Newsletter: Word by Word
Published by the Wethersfield Library | Volume VII | Issue 1 | Spring 2010 | 
Download PDF of Winter 2010
Spring 2010
Wethersfield History
For many years, Wethersfield Library has kept a “clipping file” of various news articles, flyers, and other print material that document the history of Wethersfield from about the mid-20th century to the present. These papers, once in files, have been carefully re-organized into notebooks and are in the process of being indexed. The index for these clippings and other papers (nearly completed) will make it a lot easier for people to find the material they need. Each binder will have a spine label with the title of the collection and a picture of the Wethersfield red onion. The notebooks contain information about historic Wethersfield buildings, general Wethersfield history, and Library history. The historic buildings notebooks are available in the Wethersfield History Room, while the remainder of the notebooks will be available for viewing soon. Eventually, the indexes will be put on the Library’s website so that people can read the collection’s content list from home.
Current information will be added to the notebooks and to the index.
It’s the BIG READ with Mark Twain and
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
A dramatic presentation, a lively book discussion, and a stimulating conversation – all upcoming at Wethersfield Library in participation with Hartford Public Library’s Big Read program, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
Thursday, April 1st, actor Richard Clark will present his one-person play on the work of Mark Twain. The audience is invited to experience the special storytelling that made Twain a legend in his own time.
Thursday, April 8th, BJ Smith, a well-known book discussion leader, will guide participants through The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the Big Read selection for 2010. Her discussions are always lively and thought-provoking.
Thursday, May 20th, Craig Hotchkiss, from the Mark Twain House and Museum, and Sonya Green, from the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center will place Uncle Tom's Cabin and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in proper historical context to enhance understanding of how these books had such a profound influence on race relations in the United States over the past 150 years, and why they continue to have relevance to our cross-cultural dialog today.
All programs are free and open to the public, and will be held from 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. Copies of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and other Twain books are available at the Library. Registration for these events is requested. You may register by calling 860-257-2811. Walk-ins are also welcome.
A New Website!
The Wethersfield Library has a new website. Library staff, working with Miranda Creative, developed a website that is more attractive, easier to use, and has quick access to upcoming Library events and programming. It took about six months to complete the project, and work on the website will be ongoing as the website is further developed. The Library’s website can be found at www.wethersfieldlibrary.org . Check it out! And let us know what you think.
Children’s Department Spring Programs
April School Vacation Week Programs April 19th – April 23rd.
Registration is required for April vacation week programs.
Monday, April 19th
“Fanciful Fish” with local author Virginia Buck 10:30 a.m. for ages 4 & up. Enjoy author Virginia Buck and her “fanciful fish” tales! Make your very own fanciful fish!
Crafty Kids Corner 2:00 p.m. for ages 4 & up. Be creative! Choose your own craft to complete and enjoy “crafty” stories.
READ to a Dog 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. for school-age children. Read to a Reading Education Assistance Dog from Tails of Joy! These special animals offer children an opportunity to improve their reading. Each child may sign up for ten minutes of reading time.
Tuesday, April 20th
Very Merry “Unbirthday” 10:30 a.m. for all ages. Join us for a morning of stories, and songs as we celebrate your “Unbirthday”!
Gross Grub 2:00 p.m. for ages 5 & up. You want me to eat what? Create treats that look “gross” – but taste delicious!
“Whodunit” mystery event 6:00 p.m. for ages 9-12. Mysteries are afoot at the library! Solve a mystery and crack open some great mystery titles all while enjoying pizza.
Wednesday, April 21st
Crafty Kids Corner 10:30 a.m. for ages 4 & up. Be creative! Choose your own craft to complete and enjoy “crafty” stories.
Thursday, April 22nd
Dino-mite! 10:30 a.m. for all ages. Enjoy a dinosaur-filled morning with stories, songs, games and lots of fun.
“Gross-Ology” 2:00 p.m. for ages 5-12. It’s slimy, crusty and disgusting! Celebrate the science of really gross stuff with fun hands-on experiments!
READ to a Dog! 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. forschool-age children. Read to a Reading Education Assistance Dog from Tails of Joy! These special animals offer children an opportunity to improve their reading. Each child may sign up for ten minutes of reading time.
Wii Play: Kids vs. Parents! 6:30 p.m. for ages 5-12 and parents – Parents and kids: come show off your Wii skills at the library in a kids versus parents competition! Who will win?
Friday, April 23rd:
Rock ‘n Roll presented by CreativeWorks 10:30 a.m. for ages 5 and under. Enjoy music and dance with teachers who have “professional experience in the arts and education.
May’s Special Event
Registration is required and begins for Wethersfield residents May 3rd. Non-residents and residents beginning May 10th.
“Spring Fling” Wednesday, May 19th at 10:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. Celebrate spring with a “Maypole Dance,” spring stories and activities. Create your very own spring hat.
Registration is not required for these drop-in programs.
Playtime/Short & Sweet Storytime for Preschoolers Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a short and sweet storytime at 11:00 a.m. This program is held weekly throughout the year.
Homework Center
Monday and Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Free drop-in homework help!
Parents: Does your son or daughter need help with homework? Come to the Wethersfield Library Children’s Department Homework Center.
Saturday Stories for preschoolers Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Drop-in fun with books, songs and movement for the whole family.
Mark Your Calendars for These Library Events
Tuesday, April 20th at 2:00 p.m.
