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Hello, Friends!
Happy May! Southbury Public Library will be closed Monday, May 27, 2024 in observance of Memorial Day. We look forward to seeing you all the other days this month!
Join us Saturday, May 18, for music, crafts, a food truck, and a variety of events for all ages at Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House! Celebrate the season at your local library! See below or here on our website for details about all our Spring Open House festivities! Registration is required for some programs.
May is also a very exciting month for the Friends of the Southbury Public Library with the return of their big annual Book Sale! Featuring more than 100,000 items organized into several dozen categories, the Friends of the Southbury Public Library's 2024 Book Sale is Thursday, May 2, through Sunday, May 5! Click here to learn more.
Grades 6-12: whether you want to develop an exciting new product or shape up your side hustle, join us to learn about the basics of starting a business with Entrepreneurship 101 on Tuesday, May 7 from 6-7:30pm!
Elementary school students can learn about mental health wellness in a safe, non-threatening way at our Gizmo's Pawsome Guide to Mental Health Read Along & Activity on Monday, May 13 from 2:30-4:00pm. The Gizmo program is a supportive, data-driven, and evidence based program for youth, and our guided activities will be facilitated by a mental health professional.
To find out more about all our exciting events in May, 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.
Best wishes,
The Staff of the Southbury Public Library
Table of Contents
- Spring Open House
- 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: Beavers and The Town of Southbury
- Artist of the Month: Sandra Cointreau
Spring Open House
Join us Saturday, May 18, for music, crafts, a food truck, and a variety of events for all ages at Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House! Celebrate the season at your local library! For more information, click here.
The Friends of the Southbury Public Library's Half Price Sale
Saturday, May 18, 9:30am-3:30pm, Library's Lower Level
Get a great deal on books, DVDs, music CDs, vinyl records, puzzles, games, collectibles, art and more at the Friends' Half Price Sale! Checks, Cash and Credit Cards accepted. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Southbury Public Library.
Spring Open House Drop-In Storytime
Saturday, May 18, 11-11:30am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required
Join Miss Jen for stories, songs, and a small craft. All ages are welcome.
The Rolling Cones Food Truck
Saturday, May 18, 11am-3pm, Library's Parking Lot, No Registration Required
Buy lunch or a snack at The Rolling Cones Food Truck! While supplies last, purchase a delicious stuffed cone shaped baked bread or another item from The Rolling Cones Food Truck's amazing menu!
Brian Gillie Concert
Saturday, May 18, 12-1:45pm, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
Join us for an “old-time rock and roll” jam fest with Brian Gillie! Listen to a mix of mint-condition “oldies” rock ‘n’ roll and soulful improvisations as fresh as the originals.
Family Giant Games Afternoon
Saturday, May 18, 1-3pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required
Join us for an afternoon of Giant Games! Drop in between 1-3pm to enjoy a variety of traditional, larger than life, board games. This event is perfect for families or a group of friends. No registration required.
Dedication of Galileo’s Dream, a Painting by Cleve Gray
Saturday, May 18, 2-3pm, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
Join us for the dedication of Galileo’s Dream, a painting by Cleve Gray (1918-2004). Galileo’s Dream, created by Cleve Gray in 2004, was gifted to the Southbury Public Library by the Cleve Gray Foundation and will be on permanent exhibit in the library's stairwell. We will be joined by Thaddeus Gray, Cleve Gray's son, who will speak about his father’s life and artwork. Southbury Poet Laureate Faith Vicinanza will share a poem at the dedication that was inspired by Galileo’s Dream.
Adult Reading Challenge
Adult Reading Challenge
Ongoing, On Paper and Online on Beanstack
The reading challenge for May 2024 is to read a book whose author shares your same initial(s)! A drawing will occur at the end of the month to decide the winner of a $25.00 gift card to Sake Asian Fusion!
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 Friday, May 31, 2024.
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! Previous months' challenges can be completed after they have occurred to obtain eligibility for the grand prize at the end of the year.
