Decorative Arts Makes Birdhouses

The ever popular Decorative Arts class will be constructing birdhouses Saturday, May 7 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. and I think* this is going to be the style they will make. The materials fee is $5 and due at the time of registration. Ages 7 to 12.

To sign up, stop by the Children's Department desk. For more info, call 203.385.4165.

Vacation Week programs

Hi, everyone!

Well, we had a rousing Toddler Time this morning to start off vacation week (even though the school children aren't out until tomorrow), so a few announcements:
- Tuesday - no storytime - storytime resumes April 26
- Wednesday - Spring Crafts ages 3 to 12; 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Pajamarama storytime at 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday - Spring Crafts ages 3 to 12; 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Movie Making (which is pretty much full) from 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday - Library Closed
Saturday - we're open!
Sunday - Library Closed

Save Our Stratford Library

The proposed budget for Stratford Library for 2011-2012 includes drastic cuts to the Library's budget. This will result in:

• Library closures on Sundays, Saturdays, weekdays, and evenings
• Cancellations for programs for ALL ages including Story Hours, Summer Reading, and Homework help
• Fewer books, DVDs, audiobooks, and databases
• A reduction of 20% in library staffing

Please help us serve you. Share a brief note or conversation with your council person. Tell them what you love about the Library and why we are important to you.

Opportunities to address Town Council include: 

• Monday, April 11, 6:00 p.m. Town Hall
• Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. Bunnell High School
• Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. Stratford High School.

Please consider attending one of these public forums (wear red!), write to your council person, and sign a petition at the Library.  Thank you for showing your support of the library.

Moms over Coffee this Friday

We have several sold out programs this week (which I won't mention to tempt you!), but we have a little space left in our Moms Over Coffee program which meets this Friday at 2:15 p.m. It's pretty low key; show up, bring your kids, hear about new books for adults in a relaxed setting.

Want to join? email us at childrens [at] stratfordlibrary.org or call us at 203.385.4165

Big Nate

This series, Big Nate, seems to be the next 'big thing,' so some extra copies have just entered the building (Look for them soon, on a shelf near you!). Some of them are comic books, and some of them are hybrids, which means a chapter book with doodles or comics interspersed.

It's based on a comic strip that has been around for a while, and it follows a middle schooler as he does his everyday-kid type stuff, including, surprise, surprise, doodling!  I have a big feeling that fans of Wimpy Kid won't mind at all reading this series.

Enjoy!

Therapy Dog Facts!

Our therapy dogs, Siena & Drago will be here at the Library this Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 16 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Children of all ages can sign up to read to them by calling the Library at 203.385.4165.

I was trying to describe Siena and Drago, so I went to the Kennel Club website for a few facts about Spinone Italiano, which is their breed.
- They're hunting dogs (which we knew because they went hunting in the upper North west this fall!)
- Their heavy coat makes it easy for them to handle underbrush and cold swims
- They are friendly and quiet (which, if you have ever met Siena & Drago, you know is true)

Stop by and share a few of your own dog facts with us!

March - Lion or Lamb?

As we await the first week of March, wondering if it will enter as a lion or a lamb, stop by the Library for a storytime or a special program.
- Monday - Toddler Time at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday - Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday - PJ Storytime at 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday - Lapsit at 10:30 a.m. and Read to the Therapy Dogs from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
- Friday - Storytrain at 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday - Magical Musical Me at 10:30 a.m.