Library Exhibit

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September 2018

Greetings!

On First Friday, September 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, we will co-sponsor a Community Storycast with the Love ALL project. This interactive event features stations where you can podcast your stories about love, community, or inclusion, as well as listen to previously recorded podcasts and short videos of stories from our community. And there will be pizza! For ages 10 to 100+.

The World Affairs Council brings their Great Decisions series back to the main library on September 24. Don't forget Movie Mondays for all ages at the SoNo branch from 3:30 to 5:15.

Chris

Library Exhibit

Mexico, Canada & France, Through the Lens of Karen Spencer

A new collection of photographer Karen Spencer's work, will be on exhibit at the Norwalk Public Library, in the Main Reading area until September 30.

This will mark the tenth year that Karen Spencer has lived for half the year in Mexico, in an area near Guadalajara known as Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. This popular expat retirement haven - at 5,000 feet altitude - is known for its near-perfect year round weather. It has become a blossoming art center with an active Arts Society and many galleries and shows at which Spencer has exhibited.

During her travels abroad, Spencer has found that the creativity in photography offers a way to capture unique moments in time. In the village of Ajijic, she has been captivated by the symphony of colors that bombard the senses at every turn, and has tried to bring forth the joy and wonder so specific to this area of Mexico. This exhibit includes images from France and Canada as well as Mexico. All images in this exhibit are for sale, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the library.

Spencer has been experimenting with different printing surfaces, and her new show includes works on fabric, aluminum and shower curtains (yes, shower curtains), as well as traditional paper prints.

Born, raised and schooled in New York City, Spencer has lived in Norwalk for 35 years, and has served on the Norwalk Zoning Commission for six years. She has enjoyed an extensive career as a graphic designer and an art director in publishing, advertising and promotion in New York, New Orleans and Connecticut, and with her own company Spencer Graphics.

For additional information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected].

September Programs & Events

Poets in Conversation Series

Join us this fall for Poets in Conversation at the Norwalk Public Library. Each evening features two poets, who will read from their work and discuss the writing life with the audience. We have an amazing line-up this fall and hope you can join us for all four events! Questions? Contact Laurel Peterson at [email protected]. Hope to see you there.

Thursday, September 6 7:00 - 8:15 pm Main Library Reading Room

Charles Rafferty's most recent poetry collections are The Smoke of Horses (BOA Editions, 2017) and Something an Atheist Might Bring Up at a Cocktail Party (Mayapple Press, 2018). His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, O, Oprah Magazine, and Ploughshares, and his stories have appeared in The Southern Review and New World Writing. His story collection is Saturday Night at Magellan's (Fomite Press, 2013). Currently, he directs the MFA program at Albertus Magnus College and teaches at Westport Writers' Workshop.

Jonas Zdanys, a bilingual poet and translator, is the author of forty- nine published books. They include 23 collections of poetry, written in English or in Lithuanian; 21 volumes of translations of Lithuanian poetry and fiction into English; and 5 anthologies for which he served as editor. He has received a number of prizes, book awards, writing and travel grants, and public recognition for his own poetry and for his translations. He has taught at the State University of New York and at Yale University, where he also held a number of administrative positions and was a Scholar-in-Residence in the Yale Center for Russian and East European Studies. He served for more than a decade as the state of Connecticut's Chief Academic Officer and is currently Professor of English and Poet-in-Residence at Sacred Heart University, where he teaches seminars on modern poetry and directs the program in creative writing. http://jonaszdanys.org/ Click for complete Poets in Conversation Schedule

Community Storycast with Love All Project

Friday, September 7 6:00 - 8:00 pm Main Library

Join us for Norwalk Public Library's next after hours event for a Community Storycast, a collaborative event between NPL and Love All Project. During this interactive program, we will podcast your stories about love, community and inclusion. For those feeling a bit shy, we'll also have a podcast station where community members can ask each other a few simple questions to help formulate a story. Get a sneak peek at previously recorded podcasts and short videos of stories from our community.

This free family-friendly event is recommended for ages 10 - 100+. Spanish translators will be available to help. Pizza and light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the library.

Love All Project is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to stop the cycle of hate by fostering understanding and relationships between different cultures through community collaborations. For more information visit www.loveallproject.org/.

Contact Chris Bradley, Director of Norwalk Public Library, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15126, or [email protected] for more information about this event.

