Interim Library Director's Message
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As summer winds down, I encourage everyone to take advantage of the many opportunities we have to spend time with your family, friends and neighbors at our beautiful library.
Some highlights include
Drum Ride with Bob Bloom
- a music event for the whole family, and the
Great American Read: Film Screening and Discussion
and the
Great American Read Book Discussion.
In addition, our
College Readiness Series
kicks off in August with the program
Tackling the College Essay. This popular multi-part series is ideal for families and high school students to best prepare and plan for key aspects of the college admissions process.
This month, we are also proud to host presentations on
Thailand: A Volunteer's Experience and a
Postcard History Series: Mystic -- an Author Event too!
For families, there's still a whole month to catch a movie, do yoga, take an art or tech class, or come in, cool down and find some wonderful reads to take home and enjoy.
If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to stop by the library! We are looking forward to seeing you this month at MNL.
--
Roberta Donahue
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"Drum Ride" with Musician and Teacher Bob Bloom
Thursday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m.
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Our library will sparkle!
Bob Bloom
is bringing a colorful cargo of drums for your heart and hands to enjoy at this hoot. You’ll take a drum ride with BB as he drives high-octane songs that rock, roll, and boogie! Open to all ages--please join us!
Check
out this video of Bob Bloom at the Bushnell earlier this year... your family will all enjoy this program!
Generously funded by a grant from the
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Adult Reading at M&NL
The MNL is proud to announce its first-ever Adult Summer Reading Program! The leisurely summer months are a great time to do a lot of reading and all patrons age 18 and up are welcome to participate!
The Reading Program will
continue until Monday, September 10.
While you can count any book you read towards your total, the MNL’s official (suggested) summer reading list will be the one hundred books included on PBS’
The Great American Read
book list. You can access the list on the MNL’s website
on our newly launched Goodreads Page
, and on the PBS website.
Also, while the goal of the program is to challenge yourself to read as much as you can, we will have specific contests for three separate categories of reading accomplishment! There will be a category for the greatest total number of books read, the most books read off of the official list, and the greatest number of pages read.
There will be an exciting gift basket for the winner of each category!
Those who wish to be eligible for a prize should submit their form by
5 p.m. on Friday, September 14.
Email your forms to [email protected] or submit them in person.
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With this funding, we will be purchasing some new adult titles for the collection as part of our Novel Challenge program. The books are part of the
Modern Library's 100 Best Novels list, and we encourage you to read as many as you can! Thank you, Charter Oak!
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Art in the Ames Room
Summer in Connecticut
Friday, August 2-Thursdaay, August 30 during regular hours (please call ahead) .
Our upcoming exhibit
Summer in Connecticut
will feature the work of three Mystic area artists who all paint locally en plein air with a focus on landscape, garden,
ocean, and animal themes. The artists are Joyce Maurice, Peggy Traskos, and Betsy Broughton Shafer.
"My love of painting has been enhanced by nature and my own gardens. Using oils and pastels seem to best convey my passion and creativity. My journey continues!"
-Joyce Maurice
Peggy Traskos is a Mystic resident who paints mostly in pastels. She does plein air as well as painting animals of the area, trying to capture their personalities.
Betsy Broughton Shafer paints en plein air in oils, pastel, and watercolor throughout Connecticut and southern New England, capturing scenes of ocean, farms, and
nature reserves.
This exhibit is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
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One Book, One Region Discussion
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Wednesday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Gail Turgeon will lead our discussion of this year’s choice for the One Book, One Region read,
EXIT WEST
by Moshin Hamid. Join us in what we hope will be a lively discussion of this book about the psychological hardships endured by two exiles as they journey from their war-torn homeland in an unexpected fashion.
We have multiple copies of the book available at the Circulation desk for a 10 day loan period.
To read a review of the book, please click on the book cover.
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Thailand: A Habitat for Humanity Experience
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Monday, August 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Modern Thailand is an exotic mixture of traditional Eastern and current Western cultures, fascinating for its ornate gold Buddhist temples, welcoming locals and thriving markets.
Mary Maynard Drake of Mystic spent eight days in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest city, part of a 16-member volunteer team from all over the U.S. The group - aged 19 to 78 - combined explorations of the city and northern countryside with building a 24’ x 36’ concrete block home for a Thai family of five.
