For the first two hours we will work on on writing. For the second half we will start polishing. Bring with you 10 copies of a poem or a short prose work. To register, click here.

Les Miserables: To Love Another Person Is to See the Face of God
Friday, January 19, 2-3:30pm, Online and in the Kingsley Room, Registration Required

How could anyone – let alone two inexperienced French songwriters -- turn Victor Hugo’s epic 1200-page novel into one of the most popular musicals of all time? John Kenrick returns to tell us the fascinating story of how Les Miz sang its way to acclaim all around the world, as well as a successful film version. For Zoom Program, register here. For Kingsley Room, register here.

David K. Merrill Artist Talk and Book Signing
Sunday, January 21, 1-4:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Adult Coloring Club
Monday, January 22, 2-3:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Requested

Welcome to the Adult Coloring Club! Join us for a relaxing hour of therapeutic coloring in the Brown Room. Materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own supplies as well. Registration is requested. To register, click here.

Rise Up!: Indigenous Music in North America
Thursday, January 25, 2-3:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Join music historian Craig Harris for a multimedia presentation exploring more than five hundred years of Indigenous history, religion, and cultural evolution through his latest book, Rise Up! Indigenous Music in North America. More than powwow drums and wooden flutes, Indigenous music intersects with rock, blues, jazz, folk music, reggae, hip-hop, classical music, and more. To register, click here.

Tiny Art Show: Drop-In Paint Day (Adults & Teens)
Thursday, January 25, 2:30-5:30pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required

Work on a painting for our Tiny Art Show in a supportive group environment! All supplies provided. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Find out more on our website here.

Paul Gauguin: Escape to Tahiti
Friday, January 26, 2-3:30pm, Online and in the Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Escape to the South Pacific with the vibrant colors of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin. Learn more about Gauguin (the infamous frenemy of Vincent Van Gogh), his career in France and his decision to leave it all behind. Enjoy the incredible images inspired by the Tahitian people and landscape and find out why success eluded this notorious artist during his lifetime. For Zoom Program, register here. For Kingsley Room, register here.

Screenagers: Under the Influence (Grades 6-12 & Adults)
Tuesday, January 30, 6:30-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Join Southbury & Middlebury Acting Responsibly Together (SMART, Inc) for a screening of the documentary Screenagers: Under the Influence followed by a brief discussion. This documentary examines the impact of technology on teens' decision-making in relation to addictive substances through both the latest research and the personal experiences of teens and families. This event is for Grades 6-12, along with parents, teachers, and other community members who work with young adults. Find out more and register on our website here.

Wednesday at the Movies

The Miracle Club (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, January 10, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested

Set in 1967, a group of working-class women from Ballygar, Ireland embark on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France. Register here.

Gran Turismo (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, January 17, 1-3:15pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested

Based on the unbelievable, inspiring true story of a team of underdogs - a struggling, working-class gamer, a failed former race car driver, and an idealistic motorsport exec - who risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world. Register here.

A Haunting in Venice (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, January 24, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested

In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a séance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer. Register here.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, January 31, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested

After the death of the family's patriarch, Toula attempts to locate her father's childhood friends in Greece for a family reunion. Register here.

Evening at the Movies

Air (2023) R
Thursday, January 11, 6-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested

Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. Register here.

Oppenheimer (2023) R
Thursday, January 25, 5:30-8:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested

The story of American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Register here.

Adult Book Clubs

The Southbury Public Library offers three book clubs: Tuesday Night Fiction Book Club, Nonfiction Book Club and Mystery Book Club. Join us for a discussion about this month’s books. Print copies are available at the Circulation Desk, there's no registration required and new members are always welcome!

Mystery Book Club
Monday, January 8, 3-4pm, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required

This month we'll be discussing Falling in Love: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon.

