Hello, Friends!
We thought Spring would never get here, but March has finally arrived! We hope that you will visit us this rejuvenating month, to attend an event, or to borrow some materials. And, if you haven't already, please be sure to stop by and enjoy the wonderful art pieces that our community produced for our Tiny Art Show! These hundreds of tiny treasures remain on display in our Fireplace room through March 31st during the library's operating hours.
As for programs, this month we are especially excited about making Tiger Watercolor Art with Miss Laleh (Ages 7-11), and Apple Cheesecake Eggrolls with Food Explorers (Grades 6-12)! For adults, our program led by costumed historians, "The Web They Wove": Women & their Wardrobes during New England’s Revolution", is one to watch out for!
One last note before we dive into the newsletter: Don't forget that Friends of the Library scholarship applications are due by 4:00pm on Saturday, March 14. Scholarship(s) of up to $2,000 will be awarded, so be sure to get those applications in!
Warmest regards,
The Staff of the Southbury Public Library
Table of Contents
- Library of Things
- Adults
- Children and Teens
- The Friends of the Southbury Public Library Scholarship & Other Friends News
- March Gloria Cachion Gallery Exhibit: Region 15 Students
New! Library of Things
Your Southbury Library card just got a major upgrade! We are excited to introduce our new Library of Things: a collection of items that goes beyond books and DVDs. You are now able to use your library card to borrow jigsaw puzzles and games, including Clue, Catan, Mancala, and more! These are located on our first floor, in the Reference Area. And, if you've ever wanted to bring storytime home, you'll want to explore our collection of Toniebox audio player kits, housed in our Youth Services department! Visit us to find your next snowy day activity!
Mini Monthly Reading Challenge
March 1-31: Spring Into Reading
Mini Monthly Reading Challenge: Spring Into Reading (Grades K-12 & Adults)
March 1-31, Online on Beanstack and On Paper
Continuing this month: we have a Mini Monthly Reading Challenge for adults! Read for 5 hours during the month of March to get a SurPRIZE and bragging rights! Pick up a paper Tracking Bookmark from the Reference Desk or track your time on Beanstack. This challenge is also open to Grades K-12; children and teens would pick up their bookmarks from the Second Floor Circulation Desk.
If five hours is too easy, try making it a specific type of reading, such as a new genre or listening to an audiobook during a walk (or while you clean out that one closet you've been avoiding).
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.
Letter Writing Social
Wednesday, March 4, 12-2pm, Brown Room, Registration Requested
Come celebrate National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week at our letter writing social! Drop in any time between noon and 2pm to enjoy company while writing letters to friends, family, or anyone else you’d like to gift with handwritten mail. Paper, envelopes, and stamps will be provided, but feel free to bring your favorite cards or stationery. Registration is not required, but is requested, so that we can estimate the amount of supplies to have on hand. For more information, click here.
"Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition" Viewing and Discussion with SMART
Thursday, March 5, 6:30-8:00pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Join Southbury & Middlebury Acting Responsibly Together (SMART, Inc.) for a screening of the documentary Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, followed by a short discussion. The 56 minute film addresses the challenges elementary school–aged children, parents, and educators face in today’s digital world, including early exposure to online content, social media pressures, device distractions in the classroom, moderating video game use and behavior, and rising sleep deprivation among youth. This event is open to parents, family members, educators, mental health providers, and all community members interested in learning more about this topic. To register and learn more about the film, click here. (While this event is taking place, there will be another SMART event next door in the Brown Room for elementary-school aged children called Navigating Big Feelings and Identifying Trusted Adults.)
Photography Workshop
Tuesday, March 10, 10:30-11:30am; and Tuesday, March 24, 11am-12pm, Brown Room, Registration Required
Join us to explore the art of photography with our volunteer Sophia, an avid photographer! Learn about the basics of photography and other art principles. This educational lecture will explore elements such as shape, line, texture, pattern, and more. To register, click here.
Arts & Crafts Club
Tuesday, March 10 and 24, 1-2pm, Brown Room, Registration Required
Join us at the Southbury Public Library for our Arts & Crafts Club. All crafts, skill levels and ages welcome. Bring your own projects and have a space to work and chat. To register, click here.
Albert Ruggiero Author Talk
Thursday, March 12, 2-3:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Carol Ruggiero belonged to a writing group in Milford, CT for over twenty years. Upon her passing, her devoted husband Albert Ruggiero felt her writing deserved a bigger audience so he published a collection of her work in "Pearls from Carol". Join us to hear about Carol’s life and her short, funny, and thought provoking stories, poems, and essays. As Albert explains it, Carol enjoyed taking a serious topic and turning it on its head with a surprising ending. Though she suffered through many tragedies in her life, such as the loss of her children, “Carol always had a warm smile to share and an ear to lend to anyone who needed it. She was petite, pithy, and possessed a huge amount of common sense.” Albert took his love for his wife and turned it into a passion project to share her stories with the world. To register, click here.
