Hello, Friends!
Happy July! Our summer hours begin this month, so we'll be closed on Sundays now through Labor Day Weekend. We will also be closed Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. There may be times we have to reduce our services to holds pick up only or fully close depending on outside events at the Heritage Hotel. We will post all changes to our hours and services on our website.
The Heritage Hotel, located at 522 Heritage Road in Southbury, is hosting two American Red Cross Blood Drives this month! Co-sponsored by the Southbury Public Library, these blood drives will be on Saturday, July 5, from 9am-2pm, and Tuesday, July 29, from 1-6pm. For more information and to schedule a blood donation, call 1-800-RED CROSS or click here.
We hope you'll join us for our virtual and off-site events this month! Some highlights include the Rolie Polie Guacamole Music Concert for Grades K-5, Dungeons and Dragons for Grades 6-12, and Preserving the Past: Exploring the USA’s National Historic Sites for adults. To find out more about all of our exciting events in July, see below!
Summer Reading continues until Friday, August 15, so you still have plenty of time to join in!
If you need assistance with anything related to your library card account, please visit us at the Heritage Hotel, call 203-262-0626, or email asksbylib@biblio.org.
Best wishes,
The Staff of the Southbury Public Library
Table of Contents
- Flood Recovery Updates
- Audiobooks, eBooks and Video Streaming Services
- Museum Passes
- Adult Events
- Adult Summer Reading Challenges
- Events for Adults
- Adult Book Clubs
- Children and Teen Events
- Children and Teen Reading Challenges
- Children's Storytimes
- Children's Events
- Teen Events
- The Friends of the Southbury Public Library
- Artist of the Month: Johanna George
Flood Recovery Updates
Work continues inside and outside the library building. Throughout these repairs, the library building at 100 Poverty Road continues to remain structurally sound with consistent temperature and humidity throughout the main floors. Invitations to bid have been issued for IT repairs. While not yet ready, we remain on schedule to reopen to the public in November 2025. Progress is also being made on rebuilding the Old Field Road Bridge next to the Library.
For the most up-to-date information, please follow our website and social media accounts or the Town of Southbury’s website and social media accounts (Town Facebook & Town Instagram). In the meantime, please come visit us at our temporary location in the Heritage Hotel at 522 Heritage Road!
Audiobooks, eBooks and Video Streaming Services
Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, movies and television shows for free on your phone, tablet or smart TV with your Southbury Public Library card! Read ebooks and listen to audiobooks through Libby. Use Kanopy to watch movies and television shows. Borrow audiobooks, ebooks, movies, and music with Hoopla. For more information about these online resources, click here.
Museum Passes
Take a daytrip with one of our museum passes and get reduced or free admission to a variety of attractions. Find a full list of our passes here! Our passes can be checked out and returned at our temporary location within the Heritage Hotel. The passes can be checked out for three days and are first come, first served with one at a time per household.
Adult Events
Information and Registration: Reference Department at 203-262-0626
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. All virtual adult programs require registration; registrants will receive an email with the Zoom links the morning of the program.
Adult Summer Reading Challenges
2025 Adult Summer Reading Challenge: Level Up at Your Library (Ages 18 & Up)
June 7 – August 15, Online on Beanstack
From June 7 to August 15, 2025, we invite adults, regardless of town of residency, to participate in Southbury Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Challenge! This summer's theme, Level Up at Your Library, reminds us that libraries are not just a space for knowledge, they are a space for fun!
For each book you read this summer, earn a raffle ticket towards one of several $25 gift card prizes. All submitted tickets are eligible for this summer's grand prize, a $150 Visa Gift Card! Click here to log your books and submit your raffle tickets on Beanstack!
Raffle tickets must be submitted by August 15, 2025, to be eligible for this summer's prizes. If you cannot submit your raffle tickets digitally, paper raffle tickets and prize boxes are available at our temporary location within the Heritage Hotel. A drawing will occur to decide the winners. For more information about this summer's prizes, click here.
Bookopoly (Ages 18 & Up)
June 7 – August 15, Online on Beanstack
We invite adults, regardless of town of residency, to join us on Beanstack for Southbury Public Library's Bookopoly reading challenge! Click here to view the game board and get started!
From June 7 to August 15, 2025, select books to read for each theme on the game board’s boardwalk. For each theme you complete on the game board’s boardwalk, you will earn raffle tickets that can be entered into the Adult Summer Reading Challenge's drawing for one of several $25 gift card prizes! Completed game boards will be automatically entered into a raffle to win a $200 Visa Gift Card!
Raffle tickets and completed game boards submitted by August 15, 2025, will be eligible for this summer's prizes. A drawing will occur to decide the winners. If you cannot use the digital version of Bookopoly on Beanstack, please visit the library’s Circulation Desk to request a print version.