Years ago, Commissario Guido Brunetti cleared the opera star Flavia Petrelli in the murder of a renowned conductor. Now the soprano is returning to Venice to sing the lead in Tosca. Back in her dressing room, she finds bouquets of yellow roses—too many roses. An anonymous fan has been showering Flavia with these beautiful gifts, but she no longer feels flattered, only frightened. When she confesses her alarm—and then a singer who has caught Flavia’s attention is savagely attacked—Brunetti begins to think that Flavia’s fears are justified in ways neither of them imagined. For more information, click here.

Nonfiction Book Club
Wednesday, January 10, 10-11am, Brown Room, No Registration Required

This month we'll be discussing River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard.

The harrowing story of one of the great feats of exploration of all time and its complicated legacy. For millennia the location of the Nile River’s headwaters was shrouded in mystery. In the 19th century, Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke were sent by the Royal Geographical Society to claim the prize for England. Yet there was a third man on the expedition, Sidi Mubarak Bombay, a guide, his name obscured by imperial annals. Without Bombay and men like him, who led, carried, and protected the expedition, neither Englishman would have come close to the headwaters of the Nile, or perhaps even survived. For more information, click here.

Tuesday Night Fiction Book Club
Tuesday, January 23, 6:30-7:30pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required

This month we'll be discussing Just the Nicest Couple: A Novel by Mary Kubica.

Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found. Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered. For more information, click here.

Technology Help

Technology Help with James Chapin
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12-1pm, Reference Area, No Registration Required

Do you have technology questions or are you having issues with a device? Come by for help with local tech expert James Chapin. Feel free to ask your questions to our Reference Staff as well. For more information, click here.

Reference Technology Assistance

Did you know that the Reference Department offers assistance with mobile devices, downloading our e-resources, and more? If you have a simple question, stop by the Reference Desk more than an hour before we close and we can assist you. Like other Reference Questions, you may have to wait for a Reference Librarian to be available. If your question is more in-depth or you're not sure how long it will take, call the Reference Department at 203-262-0626 ext. 2 to inquire about making an appointment. Most of our assistance is related to answering questions about how to use a device, app, or website. We cannot touch your device directly, but instead we teach you how to do what you are looking for help with. If you have a hardware question or very technical question, we recommend visiting James Chapin during his Technology Help on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-1pm.

Children and Teen Events

Information and Registration: Children/Teen Department at 203-262-0626 ext. 3

See below for information about our upcoming Children's and Teen Programming! All of our Children's and Teen Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. Library programs are not funded by the town fiscal budget.

Children and Teen Reading Challenges:

1000 Books Before Kindergarten (0-PreK)
Ongoing, On Paper and Online on Beanstack

Read a book (any book!) to your newborn, infant, or toddler and keep track with a paper log or on Beanstack. Repeats count! If you read 1 book a day for 3 years, that’s 1095 books! 10 books a week for 2 years is 1040 books, and 3 books a day in one year is 1095 books. Every book you read you get one sticker, and if you finish you can get a certificate, small prize, and your picture on our wall of fame if you’d like! Pick up a paper log from the children’s department or visit Beanstack to get started online.

100 Books Before Graduation (Grades 9-12)
Ongoing, Online on Beanstack

Read 100 books before High School Graduation! 100 books may seem like a lot (and it is), but it works out to about 1 book every 2 weeks. When you sign up, get a special tracking bookmark to fill out as you read. Make it to half way and get a $5 Gift Card to Dunkin' or The Bakery. Read 100 books and get a special throw blanket! Every 10 books you read, pick out something from the prize box (pins, stickers, animal sticky notes, and more!). Visit Beanstack to find out more and get started!

Monthly Mini Reading Challenge: Cozy Up With a Good Book (PreK-Grade 12)
January 1-31, Online on Beanstack

Join us on Beanstack for our next Mini Monthly Reading Challenge! Complete the challenge within the month, and get a SurPRIZE! Our January theme is Cozy Up with a Good Book and our challenge consists of five hours of reading. Find out more and sign up on our Beanstack page here.

Who Was? Reading Challenge (All Ages, Best for Elementary School)
Ongoing, Paper Only

How many Who Was? Where Was? or What Was? books can you read? Get a checklist from our Children’s Department and keep track. Read 10 books and get your choice of special bookmark. You can repeat this challenge again if you read another 10. Click here to access the books in our catalog.