Fierce Females: Women in Art, Part IV
Friday, March 13, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom and Streamed to the Kingsley Room, Registration Required.
The revolutionary spirit of women artists continues to transform our understanding of what art can be and who gets to create it, from the neoclassical elegance of Angelica Kauffman's mythological scenes to Yayoi Kusama's mesmerizing infinity rooms that challenge our perception of space itself. This program presented by independent scholar Jane Oneail celebrates the fearless creativity and determination of women who refused to be confined by expectations. Through exploring the diverse voices and groundbreaking techniques of these visionary women, we witness the ongoing revolution that refuses to let talent be silenced by tradition, helping to ensure that future generations inherit a more complete and inspiring vision of artistic greatness. Register to watch over Zoom here and register to watch in the Kingsley Room here.
Poetry Open Mic (Adults)
Sunday, March 15, 3:30pm-4:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Encouraged
Southbury poet laureate Claire Schreier Warner will host a Poetry Open Mic on Sunday, March 15th from 3:30 to 4:30. Each poet will have 5 minutes to share their work. Registration is encouraged, in case of cancellation, but walk-ins are welcome! Both poets who would like to share there work and anyone who would like to be an audience member are welcome. To register, click here.
Over the Rainbow: The Hollywood Career of Judy Garland
Tuesday, March 17, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom and Streamed to the Kingsley Room, Registration Required.
Next to Fred Astaire, Judy Garland may be the most talented person to ever work in Hollywood musicals. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do, from breaking an audience’s heart with a song, to effortlessly dancing up a storm, to delivering comic and dramatic performances that still enthrall today. While she was among the greatest live entertainers in show biz history, and one of the top recording artists of her time, it’s her appearances in front of the camera that remain her lasting legacy. This talk led by Fordham University professor emeritus Brian Rose will examine Garland's remarkable Hollywood career, which began in her young teens at MGM and continued with such timeless classics as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, and her stirring comeback in 1954’s A Star is Born. Register to watch over Zoom here and register to watch in the Kingsley Room here.
Backyard Composting Made Simple
Thursday, March 19, 6:30pm-7:30pm; and Saturday, March 28, 10-11:30am, Brown Room, Registration Required
Join Bob Lavorgna (UCONN Advanced Master Gardener & UCONN Master Composter) to learn more about composting. Explore the environmental benefits, how it helps the everyday garden, tips for composting and best methods for composting. To register, click here.
The Jolly Beggars
Saturday, March 21, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
The Jolly Beggars are back again! Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with an afternoon of traditional Celtic music. The Jolly Beggars are a five-piece ensemble who play everything from guitars and drums to spoons and whistles. To register, click here
WaTer You Drinking? A World Water Day Event
Sunday, March 22, 1-4pm, Kingsley & Brown Rooms, Registration Required
Join the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition and Sustainable Southbury for this World Water Day event. Learn where your drinking water comes from, how to care for your well and septic system, and what to know about TCE, PFAS, and other emerging contaminants. You’ll also be able to explore treatment options for common well issues. Local well and septic professionals, utility representatives, and public health experts will be on hand to answer all your water questions. Families can also stop by our kids craft corner, featuring water-themed activities for children of all ages. Let’s make a splash for clean water in our community! To register, click here
Adult Coloring Club
Monday, March 23, 2-3:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Requested
Join us for a relaxing hour of therapeutic coloring in the Kingsley Room. We provide the supplies, you provide the creativity! 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.
The Founding Mothers: Unsung Women of the Revolution
Tuesday, March 24, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom and Streamed to the Kingsley Room, Registration Required
The American Revolution was not won by soldiers and statesmen alone. This lecture presented by historian Valerie Gugala highlights the courageous and often overlooked women who played vital roles in the fight for independence — as spies, soldiers, fundraisers, writers, and homefront heroes. From battlefield bravery to political protest, discover the powerful stories of the women whose contributions helped shape a new nation. Register to watch over Zoom here and register to watch in the Kingsley Room here.
Plan with Me: Adult Planner Meet-Up
Friday, March 27, 2-3pm, Brown Room, Registration Required
This monthly meet-up is all about socializing, having a creative outlet, and getting your plans in order. Come decorate and fill out your planners and calendars for the month ahead, or work on any other planning activity you'd like. Bring your own markers, washi tape and stickers, or use some of the supplies we will have on hand. A limited supply of free 12-month planners will be available for those who need them! To register, click here.