Events for Adults
Preserving the Past: Exploring the USA’s National Historic Sites
Friday, July 11, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required
Join us for a captivating journey through time with Valerie Gugala. In this immersive presentation, we will delve into the rich tapestry of American history, uncovering the hidden gems and iconic landmarks that have shaped the nation. To register, click here.
From The Jazz Singer to A Star Is Born: A History of the Movie Musical
Tuesday, July 15, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required
As soon as movies could talk, they began to sing and dance—and musicals quickly became among the most popular film genres in America. This presentation, presented by Brian Rose, will look at the fascinating history of this unique format. To register, click here.
Creating a Nation: The Founding Fathers in American Art
Thursday, July 17, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required
From battle scenes to formal portraits, artists played a major role in defining the early history of the republic. Join us in this exploration of early American art with Jane Oneail. To register, click here.
Adult Coloring Club
Monday, July 28, 2-3:30pm, Offsite at Parks and Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Requested
Welcome to the Adult Coloring Club! Join us for a relaxing hour of therapeutic coloring. Materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own supplies as well. Registration is requested, not required. Please sign up so we know how many people to expect and to receive event updates! To register, click here.
Pizza from Scratch
Saturday, August 2, 11am–1pm, Offsite at Parks and Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Everything you ever wanted to know about making pizza from dough to sauce to toppings in two hours! You will learn how to make all the components, bake your pie to perfection, and then enjoy your delicious pizza! This event, brought to us by Matthew Yanarella of MY Productions CT, will contain wheat/gluten and dairy. To register, click here.
Adult Book Clubs
The Southbury Public Library offers three book clubs for adults: Tuesday Night Fiction Book Club, Nonfiction Book Club, and Mystery Book Club. Registration is requested, not required. Join us for a discussion about this month’s books! Please sign up so we know how many people to expect and to receive event updates!
Nonfiction Book Club
Wednesday, July 9, 10-11am, Offsite at Parks and Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Requested
This month we'll be discussing A Rome of One's Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire, by Emma Southon. To register, click here.
Mystery Book Club
Monday, July 14, 3-4pm, Offsite at Parks and Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Requested
This month we'll be discussing Vineyard Chill: A Novel, by Philip R. Craig. To register, click here.
Tuesday Night Fiction Book Club
Tuesday, July 22, 6:30-7:30pm, Offsite at Parks and Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Requested
This month we'll be discussing Just for the Summer: A Novel, by Abby Jimenez. To register, click here.
Children and Teen Events
Information and Registration: Children/Teen Department at 203-262-0626
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
Summer Reading Program: Level Up at Your Library (PreK to Grade 12 & Class of 2025 Graduates)
June 7-August 15, Online on Beanstack
Log your reading time to enter to win different raffle prizes, join us for fun events, and more! This year, all our Summer Reading registration and raffle tickets will be online with Beanstack, our virtual summer reading tracker. While you will have to use Beanstack to enter in the time you've read and earn tickets or rewards, we will have paper bookmarks you can use to help organize your time read before entering it into Beanstack. Readers who cannot use Beanstack can talk to Teen Librarian Eli or Children's Librarian Jen directly to arrange an alternative.
We have something special for each age group!
Pre-K (0 through entering Kindergarten): Keep track of the days you read. Earn one sticker or one bead for every day you read to add to a Sticker Book or Read-for-Beads necklace.
Entering Grades 1-5: Keep track of how much time you read. Every hour earns you one raffle ticket for a variety of prizes and a bead for a Read-for-Beads necklace.
Entering Grades 6-12 (and Class of 2025 Graduates): Keep track of how much time you read. Every hour earns you one raffle ticket for a variety of $25 Gift Cards and a bead for a Read-for-Beads necklace or keychain.
Grades 1-12 can also participate in our Scavenger Hunt: 12 board games are hidden around the town of Southbury. Can you find them for a chance to win a $75 Amazon Gift Card? See the full challenge in Beanstack for more details!
1000 Books Before Kindergarten (Birth to Entering Kindergarten)
Ongoing, Online on Beanstack
Read a book (any book!) to your newborn, infant, or toddler and keep track on Beanstack. Repeats count! If you read 1 book a day for 3 years, that’s 1,095 books! 10 books a week for 2 years is 1,040 books, and 3 books a day in one year is 1,095 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! 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!
Children's Storytimes
Storytime & Crafts at the Farmers' Market (All Ages)
Thursday, July 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31, 3:30-4:30pm, Southbury Town Hall Green, 501 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Stop by the Southbury Farmers' Market and enjoy stories & a take-and-make craft with the librarians from the Southbury Public Library! Find out more on our website here.
Babies & Books (6-24 months)
Tuesday, July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5, 10:30-11am, Nursery Room, United Church of Christ, 283 Main Street North, Registration Required - Space Limited
Babies & Books is a 5-week lapsit program for children 6 to 24 months and their parents/caregivers. Listen to short stories and songs, and enjoy a small craft or sensory play. Find out more and register on our website here.