We invite everyone to participate in Southbury Public Library's inaugural Adult Reading Challenge event! This event, like all Southbury Public Library programs, is open to anyone regardless of town of residency.
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.
Finding Emotional Balance in Today's World
Tuesday, May 7, 2-3:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Join us for a talk on resilience with Bob Schmidt, LPC. Explore the things you can do when you are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. Learn more about sleep, resilience, and finding meaning and purpose. To register, click here.
The Borscht Belt: The Comic Legacy of the Jewish Alps
Friday, May 10, 2-3:30pm, Online and in the Kingsley Room, Registration Required
The Jewish Catskill resorts of the 20th Century were a summer paradise for millions - and the birthplace of great comic careers. Entertainment historian John Kenrick offers a multimedia talk on this rich comic tradition, with hilarious videos clips and tales of the golden age of Borscht Belt comedy. For Zoom Program, register here. For Kingsley Room, register here.
Write it, Polish it, Publish It: A Writing Group - Session 7
Saturday, May 11, 10am-2pm, Brown Room, Registration Required
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. This session is focused on the publishing process. Bring with you 10 copies of a poem or a short prose work. To register, click here.
From Queen Victoria to the Modern Royals: A History of Royal Weddings
Tuesday, May 14, 2-3:30pm, Online and in the Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Royal weddings have always held a special place in the hearts and minds of people worldwide, capturing the imagination and embodying the grandeur and traditions associated with monarchy. Join us as historian Valerie Gugala transports us through time and tradition, offering insights into the lives of royal brides who have left an indelible mark on history. For Zoom Program, register here. For Kingsley Room, register here.
Adult Graphic Novel Club
Friday, May 17, 12:30-1:30pm, 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 Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1 by Tomohito Oda: The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation. Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve! With the whole student body keeping their distance and Komi unable to utter a single word, friendship might be forever beyond her reach. For more information, click here.
Lincoln's Air Force
Friday, May 17, 2-3:30pm, Online and in the Kingsley Room, Registration Required
1861-1863 marked the United States Army's first sojourn into airpower in the form of the Balloon Corps. Join us as Mark Albertson, historical research editor for the Army Aviation magazine and historian for the Army Aviation Association of America, explores the history of the Balloon Corps during the American Civil War. For Zoom Program, register here. For Kingsley Room, register here.
Brian Gillie Concert
Saturday, May 18, 12-1:45pm, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
Join us for an “old-time rock and roll” jam fest with Brian Gillie! Listen to a mix of mint-condition “oldies” rock ‘n’ roll and soulful improvisations as fresh as the originals. This event is part of Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House. For more information, click here.
Family Giant Games Afternoon
Saturday, May 18, 1-3pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required
Join us for an afternoon of Giant Games! Drop in between 1-3pm to enjoy a variety of traditional, larger than life, board games. This event is part of Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House, and is perfect for families or a group of friends. For more information, visit our website here.
Dedication of Galileo’s Dream, a Painting by Cleve Gray
Saturday, May 18, 2-3pm, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
Join us for the dedication of Galileo’s Dream, a painting by Cleve Gray (1918-2004). Galileo’s Dream, created by Cleve Gray in 2004, was gifted to the Southbury Public Library by the Cleve Gray Foundation and will be on permanent exhibit in the library's stairwell. We will be joined by Thaddeus Gray, Cleve Gray's son, who will speak about his father’s life and artwork. Southbury Poet Laureate Faith Vicinanza will share a poem at the dedication that was inspired by Galileo’s Dream. This event is part of Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House. For more information, click here.
Author Talk: Leila Philip
Sunday, May 19, 2-3:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Join us for an author talk by award-winning author Leila Philip about her New York Times best-selling book Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America, which investigates the fascinating role that beavers had in the history of the United States and their enduring contributions to the past, present, and future of our waterways. To register, click here.
Health Talks with the Housatonic Valley Health District: QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
Monday, May 20, 2-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Recommended
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. Join us for this Health Talk with the Housatonic Valley Health District to learn more and help other members of our community. To register, click here.
Adult Coloring Club
Monday, May 20, 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.