"The Web They Wove": Women and Their Wardrobes During New England's Revolution
Friday, March 27, 2-3:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Underpinning the sensationalism of battle reports & broadsides is the often silent steadiness of women’s work with textiles. The choices they made every day about fashion and fabric consumption & creation drove the course of Revolution just as determinedly as any congress. As southern New England commemorates the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) of the War for Independence, it is these local lives dressed in fulled wool or spun silk that continue to inspire creativity, resilience, and empathy in us today. From the mythology of homespun to legends of midnight rides in red cloaks & calashes, the Dirty Blue Shirts share stories of women who waged war on multiple fronts as well as a look at what they wore as their worlds turn’d upside down. This program is presented by costumed historians and includes reproduction clothing pieces & fabric samples as well as a PowerPoint presentation with images of extant originals. To register, click here.
Crystal Sound Bath & Guided Meditation
Saturday, March 28, 11:00am-12:00pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Join sound vibration therapy practitioner Jeanine Chayka of Inspired Vibration by JC for this introduction to Sound Bath Healing. Jeanine will offer a short introduction to the principles and practices of sound healing, then lead participants on a guided meditation focused on pain relief, using tuning forks, drums, singing bowls and other instruments. There is no physical contact during this program. Attendees should wear comfortable clothing and are invited to bring a yoga mat if they prefer it to a chair. To register, click here.
Video Production Seminar
Tuesday, March 31, 6-7pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Come learn about the resources available to you through Western CT Community Television, the public access channel for Southbury & 20 other CT towns. Public Access Coordinator Mark Ingram will describe and demonstrate the different free video production training classes and equipment loans available to you. This will include a demonstration of the Cannon XA 40 and tripod for those who are interested. Learn how you can create your own special or series to be cablecast on channel 192! To register, click here.
Wednesday & Evening at the Movies
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) PG
Wednesday, March 11, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
When Mary finds herself in a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future. Register here.
Cabrini (2024) PG-13
Wednesday, March 18, 1-3:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
After witnessing disease and poverty in the slums of New York, Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini embarks on a daring journey to persuade the hostile mayor to provide housing and healthcare for hundreds of orphaned children. Register here.
Wicked: For Good (2025) PG
Wednesday, March 25, 1-3:00pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The second of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical. Register here.
Evening at the Movies
One Battle After Another (2025) R
Thursday, March 12, 6-8:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
When their enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own. Register here.
Bugonia (2025) R
Thursday, March 26, 6-8:00pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. Register 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!
Mystery Book Club
Monday, March 9, 3-4pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
This month we'll be discussing The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller. To register, click here.
Nonfiction Book Club
Wednesday, March 11, 10-11am, Brown Room, Registration Requested
This month we'll be discussing Evicted: Poverty & Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond. To register, click here.
Tuesday Night Fiction Book Club
Tuesday, March 24, 6:30-7:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Requested
This month we'll be discussing Isola by Allegra Goodman. 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. For children's events requiring sign up, registration begins three weeks before the event. Teen events are able to registered for as soon as they are visible on the web calendar.
Children and Teen Reading Challenges
Mini Monthly Reading Challenge: Spring Into Reading (Grades K-12 & Adults)
March 1-31, Online on Beanstack and On Paper
Continuing this month: you can use a paper tracking bookmark instead of Beanstack AND adults can join! Read for 5 hours during the month of March; track your time spent reading on Beanstack or pick up a Tracking Bookmark from the Second Floor Circulation Desk. Adults can participate on Beanstack or pick up an Adult Mini Monthly Reading Challenge Bookmark from the Reference Desk.
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
Drop-In Storytime (All Ages)
Monday, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10:30-11am, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
Join Jen for an all-ages storytime! We'll share books, rhymes, and songs, and a small craft will be available to make with us or take home. Find out more on our website here.
Babies & Books (Ages 6-24 months)
Tuesday, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, and May 5, 10:30-11:30am, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Babies & Books is a six-week series lapsit storytime for children 6 to 24 months and their parents/caregivers. Listen to short stories and songs. Find out more and register on our website here.
Special Events for Children
Family Giant Games Night (All Ages)
Tuesday, March 3, 17, 6-7pm, No Registration Required
Join us for an evening of Giant Games! Drop in between 6-7pm to enjoy a variety of traditional, larger-than-life, board games. This event is perfect for families or a group of friends; if a team is not made of middle schoolers and above, an adult must be present. Find out more on our website here.