American Job Center Career Coach

Free Job Search Assistance

Monday, September 10 10:00 - 12 Noon 1:00 - 3:00 pm Curb in front of library

______Career Coach September Schedule

Microsoft Excel for Beginners

Monday, October 1 Part 1 from 10-12 p.m. & Part 2 from 1-3 p.m.

Learn the Basics of Microsoft Excel in a two-part class. Participants must be able to attend both sessions on Monday, October 1, 2018.

American Job Center Southwest

A free performance of the one-woman play Irena Sendler: Rescuing the Rescuer featuring Libby Skala & Music by Steve May

Friday, September 14 12:00 - 1:30 pm Main Library Auditorium

Register Polish Catholic social worker Irena Sendler defies Nazi rule to save 2,500 Jewish children during WWII. Her true story remains lost until three Protestant high school students from rural Kansas find a brief mention of her in an old clipping. Their curiosity evolves into an award- winning National History Day project, bringing Sendler to international attention. It leads them across the ocean where they befriend Irena and learn how one person can change the world by 'answering the need of her heart.'

Recommended reading: Life in a Jar - The Irena Sender Project by Jack Mayer, available at www.IrenaSendler.org.

For additional information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected]

Art-Inspired Writing Course with Kim Kovach

Mondays, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 15, 22, 29 & Nov. 5 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Carnegie Room

Register ( Limited to 15 participants - if registration is closed please contact Cynde Lahey at 203-899-2780 ext 15133 or [email protected] to be added to the wait-list.)

Ever wonder about the characters in famous paintings? In this six-week program we will write stories inspired by some of America's famous artists including Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and John Singer Sargent. Bring your imagination and prepare to be inspired!

This program is led by author and fiction writing teacher, Kim Kovach. The author of six fiction books, Kim writes a weekly column for Halston Media newspapers as well as lifestyle articles for Westchester Wellness and Westchester Senior Voice. As a writing coach, Kim provides guidance for adults starting a novel or memoir and moving the manuscript forward. Please visit her website at www.kimkovachwrites.com.

For additional information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected]

World Affairs Forum Brings International Public Affairs Expert Nate Schenkann Great Decisions Discussion on "The New Turkey"

Monday, September 24 7:00 - 8:30 pm Main Library Auditorium

The World Affairs Forum is the only world affairs council serving Fairfield and Westchester counties. It is part of a national network of over 95 councils across the country with a shared mission of educating its members, students and the public about global affairs and America's role in the world. The World Affairs Forum was established in 1946 to promote greater understanding of foreign policy issues by providing for dialogue between its members and leaders in the field of international relations. Today it serves over 500 members and the larger community through a variety of quality programs and brings to Fairfield and Westchester Counties the best thinkers, writers and policy makers involved in world affairs through approximately 30 events each year.

This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not necessary.

For additional information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected].

Daughters of Queen Victoria A Five Part Series Part 3

Friday, Sept. 28 / Register 12:00 - 1:30 pm Main Library Auditorium

Please join Dr. Mona Garcia as she explores the lives of Queen Victoria's daughters: Victoria, Alice, Helena, Louise, and Beatrice. How did they balance their roles as daughters, wives, and and mothers as well as their royal responsibilities. Princess Helena

Queen Victoria selfishly arranges a marriage between Helena and a much older German prince willing to live in England. Her selfish motive ultimately insures that Helena led a relatively happy life in England. ______

Princess Alice's letters to her mother, Queen Victoria ______

Princess Louise - November 2, 2018 / Register

Louise seems determined to chart her own course by developing her artistic talents and refusing to choose her husband from the ranks of European royalty.

Princess Beatrice - November 30, 2018 / Register

Beatrice knows that she must remain at home as the sole comfort of her widowed mother. When a handsome prince appears Beatrice will fight to secure her own happiness.

Known throughout Fairfield County for her dynamic history presentations, Dr. Mona Garcia works as a part-time Reference Librarian. She has a PhD in history, and has taught European history at the college level. She has presented conference papers in the United States and Great Britain, and has been published in her field of English history.

For additional information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected].

Caffe' e Conversazione with members of Vini, Vitti, Dici! -- an Italian community salon dedicated to promoting Italian language and culture in an informal setting will meet on three Saturdays, September 8, 15 & 22 at 10am in the Carnegie Room of the Norwalk Public Library on Belden Avenue.