Long Term Care Planning
Tuesday, May 28, 6-7:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Join Lou and Jessica Pelletier from Pelletier Senior Planning as they discuss long-term care planning, addressing the growing need for care among seniors and baby boomers. This session is vital for understanding available options as the demand for care rises. To register, click here.
Author Talk: James Tsacoyeanes
Thursday, May 30, 6-7:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Join us as James Tsacoyeanes discusses his book How Did His Life Go So Wrong, A Father’s Memoir. This book is the product of the last eleven years as he struggled coming to terms with his son Chris’s addiction and death. The goal of the book is to help families dealing with addiction to understand the commonality of their struggles, share what he has learned and to hopefully save lives. To register, click here.
Willie Nininger and Jan Scruggs Concert
Friday, June 7, 7-8:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Come to kickoff our summer series and listen to some great tunes! Willie and Jan return to the Southbury Public Library to perform a collection of songs written by popular singer/songwriters including Neil Young, Carly Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, Carole King, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, and more. To register, click here.
Wednesday at the Movies
Polite Society (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, May 8, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
Ria Khan believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting her friends' help, she attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood. Register here.
Freud's Last Session (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, May 15, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
Freud invites iconic author C.S. Lewis to debate the existence of God. And his unique relationship with his daughter, and Lewis' unconventional relationship with his best friend's mother. Register here.
Next Goal Wins (2023) PG-13
Wednesday, May 22, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
The story of the infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team, known for a brutal 2001 FIFA match they lost 31-0. Register here.
Ordinary Angels (2024) PG
Wednesday, May 29, 1-3pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
Inspired by the incredible true story of a hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter. Register here.
Evening at the Movies
The Persian Version (2023) R
Thursday, May 9, 6-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
When a large Iranian-American family gathers, a family secret is uncovered that catapults the estranged mother and daughter into an exploration of the past, and to discover they are more alike than they know. Register here.
The Iron Claw (2023) R
Thursday, May 23, 6-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Requested
The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. 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!
Nonfiction Book Club
Wednesday, May 8, 10-11am, Brown Room, No Registration Required
This month we'll be discussing How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future by Maria Ressa.
For decades, Maria Ressa challenged corruption and malfeasance in her native country, the Philippines, on its rocky path from an authoritarian state to a democracy. Hounded by the state and its allies using the legal system to silence her, accused of numerous crimes, and charged with cyberlibel for which she was found guilty, Ressa faces years in prison and thousands in fines. How to Stand Up to a Dictator is an urgent cry for Western readers to recognize and understand the dangers to our freedoms before it is too late. For more information, click here.
Mystery Book Club
Monday, May 13, 3-4pm, Kingsley Room, No Registration Required
This month we'll be discussing A Line to Kill: A Novel by Anthony Horowitz.
Ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, author Anthony Horowitz, are invited to an exclusive literary festival on Alderney, an idyllic island off the south coast of England. When a local grandee is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Hawthorne and Horowitz become embroiled in the case. The island is locked down, no one is allowed on or off, and it soon becomes horribly clear that a murderer lurks in their midst. But who? For more information, click here.
Tuesday Night Fiction Book Club
Tuesday, May 28, 6:30-7:30pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required
This month we'll be discussing Maame: A Novel by Jessica George.
It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting. So when her mum returns from her latest trip, Maddie seizes the chance to move out of the family home and finally start living. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils - and rewards - of putting her heart on the line. 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:
Teen Spring 2024 Book Bingo (Grades 6-12)
March 1–May 31, On Paper and Online on Beanstack
Pick up a Book Bingo Card and make Bingo by reading books in different fun categories to make rows horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Making bingo (or multiples) can earn you raffle entries for a $50 Visa Gift Card! Fill out your whole card and get a special library mug with candy inside! Make sure you submit your entries by Friday, May 31! Find out more about Book Bingo on our website here. You can also join us for our Book Bingo Celebration at the end of the month, where we'll have snacks and you can chat with other participants about what you read.