Tunes & Tales (Recommended for Ages 5 & Under)
Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 10:30-11am, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
Join Jen for a morning filled with music and stories! Children will sing, dance, and explore musical instruments. Find out more on our website here.
Food Explorers: Peaches & Cream Cups (Ages 6-11)
Thursday, March 5, 4:30-5:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join Food Explorers for a sweet and simple dessert! Get a taste of spring with Peaches & Cream Cups, filled with layers of crushed graham crackers, juicy peaches and homemade whipped cream. Recipe is nut free but will contain dairy and gluten. Find out more and register on our website here.
Tiger Watercolor Art with Miss Laleh (Ages 7-11)
Thursday, March 5, 4:30-5:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join talented art teacher Miss Laleh for a fun afternoon learning to create a watercolor and tissue paper tiger! Laleh Golafshani is a local artist, illustrator, and art teacher. Find out more and register on our website here.
Navigating Big Feelings and Identifying Trusted Adults (Grades K-5)
Thursday, March 5, 6:30-8pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Elementary-aged children will engage in conversations, activities, and crafts focusing on identifying big feelings, learning about some options to safely work through their big feelings, and identifying the Trusted Adults in their lives who they can go to for help. There will also be a nut free snack. (While this event is taking place, there will be a screening and discussion of the documentary "Screenagers: Elementary School Edition" for adults in the Kingsley Room.) Find out more and register on our website here.
Take or Make Craft (All Ages)
Saturday, March 7, 14, 21, 28, Youth Services Department, While Supplies Last, No Registration Required
Stop by the Youth Services Department on Saturdays this month to make a thematic paper craft. Make it here or bring it home. Crayons and glue available in the library. Appropriate for all ages. Young children may need assistance. Find out more on our website here.
Yoga for Kids (Ages 6-10)
Saturday, March 7, 10:30am-11:30am, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
CT Yoga instructor Nick Switz, certified with five years of experience and training from Radiant Child Yoga, guides children through a playful class. The class is guided throughout with yoga-based games and captivating stories, fostering creativity, cooperation, and body awareness. The class ends with a calming guided story, offering a moment of reflection. Find out more and register on our website here.
ARTuesday (Recommended for Ages 5 & Up)
Tuesday, March 10, 5-6pm, Brown 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.
Yoga for Kids (Ages 2-5)
Friday, March 13, 10:30-11:15am, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
CT Yoga instructor Nick Switz, certified with five years of experience and training from Radiant Child Yoga, guides children through a playful class. The class is guided throughout with yoga-based games and captivating stories, fostering creativity, cooperation, and body awareness. The class ends with a calming guided story, offering a moment of reflection. Find out more and register on our website here.
Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance (All Ages)
Saturday, March 14, 1-1:45pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us! The Southbury Public Library is thrilled to welcome back the Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance! Watch the talented professionals demonstrate their moves and learn a few steps. This program is intended for children but all are welcome. Find out more and register on our website here.
Makerspace Morning (Ages 5-12)
Saturday, March 21, 10-11:30am, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us to explore, think, and create in our mobile makerspace! Choose from a wide range of materials to create something new and unique, or complete a craft project using provided instructions. Find out more and register on our website here.
Tiny Food Explorers (Ages 2-5)
Tuesday, March 24, 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.
LEGO Club (Grades K-5)
Tuesday, March 24, 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.
Read with SPG: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (Ages 1-5)
Wednesday, March 25 , 10:30-11:30am, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Read with Speech Pathology Group: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, by Dr. Seuss. Enjoy an interactive read-along led by one of SPG's Speech Language Pathologists! Using this fun thematic book, the SLP will demonstrate how shared reading builds vocabulary, expands language, and encourages participation - all while having fun! Find out more and register on our website here.
Family Trivia Night (All Ages)
Friday, March 27, 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.
Special Events for Teens
Family Giant Games Night (All Ages)
Tuesday, March 3, 17, 6-7pm, No Registration Required
Join us for an evening of Giant Games! Drop in between to enjoy a variety of traditional, larger-than-life, board games. This event is perfect for families or a group of friends; if a team is not made of middle schoolers and above, an adult must be present. Find out more and register on our website here.
Teen Crochet Club (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, March 3, 17, 6:30-7:30pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
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. Attend one or both meetings. Find out more and register on our website here.