This is not a class for beginners! Participants must be able to carry on a conversation around a timely topic. For more info: [email protected] or [email protected] & Founder.

Our partner book club: Libro e Aperitivo Book Club will meet on Wednesday, October 24 at 6:30 pm, The book selection is The Silent Duchess by Dacia Maraini, Dick Kitto (Translator RSVP to [email protected] require d

For more information on our activities and salon, contact Pat Tinto at [email protected]; or [email protected]

AuthorSpeak

Trivia Challenge Italian-Style

Carla Gambescia

Wednesday, September 12 12:00 - 1:30 pm Main Library Auditorium

Join us for a special AuthorSpeak program when author Carla Gambescia presents a trivia challenge Italian-style based on her book La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A - Z. The program, co-sponsored by the National Organization of Italian American Women. A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.

Which food was considered scandalous if consumed by women in public during the Renaissance? Why is carpaccio called carpaccio; the Bellini, the Bellini...? How did the Colosseum get its name? Test your knowledge while discovering surprising new facts and insights about Italy at this special interactive "edu-taining" program for anyone curious about (or already in love with) Italy. Author Gambescia will be your guide to all things Italian from food, wine and history to architecture, art, style. anecdotes and attitude.

Carla Gambescia's passion for Italy began early, with her mother's love of the Renaissance masters and father's discourse on Italian geniuses of every calling. In the ensuing decades, she has written about and toured every region of Italy on foot or by bicycle. A former partner in the Ciao Bella Gelato Company, she owned and operated the acclaimed Via Vanti! Restaurant & Gelateria in Mount Kisco, NY for nearly 10 years. La Dolce Vita University is the natural outgrowth of her work in the restaurant and boutique travel industries, as well as a lifelong love affair with the land of her ancestors.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For more information please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899 - 2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected].

Connecticut Icons - Where to Go, What to See & Do Throughout Our State

Charles Monagan

Monday, September 17 12:00 - 1:30 pm Main Library Auditorium

Register The AuthorSpeak series is pleased to welcome Charles Monagan in a presentation based on his book Connecticut Icons. A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.

As editor of Connecticut Magazine from 1989 - 2013, Charles Monagan spent years discovering and describing the people, places and things that make up the character of his home state. In 2000, he began writing a "Connecticut Icons" page monthly in the magazine, and in 2006, the collection was published, and sold out three printings. Connecticut Icons was reissued with updates and additions in 2017. In this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes, and little-known facts, Monagan presents dozens of his favorite things in Connecticut - from the hot lobster roll to the Yale Bowl, the U.S.S. Nautilus to the Merritt Parkway - and shows native and newcomer alike the independent spirit and local pride at the heart of this great state.

Charles Monagan has been a writer and editor since 1972, when he graduated from Dartmouth College. His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, and from 1989 - 2013 he was the editor of Connecticut Magazine. He won the Gold Medal for Reporting from the national City and Regional Magazine Association in 1997, followed by the Connecticut Press Club's Mark Twain Award for Distinguished Journalism in 2012.

He is the author of 10 books, including The Neurotic's Handbook, The Reluctant Naturalist, and How to Get a Monkey into Harvard. His novel, Carrie Welton (2016), was awarded an Editor's Choice from the Society of Historical Novels. Additionally, he wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Mad Bomber, which won first place in the Academy for New Musical Theatre's 2012 Search for New Musicals.

This program is free and open to the public.

For more information please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899 - 2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected].

Business Workshops

A free SCORE Small Business Workshop co-sponsored by The Norwalk Public Library Choose the Business Form (Entity Structure) That Is Best for Your Business

Wednesday, September 19 6:00 - 8:00 pm (check in starts at 5:30) Main Library Auditorium

Choosing a form of business is not easy since there are seven choices. One must evaluate the personal and tax risks involved in each before choosing your "flavor." That includes how many hats you must wear and how much capital you need to start your company.

Seven forms of business described What is a flow thru entity Advantages and disadvantages of each How and where to legally register a business Business operation areas to consider

Presenter: Joe D'Agostin has over 45 years experience in accounting. auditing & taxation. He retired from the IRS in 2008 after 21 years as a compliance auditor. Joe has been an adjunct at Fairfield University since 1972 and Manhattanville College since 2009. His business career began with Arthur Andersen & Co. as an accountant/computer audit specialist and then worked at several companies as controller before joining the IRS.