Mary's presentation/talk will illustrate her eye-opening experience -- not only a glimpse of Southeast Asian culture and of building a house, but the evolving bonding and group dynamics of well-off Americans living and working in a third-world country. Light refreshments will be served.
This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
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The Great American Read: Film Screening & Discussion
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Friday, August 24 from 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Join us to watch
The Great American Read
, a documentary about PBS’ quest to find America’s favorite novel based on an ambitious book list of the same name. Meredith Vieira hosts this televised special, in which she interviews actors, writers, and many more public figures about their favorite books. This fascinating documentary includes conversations with regular Americans as well, all of whom will have a chance to vote on which book on the list they think deserves to be the winner.
Although everyone is welcome to attend, we especially encourage those partaking in the MNL’s first
Adult Summer Reading Program
to come, as the
book list
outlined in this special also serves as the official (suggested) list for our participants. Afterwards, we will hold a discussion of the movie and book choices.
This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
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Postcard History Series: Mystic--an Author Event
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Monday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Mystic has a history that stretches back beyond the founding of the nation. Starting as a Native American settlement, the area eventually became a part of the United States after the Revolutionary War. As the nation grew, so did Mystic, with the village using its unique location to serve both the fishing industry and the US Navy.
In its current state, Mystic serves as both a cradle to Connecticut's oldest families and a tourist attraction for those wanting to sample vintage New England life.
Authors Jade Huguenin and Martin Smith share their book and the history of Mystic in this exciting talk! Books will be available for purchase and signing. This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
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The Great American Read: Book Discussion
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Friday, August 31 from 3:00-4:30 p.m.
PBS has set out to find America’s favorite book, and they have launched a nationwide reading program called
The Great American Read
,
which is based on
their book list
of the same name.
The titles on this list, which is available HERE on the MNL’s website, are among America’s most read, ranging from literary classics like
1984
and
Jane Eyre
to popular bestsellers such as
The Martian
and
Gone Girl
. The list also includes YA favorites such as
Harry Potter
,
The Lord of the Rings
and
The Hunger Games
, as well as reams of other genres.
Everyone will recognize a title, which is why we’re inviting you to join us for a discussion of each person’s favorite novel on the list.
We especially encourage those partaking in the MNL’s first
Adult Summer Reading Program
to come, as the book list outlined in this special also serves as the official (suggested) list for our participants. Afterwards, we will hold a discussion of the movie and book choices.
This program is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served and no registration is required.
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All book club meetings are scheduled for the Ames Meeting Room at M&NL. All readers are welcome to join any of these groups. There are no fees, and the Library works to provide copies of the books being discussed. Note: CLAMs participants purchase their books.
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Afternoon Book Club
(first Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
No club meetings in July or August!
September 5
: Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln by
Janis Cooke Newman
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History Book Club
(second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
August 14:
Cleopatra: A Life
by Stacy Schiff
September 11:
Hell and Good Company: The Spanish Civil War and the World it Made
, by Richard Rhodes
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CLAMS
August 6
:
The Grasshopper
by Chekhov
August 20:
Ward Number 6
by Chekhov
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Evening Book Club
(usually first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.)
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Captain John Porter Civil War Book Group
(third Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.
August 15:
Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee -- The War They Fought, the Peace They Forged
, by William C. Davis
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Teen and Children's Programs
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SUMMER READING PROGRAM:
Libraries ROCK
!
What an amazing summer of performers, programming and activities we have just for you and your family!
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Preschool: Read To Me
Read-to-Me is a joint reading activity, designed for children entering Kindergarten and younger along with their caregivers. Read together and keep track to collect prizes and stickers each week.
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Elementary
(1st Grade & up)
Libraries Rock!
Keep track of how much you read this summer and take part in our challenge every time you visit the Library! Read books, and win prizes!
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SUMMER of NUMBERS MATH CHALLENGE:
Earn a star sticker for your constellation chart each day you do a Bedtime Math problem! Add a little math to your summer reading by visiting
bedtimemath.org/ summer-of-numbers.
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Lil' Yogis with Caregivers at 10:30 a.m.
TODAY
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Yoga is a joyful way for children to explore creative movement and develop physical skills. Children and caregivers will channel their energy by following movement instruction and practicing calming moments.
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Twisty Kids: Creative Movement and Yoga
TODAY
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Wednesday, August 1 from 11:15 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Twisty Kids is a fun and non-competitive approach to get kids moving. Children learn creative movement concepts and yoga postures designed with kids' imagination and fun in mind.