Children's Storytimes:

Drop-In Storytime (All Ages)
Monday, January 8, 22, & 29, 10-10:30am and 11-11:30am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required

Join Miss Jen for stories, rhymes, and a small craft the Mondays we are open in January (the library is closed on January 1 & 15). All ages are welcome. Find out more on our website here.

Babies & Books Storytime (6-24 Months)
Tuesday, January 9, 16, 23, & 30, 10:30-11am, Storytime Room, Registration Required – Space Limited

Babies and Books is an interactive lapsit program for babies ages 6-24 months and their parents and caregivers. Find out more on our website here.

Toddler Time Storytime (Ages 2 & 3)
Wednesday, January 10, 17, 24, & 31, 10:30-11am, Storytime Room, Registration Required – Space Limited

Parents and caregivers are invited to join their toddlers ages 2 and 3 for theme based stories, songs, and a craft. Find out more on our website here.

Special Events for Children:

I Spy Bear Hunt (Ages 0-18)
Starting Tuesday, January 2, All Month, Upstairs, No Registration Required

The bears have escaped from the books! Can you find all the bear characters from children's literature? It's time for an I Spy Bear Hunt. Find all the bears hidden throughout the Youth Services department, complete the form and you'll receive a small prize. Forms are available in the Youth Services department (upstairs). Find out more on our website here.

2024 Tiny Art Show (All Ages)
Ongoing through February 15, 2024, Pick up supplies at the Second Floor Circulation Desk, No Registration Required

Make some art for our first ever Tiny Art Show! Your only limit is a 4x4" canvas: use any art style or medium you like (painting, drawing, sewing, etc.) as long as it fits. Submissions must be on or attached to supplied canvases. You can pick up your canvases throughout the month of January. Find out more and register on our website here.

Open House Make or Take Craft (All Ages)
Saturday, January 6, 13, 20, & 27, All Day, Upstairs, No Registration Required

Stop by the Youth Services department Saturdays to make a thematic craft. Make it here or bring it home. Crayons and glue sticks are available in the library. Available while supplies last. Find out more on our website here.

ARTuesday (Ages 7 & Up)
Tuesday, January 9, 5-6pm, Storytime Room, No Registration Required

Do you love art? Join us for a playful, messy, and expressive art experience where there is no right or wrong. Come play and experiment with a variety of art mediums and themes. Smocks recommended. Please wear something you don't mind getting messy. Find out more on our website here.

Tunes & Tales (Ages 5 and Under)
Thursday, January 11, 18, & 25, 10:30-11:00am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required

Join Miss Jen for a morning filled with music and stories! Children will sing, dance, and experiment with simple musical instruments. Find out more on our website here.

LEGO Club (Ages 5-10)
Thursday, January 11, 4:30-5:30pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required – Space Limited

Join us for an afternoon of LEGO fun! We’ll provide the LEGO bricks, and you bring the creativity! You can free build, or work off of instructions. Find out more and register on our website here.

Make a Cupsnake! (Grades 2-5)
Saturday, January 13, 2-3pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required – Space Limited (Waitlist Only)

Is it a cupcake? Is it a snake? Join Katie to create and decorate your own Cupsnake using clay! Find out more and register on our website here.

Graphic Novel Book Club: Witches of Brooklyn (Grades 3-5)
Tuesday, January 16, 4:30-5:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Required – Space Limited

Let's talk about graphic novels together! Join Miss Jen for a fun discussion about the book Witches of Brooklyn, by Sophie Escabasse. We can talk about what we loved (or didn't love) about the book, and it's a great time to share other graphic novels that you are reading with the rest of the club. You can borrow a copy of the book here at the library, and if you don't read the whole book before the program, that's ok! Find out more and register on our website here.