For further information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780, ext. 15133 or [email protected].

Technology Workshop

Computadoras lo más básico Introducción a las Stream movies and TV usar el Ratón computadoras/ on your device for free! (Spanish Basic Mouse Introduction to Computers instruction) Thursday, Sept. 20 Saturday, Sept. 22 6:30 - 7:30 Saturday, Sept. 8 10 - 11:30 10 - 11:30 am Register Register Register Introduccion al Internet/ Introduction to Computers Introduction to the Internet Introduction to the Internet Saturday, Sept. 29 Saturday, Oct. 13 Saturday, Oct. 6 10 - 11:30 am 10 -11:30 am 10 -11:30 am Register Register Register

Crear un Documento Microsoft Twitter Basics Word Saturday, Oct. 27 Saturday, Oct. 20 10 - 11:30 am 10 - 11:30 am Register Register

Book Discussion

Readers' Choice Book Group

The Flight Attendant Chris Bohjalian

Wednesday, September 12 2:00 pm Norwalk Senior Center 11 Allen Rd. Norwalk, Ct

Norwalk Library's Director of Library Information Services, Cynde Bloom Lahey, will lead a discussion on The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian. From the author of The Guest Room, a powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night: A flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man - and no idea what happened.

Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She's a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man she spent the night with. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets. Afraid to call the police - she's a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home - Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon it's too late to come clean-or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did?

Set amid the captivating world of those whose lives unfold at forty thousand feet, The Flight Attendant unveils a spellbinding story of memory, of the giddy pleasures of alcohol and the devastating consequences of addiction, and of murder far from home.

Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or [email protected].

Reader's Choice Book Group Brochure - Upcoming & past books

Books Sandwiched In

Manhattan Beach Jennifer Egan

Thursday, September 27 12:00 -1:00 pm Carnegie Room

Bring your lunch and join Reference Librarian Susannah Violino for a lively discussion of Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan.

Anna Kerrigan, nearly twelve years old, accompanies her father to visit Dexter Styles, a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. She is mesmerized by the sea beyond the house and by some charged mystery between the two men.

Years later, her father has disappeared and the country is at war. Anna works at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, where women are allowed to hold jobs that once belonged to men, now soldiers abroad. She becomes the first female diver, the most dangerous and exclusive of occupations, repairing the ships that will help America win the war. One evening at a nightclub, she meets Dexter Styles again, and begins to understand the complexity of her father's life, the reasons he might have vanished.

With the atmosphere of a noir thriller, Egan's first historical novel follows Anna and Styles into a world populated by gangsters, sailors, divers, bankers, and union men. Manhattan Beach is a deft, dazzling, propulsive exploration of a transformative moment in the lives and identities of women and men, of America and the world. It is a magnificent novel by the author of A Visit from the Goon Squad, one of the great writers of our time.

Books Sandwiched In meets the last Thursday of every month.

For further information, please contact Susannah Violino at (203) 899-2780 ext 15115, or [email protected]

Weekly Programs Zumba with Karen No Zumba classes on Monday, September 24

Children & Parents - Mondays 5:00 - 5:45 pm Adults & Teens - Mondays 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Low Impact Aerobics with Linda

Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm Teen Room

Linda Lombardo is known to local residents for her work as a Silver Sneakers instructor, Linda has been a Business Education teacher with the New Canaan, Norwalk, Fairfield, Greenwich and Stamford Public School Systems for over 20 years. She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a health fitness instructor, personal trainer and nutrition counselor. Stop by on Tuesday or Thursday to welcome Linda and try out a new version of Low Impact Aerobics.

For additional information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext 15133 or [email protected]

Teen September Calendar September Teen Technology Workshops Graphic Novel Book Club

Wednesday, September 13 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Main Library Teen Room

The Graphic Novel Book Club for kids in grades 5-8 meets once a month for pizza and discussion. Copies of each book are available to borrow at the library.

This month we're discussing Illegal by Eoin* Colfer.

Ebo is alone.His brother, Kwame, has disappeared, and Ebo knows it can only be to attempt the hazardous journey to Europe, and a better life - the same journey their sister set out on months ago. But Ebo refuses to be left behind in Ghana. He sets out after Kwame and joins him on the quest to reach Europe. Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his family.