Participatns will also learn relaxation techniques and practice mindfulness and respect for others in this class lead by
Yoga with Miss Kim
.
Great for ages 5 - 9 years old! Please
register online here.
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"Drum Ride" with Musician and Teacher Bob Bloom
Thursday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m.
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Our library will sparkle!
Bob Bloom
is bringing a colorful cargo of drums for your heart and hands to enjoy at this hoot. You’ll take a drum ride with BB as he drives high-octane songs that rock, roll, and boogie! Open to all ages--please join us!
Check
out this video of Bob Bloom at the Bushnell earlier this year... your family will all enjoy this program!
Generously funded by a grant from the
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Wednesday Morning Wiggles for Preschoolers!
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Creative Movement with Eastern CT Ballet
This 45 minute class for
3-5 year olds
led by staff from the
Eastern Connecticut Ballet
is an introduction to creative movement for young ones. We will read a book to introduce a theme, followed by 35 minutes of movement!
Due to space constraints,
registration is require
d
(click on the date above). Free and open to the public.
Funding generously provided by the Friends of the Mystic and Noank Library--thank you!
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Ready_Set_Code
Wednesday, August 15 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Learn to code using SCRATCH, a free program developed by MIT! Come to the Mystic & Noank Library for a one-day workshop for an introductory series on programming
for ages 10 and up.
Ready_Set_Code will provide the knowledge necessary to program on your own. Personal laptops are not necessary, but very helpful. This program is free and open to the public, but
registration is required
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Flashback Family Friday Movies
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August 3
at 3:00 p.m.
Matilda
(PG, 1 hr 42 mins, 1996)
Showing in the Ames Room. Bring your favorite snack and (covered) drink!
Funding generously provided by the Friends of the Mystic and Noank Library.--thank you!
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Preschool Drop-In Storytime
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The Library is hosting Summer Preschool Storytimes until August 16. Scheduled to meet
Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m
., classes consist of stories, finger-plays, crafts, and songs.
No registration is required for Drop-in sessions. Storytime programs last for eight weeks and are free and open to the public.
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Have You Registered for 1KBK?
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We have 71 'readers' registered and 4 have already read 1000 books! Congratulations!
So far, more than 6,200 books have been read by our participants--WOW!
We love celebrating the children's successes and honoring them with prizes to keep them motivated! Interested? Stop in the Children's Room and find out more--we'd love to see you.
Sign up in the Children's Room during regular library hours--it's FREE!
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Teen and Children's Programs
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Art Therapy with Teens
Monday, August 6 and August 13 at 2:00 p.m in the Ames Room
Art Therapy with Katie Ziskind, BS, MA, MFT, RTY500, ERTY200, Experiential Family Therapist in Niantic, Connecticut.
Learn how to create serenity and balance from within during your 45-minute art therapy session. Complementing traditional talk with art and other experiential therapies can be highly effective for transformation.
Rejuvenate your mind through creative expression. All teens welcome.
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August 7
at 6:30 p.m.
The Goonies
(PG, 1 hr 54 min, 1985, may not be appropriate for younger viewers)
Showing in the Ames Room. Bring your favorite snack and (covered) drink!
Funding generously provided by the Friends of the Mystic and Noank Library.--thank you!
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College Readiness Series Begins
Tackling the College Essay
Monday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Presented by Ben Brown, Assistant Director of Admission, Connecticut College
It’s a little-known fact that even the students who absolutely love to write struggle with the application essay. So if you’ve been biting your nails or tearing your hair out even a little, you’re not alone!
The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. This session will be led by current admission officers and will offer insight into how essays are reviewed and tips for writing your own personal narrative for the college application process.
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Afternoon Wii U Gaming
Stop by the Mystic & Noank Library beginning Tuesday July 3 (through August 14) from 3:30-5:00 p.m. for some fun among friends! Join casual tournaments and games with your friends!
Gaming offers an outlet for creativity and problem solving, while the Library provides of atmosphere of community and sharing. Games are appropriate for ages 9 and up. Come join the fun!
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News, Opportunities & Info
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Book-A-Librarian
In Need of Technology Tutoring?
If so, please consider the Mystic & Noank Library's Book-a-Librarian program, in which you sign up for an individual one (1) hour session with a librarian and receive a private tutorial on whatever technological query you may have!