Tunes & Tales (Recommended for Ages 5 & Under)
Thursday, July 10, 17, 24, 31, 10:30-11am, Multipurpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, 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.
Southbury Firehouse Pop-Up Family Storytime with Region 15 (All Ages)
Monday, July 14, 10:30-11am, Southbury Fire Department, 461 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Join Miss Jen and our amazing school librarians from Region 15 for a summer pop-up storytime for the whole family! This event is outside, so please come prepared with blankets, chairs, and anything else you need to be comfortable outside. Please park in the back lot at the fire station. Find out more on our website here.
Special Events for Children
Family Games Night (All Ages)
Thursday, July 3, 17, & 31 and August 7, 6:30-7:30pm, Mat Room at Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Can attend any or all dates. Join us for an evening of board games! Families or teen groups of friends, drop in between 6 and 7:30pm to enjoy a variety of board games. If a team is not made of middle schoolers and above, an adult must be present. Find out more on our website here.
Take & Make Craft (All Ages)
Monday, July 7, 14, 21, 28, Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road, While Supplies Last
Stop by our Heritage Hotel location on Mondays for a Take & Make Craft. Bring home everything you'll need to make a fun and exciting thematic paper craft. Appropriate for all ages. Young children may need assistance. Find out more on our website here.
Tiny Food Explorers: Banana Pancakes (Ages 2-5)
Wednesday, July 9, 11am-12pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us for a joyful and interactive virtual cooking class designed for preschoolers and their grown-ups! In this fun-filled session, little chefs will team up with their adults to make warm, fluffy Banana Pancakes from scratch. Children will crack eggs, mash ripe bananas, and mix up a simple batter—building confidence and coordination along the way. Recipe is nut-free and vegetarian but will contain dairy, eggs, and gluten. Find out more and register on our website here.
Food Explorers: Pizza Stuffed Naan Bread (Ages 6-12)
Wednesday, July 9, 1-2pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join Food Explorers for a virtual baking class! Let your young chef's creativity rise in this hands-on cooking class where kids will make their own Pizza-Stuffed Naan Breads completely from scratch! Using a Greek yogurt dough; children will mix, knead, and roll out their very own bread base before filling it with delicious cheese and seasonings. Think melty cheese, and tasty tomato sauce for dipping. It’s a fun, flour-filled adventure with one tasty twist! Recipe is nut-free and vegetarian but will contain dairy, eggs, and gluten. Find out more and register on our website here.
Build Your Own Sticker Book: ICONS (Ages 6-12)
Saturday, July 12, 11am-12:30pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us at Southbury Parks and Recreation for a Build Your Own Sticker Book program! The ICONS Sticker Book contains 62 amazing, inspirational people from all walks of life in world history! Each sticker book contains 6 pages of stickers with detailed instructions for use. This is a wonderful program to enjoy as a family. Find out more and register on our website here.
Southbury Firehouse Pop-Up Family Storytime with Region 15 (All Ages)
Monday, July 14, 10:30-11am, Southbury Fire Department, 461 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Join Miss Jen and our amazing school librarians from Region 15 for a summer pop-up storytime for the whole family! This event is outside, so please come prepared with blankets, chairs, and anything else you need to be comfortable outside. Please park in the back lot at the fire station. Find out more on our website here.
Monday Grab & Go Craft: Paper Plate Turtle (Grades 1-5)
Beginning Monday, July 14, Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road, While Supplies Last
Stop by our temporary Heritage Hotel location to pick up your Paper Plate Turtle Grab & Go Kit! Recommended for children in Grades 1-5. Younger children may need assistance. Find out more on our website here.
LEGO Club (Grades K-5)
Tuesday, July 15, 6-7pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, 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.
Family Trivia Night (All Ages)
Friday, July 18, 6:30-8pm, Multipurpose Room of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, 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.
Rolie Polie Guacamole Music Concert (All Ages)
Saturday, July 26, 4-5:30pm, Multipurpose Room of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us for an all-ages children's concert with the popular duo, Rolie Polie Guacamole! Frank Gallo & Andrew Tuzhilin created Rolie Polie Guacamole in 2006 while living in Brooklyn, NY. The band released their first album in 2008 and have been at it ever since, playing thousands of shows, releasing 11 albums, and receiving top picks from Boston.com, Time Out NY Kids, The New York Times, and Time Out Chicago. Find out more and register on our website here.
Monday Grab & Go Craft: Wind Chimes (Grades 1-5)
Beginning Monday, July 28, Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road, While Supplies Last
Stop by our temporary Heritage Hotel location to pick up your Wind Chimes Grab & Go Kit! Recommended for children in Grades 1-5. Younger children may need assistance. Find out more on our website here.