Monthly Mini Reading Challenge: The Great Escape (PreK-Grade 12)
May 1-31, Online on Beanstack
Join us on Beanstack for our next Mini Monthly Reading Challenge! Read for five hours (about 1-3 books for elementary, middle, and high school readers) and get a SurPRIZE. This month, we also have bonus mini prizes if you read more than five hours. Find out more and sign up on our Beanstack page here.
1,000 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 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! 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!
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, May 6, 13, 20, 10-10:30am and 11-11:30am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required
Join Miss Jen for stories, rhymes, and a small craft every Monday. All ages are welcome. Find out more on our website here.
Spring Open House Drop-In Storytime (All Ages)
Saturday, May 18, 11-11:30am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required
Join Miss Jen for stories, songs, and a small craft. All ages are welcome. Find out more on our website here.
Special Events for Children:
Tunes & Tales (Ages 5 and Under)
Thursday, May 2, 9, 23, 30, 10:30-11am, 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.
Open House Make or Take Craft (All Ages)
Saturday, May 4, 11, 18, 25, 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.
Star Wars Crafts (Ages 6-10)
Saturday, May 4, 1:30-2:30pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
May the 4th be with you! Join Jen for an afternoon of Star Wars-themed crafts. Find out more and register on our website here.
ARTuesday (All Ages)
Tuesday, May 7, 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. Please wear something you don't mind getting messy. Find out more on our website here.
LEGO Club (Ages 5-10)
Thursday, May 9, 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.
Mother’s Day Flower Arranging with the Southbury Garden Club (Ages 7 & Up)
Saturday, May 11, 11:30am-1pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join the Southbury Garden Club to create Mother's Day flower arrangements! Find out more and register on our website here.
Gizmo’s Pawesome Guide to Mental Health Read Along and Activity (Grades K-5)
Monday, May 13, 2:30-4pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
The Gizmo program is a supportive, data-driven & evidenced based program for youth that seeks to enforce strong bases for mental health wellness and emotional processing. Kids will participate in a read-along, followed by guided activities, facilitated by a mental health professional, and aimed at stimulating healthy peer/adult conversation about trust, safe relationships, and general mental health wellness. Find out more and register on our website here.
Family Giant Games Afternoon (All Ages)
Saturday, May 18, 1-3pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required
Join us for an afternoon of Giant Games! Drop in between 1-3pm to enjoy a variety of traditional, larger than life, board games. This event is part of Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House, and is perfect for families or a group of friends. Find out more on our website here.
Clay Pot Fairy Houses (Grades 1-5)
Monday, May 20, 4-5pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join Library Staff Member Katie to paint your own fairy house! Find out more and register on our website here.
PJ Storytime (All Ages)
Thursday, May 23, 6-6:30pm, Storytime Room, No Registration Required
Grab your PJs and a stuffie and join Jen for a drop-in PJ Storytime! Listen to bedtime stories, songs & rhymes and complete a small craft. Find out more on our website here.
Sensory Friendly Storytime (Ages 3-6)
Wednesday, May 29, 10:30-11:30am, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join Library Staff Member Katie for a special sensory-friendly storytime! This program is intended for children ages 3-6 who require sensory accommodations. Siblings are welcome to attend. Find out more and register on our website here.
Special Events for Teens:
Entrepreneurship 101 (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, May 7, 6-7:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Whether you want to develop an exciting new product or shape up your side hustle, join us for this talk with Hugh Tansey, who has extensive experience with product development and business mentoring. Topics we’ll cover include the basics of customers, markets, products, and intellectual property. Find out more and register on our website here.
Family Giant Games Afternoon (All Ages)
Saturday, May 18, 1-3pm, Brown Room, No Registration Required
Join us for an afternoon of Giant Games! Drop in between 1-3pm to enjoy a variety of traditional, larger than life, board games. This event is part of Southbury Public Library's Spring Open House, and is perfect for families or a group of friends. Find out more on our website here.