*It's pronounced "Owen."

Registration is not necessary. For more information, please email Lauren at [email protected]. Hand Sewing Workshop for students in grades 4-8

Learn some hand-sewing basics and make a pocket softie to take home.

Sunday September 23 2:00 - 3:30 pm Main Library Children's Activity Room

Space is extremely limited. Please call 203-899-2780 x15131 to register.

Children's September Activity Calendar

Library Extras

News from the Norwalk History Room The Loyalist in Norwalk

Our interest in the Loyalist movement began on March 27, 2018, when the Norwalk History Room received a request from Canada. Dr. Leah Grandy, at the University of New Brunswick contacted our staff for assistance in tracking down additional material about Jonathan Ketchum, a Norwalk loyalist who had settled in Canada. This information was found in a variety of sources, both locally and beyond; including the History Room collection, the Norwalk town records office, the Connecticut State Library, and the internet. Following the historical footprints of Jonathan Ketchum not only led to the discovery of other Norwalk loyalists but also shed light on the loyalist experience in general.

Imagine you were born in England, or born to a mother and father whose origins hail from that country. You believe you are a "loyal" (thus, the word Loyalist) subject to the crown. Suddenly, you are confronted by others who wish to break from the mother country. This is considered treason. But, the "Patriots" also saw the actions of the Loyalist as treason. Who is right? A "civil" war ensues, pitting members of the same family against each other. In Norwalk, this caused a great deal of turmoil. A movement began against the Loyalists. Many endured physical harm as well as destruction and/or confiscation of their personal property.

Because of their commitment to the crown, a small number of these Loyalists assisted the British in the burning of Norwalk. As a consolation, Britain created settlements for these people in Canada. Not everyone went, which we will document as we explore the citizens of Norwalk who felt the need to stay and to remain a Loyalist.

Come to the Norwalk History Room to see what we have available on a chapter of American History that has a direct connection with our City.

Norwalk History Room Online Database

Our first online records are postcards of Norwalk scenes, most dating from the beginning of the 20th century. We will follow these with regular additions from our collection of thousands of documents and photographs. Search by keyword or use the advanced search feature. The postcards can also be viewed randomly.

The Norwalk History Room and archive combines the library's former Local History Collection with the archival collections of the former Norwalk Museum. The lower level of the main library building at 1 Belden Avenue houses this large array of published and unpublished books and papers, photographs and maps, and more, covering over 300 years of Norwalk history.

The mission of the Norwalk Public Library History Room is to preserve the archival materials, including manuscripts, photographs, maps, newspapers, and books, which illustrate the history of Norwalk, Connecticut. This History Room online database will further our goal of promoting knowledge and appreciation of the long history and rich cultural heritage of the Town of Norwalk.

Burbio.com - Norwalk Calendars

We are excited to announce a great new service that will allow you to easily keep track of everything going on at the library and all over Norwalk. Introducing Burbio.com a free website and app that puts ALL Norwalk schools, library and many other community calendars and events in one place. With Burbio, you can select calendars to follow, create a personalized event feed, sync local events to your Google or iPhone calendars instantly and get notified when things change!

NPL has partnered with drivers-test.org to bring you the current CT DMV driver's practice tests for free! Included are car, motorcycle, CDL practice test, and the driver's manuals for each test. Also included are accessibility tools that let users hear selections read aloud, make them into MP3s, translate pages into other languages, magnify text, and mask portions of the screen for greater visibility on the practice tests.

This driver education program contains the following CT-specific information: - 11 car practice tests - 9 motorcycle practice tests - 12 CDL (commercial driver's license) practice tests - 3 online driver's manuals (car, motorcycle, CDL) - A FAQ section with detailed answers to over 100 DMV-related questions Social Security @ NPL

The Social Security Administration offers their Video Service Delivery program at the Norwalk Public Library.

This service is available every Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in a small study room on the first floor of the Main Library.

People needing to speak with a Social Security employee will be able to do so. Video conferencing equipment has been set up so people can speak face to face with the Social Security employee. No appointment is necessary. This service was made available as a result of the closing of the Social Security office in Norwalk a few years ago.

For more information call the reference desk at 203-899-2780 ext. 15109

Norwalk Public Library | 203.899.2780 | 1 Belden Ave. Norwalk , CT