What’s happening…
During this latest COVID spike, all visitors are strongly requested to wear a mask inside the Library. Thank you.
Night Boat to New York with Erik Hesselberg
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 6:30 PM
Local author Erik Hesselberg will discuss his new book Night Boat to New York: Steamboats on the Connecticut, 1824-1931, an account of steamboat days on the CT River. Unlike the steamboats of Western waters, these vessels “were long, sleek craft, with sharp prows cutting a neat wake” as they traveled down the river at night to make port in New York by daybreak. Register Here.
Erik has been writing about the CT River for over 20 years as an environmental reporter for the Middletown Press and then as executive editor of Shore Line Newspapers. He was a regular contributor to the Hartford Courant and continues to write about the river in his blog, voicesontheriver.com.
SCORE Event!
There’s still time to register! Sign up for an evening of networking at Lyman Orchards Thursday, August 18th from 5:30 to 8pm.
Along with refreshments in a beautiful outdoor setting, you’ll have the chance to connect with local business owners and meet SCORE mentors with a variety of expertise.
You’ll also meet Katy Flannery, co-founder of the award-winning Beckon Ice Cream. Katy will talk about Beckon’s startup challenges and how SCORE helped them get where they are today. Register Here.
For more SCORE events and small business & job search support click here.
Children’s & Teen’s Summer Reading Programs
Register here or during your visit to the library. Participants can pick up their Summer Reading bags. This year’s theme is Oceans of Possibilities, so look forward to plenty of sea-themed programs and activities!
For Teen Summer Reading Register Here!
Library Staff & Friends will be at the Farmers Market at the Haddam Elementary School: June 17, July 15, Aug 12, & Sept 16 from 3-6.
We will offer: free books, plants & garden items for sale, and free activities & crafts for children! ~Stop by and visit with us!~
Continuing the Crafting Connection!
The Crafting Conn
ection has moved to a monthly in-person program! Join us each month to learn something new! Note: This is an adult program as we will be working with tools that may be unsafe for children to handle.
Here is our next class
Mandala Sea Star: Monday, August 22
A mandala is a complex abstract design, usually circular with a center point, from which symbols, shapes and forms emanate. We’ll use canvases, acrylic paint, and mandala dotting tools to create a sea star shape. Space is limited to 24. Register here.
BML’s Culinary Club
2nd Wednesday of the month 6:30 pm
We are back and cooking!! In this unique book club we discuss our favorite recipes and what we bring to the meeting. If you need inspiration for a dish we have books to help!
Themes for the Meetings:
August 10th Farmer’s Market (make a dish with a market ingredient) Register here.
September 14 Soup and Stews Register here.
October 12th Breads and Spreads Register here.
November 9th Ethnic Food Register here.
A requirement of the club is to bring a dish to the meeting. We will meet on the back lawn. Please register above or call 860-345-2204.
3 Short Summer Yoga Routines (to enhance your summer activities)
Including 1 to limber up for all those who are in full gardening mode
Click links or graphics for short yoga videos. Enjoy!
Click on the image to access Workforce Solutions through researchIT CT!
Whether you’re looking to find a new job in your current field or pursue a career in a different industry, Job & Career Accelerator™ has the powerful tools and expert guidance to help you through every step of the process. Job & Career Accelerator™ puts everything you need to land a job in one place. For more Job Related Resources [Search Sites, Webinars, Resume help] visit our Job Search page!
BML is pleased to announce that we now have a pass to the:
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center!
Ask at the Children’s Desk where all museum passes are held.
The Friends would like to welcome new babies to the community and introduce them & their families to the library with a baby gift bag!
If you, or someone you know, has a new baby, please stop in, or tell them – to pick up a baby gift bag!
Gift bags are at the Circulation desk & the Children’s Department desk.
We hope new patrons will take a little time to explore what BML has to offer!
Please visit our website & Facebook Pages to sign up for our E-newsletters and discover Children’s activities and events.
Bringing the Outside In
Thanks to the Friends, BML has birdfeeders! They are right outside the windows in the Children’s Department with guides & binoculars to identify the birds. We also installed a bluebird house! Link to Free Audubon Bird App
Get to Know These 20 Common Birds
New to birding? Right outside your window is a great place to start. Here is a list of some of the most common backyard birds found around the country.
Even if you’re an experienced birder, the list includes some fun facts about our most common—and beloved—feathered friends. Learn More These goldfinches showed up in April at our window feeder and are now regulars.
BML magazines include: Birds & Blooms, National Geographic & Smithsonian to check out. Complete list in our Reading Room.
BML’s Game Collection!
Brainerd Library has a collection of board games for all ages and Nintendo Switch games for checkout! Call or check the catalog to see what’s available. When it’s too rainy or hot to play outside, stop in and grab one of these games!
Building for the Future: Book-a-Brick Renovation Campaign
BML is pleased to announce: We have 2 new passes to the Hill-Stead Museum!
The passes may be checked out and provide 50% off general admission for 2 adults & 2 children. List of Museum Passes
Link to Hill-Stead Museum Website
Hill-Stead was the first architectural project of Theodate Pope Riddle (1867–1946), one of the first licensed female architects in the U.S. The Colonial Revival mansion is one of the few remaining representations of early-20th-century country estates with 152 acres. Hill-Stead gives a personal view of renowned masterpieces, textiles, and decorative arts. The museum’s collection of paintings includes: Monet, Degas, Whistler, Manet and Cassatt.
The Social Security Administration in CT is providing some helpful information & tools to make it easier to communicate with them. The office has been closed for almost 2 years due to the pandemic. However they plan to re-open in April 2022. In the meantime, here is their link to an informational portal called “The Social Security Express.” This portal allows users to easily access specific portions of the Social Security Administration’s website (www.SocialSecurity.gov) to conduct business and obtain forms.
Want to know what’s new in our YA collection?
Sign up for this newsletter to learn about the new books we get each month! Each newsletter will include pictures and a brief synopsis of each new book.
Teens and adults looking to sign up can email kmoore@brainerdlibrary.org to get on the mailing list.
Let’s Play!
Visit our games & puzzles page! There are daily puzzles, online games like Tetris and Mahjong Solitaire, jigsaws [even create your own] and more fun distractions to try.
Try Something New! Click right Icon for more…
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River Runner
Spend a minute or two with River Runner, a site that allows you to “drop a raindrop” anywhere in the contiguous United States and then shows you a visualization of the downstream path to where the raindrop ends up.