Book Bingo Celebration (Grades 6-12)
Friday, May 31, 4-5pm, Brown Room, Registration Required
Join us at the end of Book Bingo to chat about the books you read and enjoyed with others who participated in Book Bingo! Please join us even if you did not finish Book Bingo; the only requirement is to have read most of at least one book that fits a category, and a desire to chat about what you read. Snacks served! 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. For more information about the Friends, click here.
The Friends of the Southbury Public Library's 2024 Book Sale
Library's Lower Level
Thursday, May 2, $20 admission from 9:30am-2pm, then free admission until 8pm
Friday, May 3, 9:30am-5pm
Saturday, May 4, 9:30am-3:30pm
Sunday, May 5, 12-4pm
This year's Book Sale has more than 100,000 items organized into several dozen categories, including fiction by author, biographies, history, and more. Additionally, there are thousands of DVDs, Music CDs, and Vinyl Records, an Art Gallery, and a collection of Collectibles, Manga, Graphic Novels, Cookbooks, Children’s Books, limited Old & Interesting Books, Puzzles, Games, Boutique Items and so much more! Checks, Cash and Credit Cards accepted. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Southbury Public Library. Find out more on our website here. The Friends' Half Price Sale, featuring left over items from their Book Sale, is Thursday, May 16 (2pm-8pm), Friday, May 17 (9:30am-5pm), Saturday, May 18 (9:30am-3:30pm), and Sunday, May 19 (12pm-4pm)!
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.
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.
Brinker Fireplace Room Display: Beavers and The Town of Southbury
This month's Brinker Fireplace Room Display, created by the Southbury Land Trust, focuses on how beavers have impacted the Town of Southbury. Join us Sunday, May 19, as Leila Philip, New York Times best-selling author of Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America, investigates the fascinating role that beavers had in the history of the United States and their enduring contributions to the past, present, and future of our waterways. For more information, click here.
Artist of the Month: Sandra Cointreau
The Gloria Cachion Gallery at the Southbury Public Library will showcase the art of Sandra Cointreau from Thursday, May 2, 2024 through Thursday, May 30, 2024.
The new series of paintings by Sandra Cointreau brings together her view of an evolving environment, and the beautiful animals that experience it. Dynamic change surrounds them as they deal gracefully and gently with the changes.
Sandra graduated as the only female in a class of 1,000 engineers during the year of the first Earth Day. Her student activities for that day led her to devote her engineering work to the environment. She spent the next 50 years on pollution control, remediation, water resources, and waste management.
Sandra’s work included travel to over 65 developing countries to develop the plans for new systems, as well as reconstruction of systems after conflicts or disasters. Her work also addresses climate change mitigation, and the management of wastes from livestock.
Traveling as a consultant an average of 30% each year for field work overseas, Sandra sketched or painted in her hotel on many nights and weekends. Painting was her way to step away from the harsh realities of the field work in the world’s worst slum areas and post-conflict areas. Watercolor was an easy travel companion, so it became her primary medium.
Consulting work enabled her to be home in Connecticut 70% of the time, able to breed a line of standard poodles, keep bees, and have horses and ride. Never without a camera, her photos of the beauty and serenity of Connecticut, its flowers and creatures, its trees and stones supported her painting overseas.
Like a spider’s web between separate tall grasses, this new collection weaves together her environmental experience and her connection to animals. Using bold abstract backgrounds, these paintings attempt to show beautiful sentient beings, strong and resilient, within a world of great diversity and change. These vivid works are done in acrylic on wrapped canvas.
Sandra is “not exactly” self-taught. Being a bit of a “self-proclaimed nerd”, she has privately worked through dozens of painting books and hundreds of DVDs by master painters. She took classes overseas and locally. She has shown her work in juried shows overseas and locally, including a number of state and regional watercolor society shows. In the past two years, she has had solo shows of her watercolors in 5 venues. She has participated in shows of several of the local art associations, including Kent, Newtown, New Milford, Woodbury, and Washington. Several galleries have included her work, including RiverWind, Studio Hill, Hens Nest and Warrens Landing. She is a member of the Connecticut Watercolor Society.
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.