Make Your Own Felt Plushie with Miss Laleh (Ages 7-12)
Wednesday, July 30, 6-7pm, Multipurpose Room, Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
In this workshop, participants will create their own felt plushie Pikachu or adorable owl! Step-by-step guidance will be provided. Laleh Golafshani is a local artist, illustrator, and art teacher. Find out more and register on our website here.
Special Events for Teens
Teen Crochet Club (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, July 3, 17, & 31 and August 7, 6:30-7:30pm, Kitchen/Arts & Crafts Room of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Can attend any or all meetings. Join us for our crochet (and knitting) club, open to both new and experienced crafters alike. If you’re already working on a project, bring it with you. If you’re new to knitting and crocheting, get started with us! We will have basic knitting and crocheting supplies available. Find out more and register on our website here.
Family Games Night (All Ages)
Thursday, July 3, 17, & 31 and August 7, 6:30-7:30pm, Mat Room at Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Can attend any or all dates. Join us for an evening of board games! Families or teen groups of friends, drop in between 6 and 7:30pm to enjoy a variety of board games. If a team is not made of middle schoolers and above, an adult must be present. Find out more on our website here.
Paint a Picture Frame (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, July 8, 6:30-7:30pm, Mat Room at Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us to paint a wooden picture frame! We’ll have all the supplies you need. Please wear clothing you don't mind getting paint on. Find out more and register on our website here.
Teen Dungeons & Dragons (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, July 10, 1-4pm, Mat Room at Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us and Dungeon Master Ethan for this one shot D&D campaign! Rather than a long term commitment, this adventure will conclude in just one session. Find out more and register on our website here.
To Go Craft Kit: Macramé Sun (Grades 6-12)
Beginning 11am, Tuesday, July 15 from the Library’s Location at the Heritage Hotel at 522 Heritage Road, While Supplies Last
Pick up complete kits to make a macramé sun mini wreath while supplies last. Each kit will have instructions and all supplies needed (except scissors). Find out more on our website here.
Cute Animals Hangout (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, July 15 from 6:30-7:30pm at Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited.
Come hang out with a variety of cute animals, both furry and scaly! Meet, interact with, feed snacks to, and pet a variety of animal friends including bunnies, ferrets, sugar gliders, snakes, a bearded dragon, and more! Find out more and register on our website here.
Family Trivia Night (All Ages)
Friday, July 18, 6:30-8pm, Multipurpose Room of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, 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.
8-Bit Video Game Perler Bead Art (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, July 22, 6:30-7:30pm, Multi-Purpose Room at Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
From Minecraft to Mario Brothers and beyond, join us to use Perler Beads to make video game characters and objects. Find out more and register on our website here.
To Go Craft Kit: Pusheen Mini Plush (Grades 6-12)
Beginning 11am, Tuesday, July 29 from the Library’s Location at the Heritage Hotel at 522 Heritage Road, While Supplies Last
Pick up complete kits to make a Pusheen Mini Plush while supplies last. Each kit will have instructions and all supplies needed (except scissors). Find out more on our website here.
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, as well as most of our Summer Reading Program Prizes! Find out more about the Friends here!
Donations
Friends’ Donation Center, located in the Southbury Plaza between Catalyst Gym and The Paper Store
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11:30am, and Wednesdays from 5-7pm
The Friends of the Southbury Public Library are accepting donations for future book sales to raise funds for library programs and services to benefit the community. The Friends’ Donation Center is located at their new space, generously donated by Gatto Development Corporation, in the Southbury Plaza between Catalyst Gym and The Paper Store. The Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
Items accepted include gently-used hardcover, softcover, and paperback books in all genres, both fiction and nonfiction, for adults, teens, and children. The Friends also accept DVDs, music CDs, vinyl records, audiobooks on CD, jigsaw puzzles, and games. Donation receipts for tax purposes are available.
The August 2024 flood completely destroyed the entire Friends’ inventory of material collected in the past year from generous donors. The Friends are extremely grateful to all those in the community, the surrounding towns, and even out of state, who have so generously donated books and other materials. The success of past sales allows us to continue to fund almost all programs offered by the library.
For more information about the Friends of the Southbury Public Library, click here.
Artist of the Month: Johanna George
This July, Southbury Public Library’s online art gallery will feature nature photos by Johanna George.
Johanna’s hobby is photography. She has always loved taking photos of nature’s beautiful and unique scenes, as well as birds and other animals. She really started to improve her photography when she joined the Photography Club at Flander’s Nature Center 8 years ago, where she learned various techniques to enhance her photos.
Johanna likes displaying them for others to enjoy, and has done so at various events at Flanders. This is the first time she has been asked to do a digital exhibit through the Library. She’s looking forward to viewing other artists’ work as well.
For more information, click here. To view this virtual exhibit, click here.