2026 Friends Scholarship Applications Due (Grade 12)
Saturday, March 14 at 4pm to the Reference Desk
Applications are now available for the 2026 Friends of the Southbury Public Library Scholarship! The Friends are awarding scholarship(s) up to $2000! To be eligible, applicants must be Southbury residents, a 2026 Graduating High School Senior, and planning to continue their education in the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship takes into account involvement with the library and library volunteering, academics, extracurricular activities, and a written essay. Details about the essay, how to apply, and application forms can be found on our website or at the Reference Desk. A hard copy of your application (including all three pages of the application and your essay) is due by 4pm on Saturday, March 14 2026 to the Reference Desk.
Cute Animals Hangout (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, March 24, 6-7pm, Brown Room, 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.
Food Explorers: Apple Cheesecake Eggrolls (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, March 26, 4-5pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join Food Explorers to make Apple Cheesecake Eggrolls using a food you may have never used: rice paper wrappers! Make a delicious apple filling, soak your rice paper wrappers, and learn how to roll them into a sweet treat. Egg rolls will be cooked on the griddle, not fried. This recipe is vegetarian and nut-free, but will contain dairy and gluten. Find out more and register on our website here.
Family Trivia Night (All Ages)
Friday, March 27, 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.
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, our Mini Monthly Reading Challenges, and most of our Summer Reading Program Prizes! Find out more about the Friends here!
2026 Friends Scholarship
Applications due by 4:00pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026 to the Reference Desk
Applications are now available for the 2026 Friends of the Southbury Public Library Scholarship! The Friends are awarding scholarship(s) up to $2000! To be eligible, applicants must be Southbury residents, a 2026 Graduating High School Senior, and planning to continue their education in the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship takes into account involvement with the library and library volunteering, academics, extracurricular activities, and a written essay. Details about the essay, how to apply, and application forms can be found on our website or at the Reference Desk.
A hard copy of your application (including all three pages of the application and your essay) is due by 4pm on Saturday, March 14 2026 to the Reference Desk.
Friends Lobby Book Sale
Extended through May, Open During Library Hours, Lobby
The Friends of the Southbury Public Library's Lobby Book Sale continues through May! Located in our lobby, 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. The sale is being refreshed regularly as space allows, so new items are being added all the time. Open during library hours, there's something for everyone at the Friends Lobby Book Sale.
Friends Donation Center
Located in the Southbury Plaza between Catalyst Gym and The Paper Store
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11:30am; Wednesdays from 5-7pm
Because we do not have the same basement storage access, please continue to bring any book donations to the Friends Donation Center in the Southbury Plaza rather than the library. The Friends Donation Center is located between the Catalyst Gym and the Paper Store and is generously donated by Gatto Development Corporation. The Donation Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am to 11:30am and Wednesdays from 5-7pm.
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. These donations will be used in future book sales to raise funds for library programs and other services to benefit the community.
For more information about the Friends of the Southbury Public Library, click here.
March Gloria Cachion Gallery Exhibit: Region 15 Students
This March, we are very excited to partner with Region 15 (Middlebury/Southbury) schools for the return of the annual Youth Art Month exhibition to the walls of the Gloria Cachion Art Gallery!
Following a virtual presentation in 2025 due to the library’s extended closure from flood damage, the 2026 exhibit signals a triumphant homecoming for both the student artists and the community. The community is invited to view the work in person from Tuesday, March 3, 2026 through Monday, March 30, 2026 (a small sample is available online for those unable to visit in person).
This year’s showcase features a curated selection of two-dimensional mixed media, paintings, photography, and drawings created by students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. The return to the physical gallery space allows the public to fully appreciate the texture, scale, and detail of the artwork, elements that are often difficult to capture in a virtual format.
Alisa Rosenberg, Photography Teacher at Pomperaug High School, notes that the collection highlights the school’s photographers’ sophisticated lens work. “It is incredible to see the mastery these students have developed, especially in capturing the world through photography,” she says. “Displaying their images in a public space rewards their dedication and showcases the creative depth of their education.”
Jeromy Nelson, Director of Fine, Applied, and Technical Arts in Region 15, expressed the district’s excitement about returning to the physical venue, “While we were grateful for the digital connection during the library’s restoration last year, there is no substitute for standing directly in front of a piece of art. This exhibition highlights the critical thinking and technical discipline fostered in our classrooms. We are incredibly proud to partner with the library once again to give these young artists the physical platform their talent deserves.”
About Youth Art Month:
The displays coincide with Youth Art Month, a program administered nationally by the Council for Art Education (CFAE). The event emphasizes the value of art education for all students and provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences. The 2026 exhibition stands as a testament to resilience, reuniting the Southbury Public Library and the Region 15 community in a shared celebration of the arts.
The full 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. Visit our online gallery for a sample of artwork from the exhibit.