Food Explorers: Nachos (Ages 6 & Up)
Thursday, January 18, 4:30-5:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required – Space Limited (Waitlist Only)

Join Food Explorers for a deliciously cheesy program! You’ll create your own personal nachos with a cheesy nacho cheese sauce on top (homemade of course!). Recipe is nut free but will contain dairy and gluten. Find out more on our website here.

Tiny Food Explorers (Ages 2-5)
Tuesday, January 23, 11am-12pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited

Join Tiny Food Explorers for some fun with food! Come and explore new flavors and textures while playing games all about food and MyPlate! You’ll make a hands-on healthy snack that even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy. Find out more and register on our website here.

Homeschool Hangout (Grades 1-12 & Families)
Tuesday, January 23, 1-2:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Homeschool families: stop by the library for an afternoon of games and socializing. This is a great time to meet up with old friends, make new friends, and connect with your librarians. While here, learn about all of the library's resources, borrow some great books, and sign up for some of our amazing programming. Find out more and register on our website here.

Tiny Art Show: Drop-In Paint Day (Children, Teens, & Families)
Thursday, January 25, 4:30-7:30pm, Storytime Room, No Registration Required

Work on a painting for our Tiny Art Show in a supportive group environment! All supplies provided. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Find out more on our website here.

Family Trivia Night (All Ages)
Friday, January 26, 6:30-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited

Join us for another Family Trivia night! Work together as a family team to answer our trivia questions! We'll have a variety of topics, including kid-centric knowledge, general information, and questions aimed at parents, too. The family who answers the most questions correctly will win a $100 gift card to Riverview Cinemas! Find out more and register on our website here.

ARTuesday (Ages 3-6)
Tuesday, January 30, 5-6pm, Storytime Room, No Registration Required

Stop by for a playful, messy, and expressive art experience where there is no right or wrong. Come play and experiment with a variety of art mediums and themes. Smocks recommended. Find out more on our website here.

Special Events for Teens:

The NEW Junior Friends (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, January 4, 6-7:30pm, Lower Level (Basement), Registration Required

Looking for regular service hours? Would you like to work with the Friends of the Southbury Public Library and support their work in the book sale and in funding our events for all ages? Consider joining the Junior Friends! We’ll be meeting every first Thursday of the month from 6-7:30pm and work on various projects to help support the Friends. Find out more and register on our website here.

Midterms De-Stress for Success Station (Grades 9-12)
January 8-18, Upstairs, No Registration Required

If you need a break while studying, check out our De-Stress for Success station! We’ll have snacks, activities to de-stress with, and more! This station will be up for the week before and during PHS midterms. Come to the second floor where Teen 2 Books start, or ask at the Second Floor Circulation Desk and we’ll show you where everything is!

Mini Library Craft (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, January 16, 6:30-7:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited

Design your own tiny library inside of a tin using dollhouse miniatures. Find out more and register on our website here.

Tiny Art Show: Drop-In Paint Day (Multiple Ages)
Thursday, January 25, No Registration Required
Adults & Teens: 2:30-5:30pm, Brown Room
Children, Teens, & Families: 4:30-7:30pm, Storytime Room

Work on a painting for our Tiny Art Show in a supportive group environment! All supplies provided. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Find out more and register on our website. Click here for more information about the 2:30-5:30pm Adults & Teens event. Click here for more information about the 4:30-7:30pm Children, Teens, & Families Drop-In event.

Family Trivia Night (All Ages)
Friday, January 26, 6:30-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited

Screenagers: Under the Influence (Grades 6-12 & Adults)
Tuesday, January 30, 6:30-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required

Join Southbury & Middlebury Acting Responsibly Together (SMART, Inc) for a screening of the documentary Screenagers: Under the Influence followed by a brief discussion. This documentary examines the impact of technology on teens' decision-making in relation to addictive substances through both the latest research and the personal experiences of teens and families. This event is for Grades 6-12, along with parents, teachers, and other community members who work with young adults. Find out more and register on our website here.