Lesson topics have included Windows 10, web design, Microsoft Office, and the use of devices such as Smartphones, iPads, e-readers and social media! New topics include employment websites, resumes and cover letters, web design, and more!
To register, please call the library at (860) 536-7721 or
use our online form here!
Appointments must be requested AT LEAST one day ahead of the desired date; they will be scheduled according to the patron's and the librarian's mutual availability.
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Don't forget to register for our information service, Wowbrary
by
clicking here!
. Be sure to then check your email for the verification message.
With Wowbrary, you will receive a weekly email on Saturday mornings highlighting any new book, audiobook, DVD or CD titles added to our collection in the previous week. A smart link directly into the library catalog will allow you to easily place a reserve on any titles that you wish to check out!
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Call for Art & Collections!
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Do you have art to exhibit in our Ames Meeting Room? Or a special collection that will fit in our glass display case? Exhibits are needed for a number of months beginning later this summer.
Please call Kate Nelson at the library at 860-536-7721 for more information and to schedule.
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Join In! Be a Part of MNL
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Friends of the Mystic & Noank Library
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The Friends of the Mystic & Noank Library generally meet the 3rd Monday of every month at 12:00 Noon in the Ames Room (next meeting is
Monday, August 20).
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Cribbage Club
Cribbage is a great way to keep your mind sharp and meet new friends. We meet every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. For more information, please call Donna Anderson at (203) 470-4566 or email
[email protected]
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Writers' Group
Join a varied group of writers every Monday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. For more information about how we lead our sessions,
please click here.
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Mysticalligraphers
Join us on the 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. each month (August 8! For more information,
click here.
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New to needles? See patterns in your sleep? All levels are welcome to join the Knitters!
Bring your projects on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month (August 14 and 28) at 1:00 p.m.
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August 7 and 21 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (ongoing on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month).
These sessions are open to all who are coping with the loss of a loved one and led by caring professionals from the
Center for Hospice Care of Southeastern CT
. Sessions are free but do require pre-registration. Please call (860) 848-5699 to register.
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Museum Passes Available
There is still a lot of summer left to enjoy!
Stop by the Children's Room to review the passes and discounts available. Explore a new site or revisit an old favorite with your houseguests!
More information on our website
here!
We thank the Friends of M&NL for their generous funding of the museum passes.
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Thanks to many generous patrons, more than 150 bricks have been purchased for the library--thank you!
We love to see patrons reading the inscriptions outside when visiting our Library. Is your special message part of this unique collection? Don't miss this opportunity to make a gift of a commemorative brick at M&NL in honor of your loved one, a special memory or to promote your local business.
We are proud to display these meaningful messages on our beautiful entryway and would love to add your personalized brick to our ever expanding special sidewalk.
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Our Bookshelf Is Growing
Have you added to our 'shelf'?
Your Annual Fund gift is so powerful and every dollar makes a real difference to the Library.
With your donation, you empower us to continue the programming and services you have come to rely on.
Your gifts are tax-deductible and shows your commitment to our historic and lively institution.
Thank you for helping to keep our doors open
for 125 years and counting...
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If you are thinking of making a lasting gift to the Library, we urge you to consider becoming a member of
The Maine Society
Those that join The Maine Society are looking to the future by making provisions for the Library through
planned giving
. Planned gifts allow donors to continue to support the Mystic & Noank Library after their death, often in a more generous way than what is possible during their lifetime.
By becoming a member of The Maine Society, you will join many others who are a special part of our valued Library community. Your gift will help the Library remain a vibrant, intellectual and important Mystic community resource for another century to come.
Please contact the
Director of Development
at (860) 572-8191 to learn more about planned giving and other ways to donate to the Library.
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A Preview of September Programs
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Library will be closed on Monday, September 3 for Labor Day
AARP Safe Driving Class
Saturday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m.
MNL 125th Anniversary Program
Monday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m.
British Music Inspired by the Sea
September Tech Classes (10:15 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.)
Monday, September 10 - Goodreads
Monday, September 24 - Learning a Language Online
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Mystic & Noank Library | 40 Library Street, Mystic CT 06355 | TEL: (860) 536-7721
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Monday-Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thursday-Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Summer Saturday Hours 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (until Labor Day)
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"“The month of August had turned into a griddle where the days just lay there and sizzled.”
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