Employee Support Network
Thursday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m.
Poetry reading with Pamela Spiro Wagner author of We Mad Climb Shaky Ladders.
Saturday, May 1st at 2:00 p.m.
Movie matinee showing of the 1933 version of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women starring Katherine Hepburn.
Thursday, May 13th at 7:00 p.m.
Book discussion of March by Geraldine Brooks with BJ Smith.
Thursday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Discussion of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn with Craig Hotchkiss, from the Mark Twain House and Museum, and Sonya Green, from the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center.
Tuesday, May 25th 5:30 p.m.
“Understanding Social Security” with Eric Powers, a Financial Services representative with Barnum Financial Group.
Thursday, May 27th at 2:00 p.m.
Employer focused résumé design class with Ross Primack.
Thursday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Author Dana Brand will talk about his love for the now-demolished Shea Stadium in his new book The Last Days of Shea: Delight and Despair in the Life of a Met’s Fan.
Thursday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Book discussion of The Narrative of Frederick Douglass with BJ Smith.
BJ is Back at Wethersfield Library!
Wethersfield Library is delighted that BJ Smith has returned as book discussion leader. All book discussions are held on the second Thursday of the month, through October. The first series focuses on 19th century authors.
On April 8th, participants will discuss The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in participation with Hartford Public Library’s Big Read program (an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest). On May 13th the discussion title will be March by Geraldine Brooks. The first four-part series concludes on June 10th with a discussion of The Narrative of Frederick Douglass.
These book discussions are supported by a cost-sharing grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council.
Copies of each title are available for check-out at Wethersfield Library.
Mark your calendars now for this exciting series! All discussions are free and open to the public, and will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Wethersfield Library. Registration for these events is requested. You may register by calling 860-257-2811. Walk-ins are also welcome.
The Results Are In!
Thanks to all who participated in Wethersfield Library’s survey this past winter. The survey was undertaken as part of the Library’s strategic planning process. A total of 413 surveys were received, 248 paper surveys and 165 online surveys. The survey showed that most of you come to the library to borrow materials: DVDs, fiction books and
non-fiction books. A great many of you come in to use the computers. Other main reasons to come to the Library include getting information or research, using the children’s area, borrowing the museum passes, and reading/borrowing magazines. Most people are satisfied with the Library hours (84%), computer access (91%), and program offerings (93%) and are very pleased with the level of service provided by the Library staff. We also received many suggestions regarding hours, programs, and the collection. We thank you for those suggestions, and will carefully consider all that we received. A copy of the community survey is available at the Adult Information Services desk at the Library.
Calling All Artists and Collectors!
Wethersfield Library now has a built-in display case for collections of all kinds and lots of wall space for artists to display their work. For information or to reserve the display case or the wall space please call the Library at 860-257-2811.
April Computer Classes
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Learn the basics of a spreadsheet program. You will be taught how to enter data and format cells.
Monday, April 5th at 2:30 p.m.
Introduction to the Internet
Learn the basics of surfing the internet. Discover what a browser is and how it works.
Monday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m.
Social Networking
Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites will be toured.
Wednesday, April 7th at 1:30 p.m.
All You Need to Know About Email
Find out the fundamentals of how to send and receive email. Learn about attachments and the wonders of the address book. You do not need to own a computer to have an email account.
Wednesday, April 7th at 3:00 p.m.
May Computer Classes
All You Need to Know About Email
Find out the fundamentals of how to send and receive email. Learn about attachments and the wonders of the address book. You do not need to own a computer to have an email account.
Monday, May 10th at 2:30 p.m.
Where Did I Put That?
Discover how to find and retrieve information saved to your computer. USB drives, CDRs, CDRWs, DVDs, memory cards and external hard drives are discussed. Basic computer skills are helpful.
Monday, May 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Introduction to the Internet
Learn the basics of surfing the internet. Discover what a browser is and how it works.
Wednesday May 12th at 1:30 p.m.
Editing Digital Photographs
Learn the basics of using a photo editing program. There are basic techniques that can be used to improve your photographs. We will be using Photoshop Elements 6.0.
Wednesday, May 12th at 3:00 p.m.
Registration begins the first of the month for Wethersfield residents, and the following week for non-residents. You may register in person, or by calling the Adult Services Information Desk at 257-2811. Classes are held in the Community Room.
Holiday Closings
Friday, Saturday, Sunday - April, 2nd, 3rd, 4th - Easter Weekend
Friday - May 28th - Town Hall and Library Furlough Day
Saturday, Sunday, Monday - May 29th, 30th , 31st Memorial Day Weekend
LIBRARY HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday (October – May) 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
CONTACT THE LIBRARY
Main number: 860-529-2665
Hours of service: recording 860-257-2800
Borrower Services: 860-257-2821
Renewals and overdues.
borrowerservices@wethersfieldlibrary.org
Children’s Services: 860-257-2801
Children’s program registration & information
childservices@wethersfieldlibrary.org
Information/Reference: 860-257-2811
Reserves, museum passes, information searches.
library@wethersfieldlibrary.org
Library Fax: 860-257-2822
Laurel Goodgion, Library Director
Word by Word
Word by word is published quarterly by the Wethersfield Library.
Copies are available at the Library, on the website, or by email.
To receive the newsletter electronically, send a message to:
wordbyword@wethersfieldlibrary.org