Teen Advisory Board (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, January 30, 6-7pm, Tutor Corner

Teen Advisory Board (TAB) members can directly influence our teen book and AV collections, teen programming and events, and other teen services. Each monthly meeting opens with a discussion about ideas for programs, materials, and more and closes out with some special volunteer projects. If you are interested in becoming a TAB member, fill out the application form on our website and we will contact you.

The Friends of the Southbury Public Library

The Friends of the Southbury Public Library sponsor almost all of our fun virtual and in-person programs found on the calendar page of our website. For more information about the Friends, click here.

Holiday Lobby Book Sale
January 2024, Open During Library Hours, Lobby and Gloria Cachion Art Gallery

The Friends of the Southbury Public Library are having a Holiday Lobby Book Sale! Located in the lobby and Gloria Cachion Art Gallery of the Southbury Public Library, the Holiday Lobby Book Sale is ongoing through the month of January. This sale features a wide selection of books for all ages, including Children’s, Cooking, Boutique, History, Biography, Fiction, Nonfiction, Special Interest and so much more. Open during library hours and refreshed regularly with new books, there's something for everyone at the Holiday Lobby Book Sale!

Library Coffee Station
Year-Round, Open During Library Hours, Lobby

The Friends of the Southbury Public Library's Coffee Station is up and running! Located in the lobby of the Southbury Public Library, just $1.00 gets you a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea! All proceeds go to the Friends of the Southbury Public Library.

Book Donations
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:30am, Library's Below Ground Rear Entrance

Donate gently-used or new books (hardcover & paperback) for adults, teens and kids, DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks on CD, puzzles, vinyl records, and collectibles! Please bring donations to the library's below ground rear entrance, as indicated in red in the picture above, every Tuesday and Thursday from 10-11:30am.

Brinker Fireplace Room Display: Southbury Public Library’s Puzzle Collection

The Southbury Public Library’s puzzle collection is on display this month in the Brinker Fireplace Room! We welcome everyone to help solve our puzzles at the library’s community puzzle station, located between adult mysteries and biographies. Once a puzzle is completed, a new puzzle will begin!

Artist of the Month: David Merrill

The Gloria Cachion Gallery at the Southbury Public Library will showcase the art of David Merrill from Wednesday, January 3, 2024 through Tuesday, January 30, 2024. While you can view his art anytime during library open hours, the artist will be giving an artist talk and signing books at 1pm in the Kingsley Room on Sunday, January 7 and Sunday, January 21.

David Merrill was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1935 and raised in nearby Monroe. Growing up in this rural setting influenced his career as a professional artist. David began with a “paint-by-number kit” while he was in the US Army stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the 1950’s. He received his more formal art training at the Famous Artist School in Westport and at Western Connecticut State College in Danbury.

Before devoting his time exclusively to painting, he worked in many capacities. While studying art, he worked for Dolan Steel Co. in Bridgeport, and later became vocational instructor in the arts at Southbury Training School. He has conducted evening courses in the adult educational program at Southbury High School, mentored Newtown High School students and has given numerous lecture presentations for various civic organizations.

David’s career spans over a half century and more than 3,000 paintings. He is known for his many murals in Newtown, Monroe, Southbury, and surrounding areas. He has also had his work printed on the labels of many wine bottles from DiGrazia Winery in Brookfield. His original paintings are part of the collections of numerous banking and higher education institutions, corporations, hospitals, museums, historical societies and the rich and famous, including Robert Redford.

David’s love of New England inspires his paintings, capturing a nostalgic view of the area. His paintings often include woods, meadows, brooks, stone walls, barns and historic homesteads, and churches. He includes detail, realism, feeling, every season, and every mood in his work.

David lived for seventeen years in Newtown and currently resides in Southbury.

The exhibit will be open during regular library hours which are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am to 9:00pm, Saturdays 9:30am to 4:00pm and Sundays 12:00pm to 5:00pm. The exhibit will also be online as a virtual gallery here. Please visit our website to learn more.

This email was sent by the Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Road, Southbury, CT 06488. www.southburylibrary.org

Published by on December 29, 2023
Last Modified April 27, 2024

Type:

News