CTWorks Career Coach comes to the Stratford Library Aug. 7

The CTWorks Career Coach will roll up to the Stratford Library on Friday, Sept. 5, from 10 am - 3 pm, to provide computer training and career services to any person who wants their help.

From 10 am - noon, the staff on the bus will conduct a two hour session "Introduction to Microsoft Word." From 1 pm to 3 pm, the staff will teach a more advanced class, "Microsoft Word part 2." The classes are free but advance registration is requested. Call us at 385-4164 or stop by the library.

If the class is not filled, the extra computer workstations are available for you to use for your job hunt. You can use their high speed Internet access, fax, scanning, and print resources at no cost to you!

What’s onboard? On board the Career Coach bus you will find the latest technology, including:

• 10 student workstations
• 1 instructor’s PC
• Wireless capacity for 10 additional laptops
• A dedicated server for quick response time
  Satellite high speed Internet
• ADA-compliant lift

The Career Coach is available to anyone 16 and over, at no cost.

Future visits of the Career Coach to the Stratford Library will be the first Friday of the month: Friday Oct. 3, Friday Nov. 7, Friday Dec. 5, from 10 am - 3 pm each day.

Staff Picks

Here are a few of the things we are reading this summer (and you can too!)

"I listened to a good book on CD, Born On A Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet. A touching biography of a savant. Very informative about Savant syndrome. The book has a very beautiful ending. I replayed it repeatedly. To balance things out, I am reading Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Dictionary III: Learning to Talk More Gooder Fastly. VERY FUNNY !”

"The mystery I Shall Not Want is the newest series by Julia Spencer-Fleming, and it continues the main story about Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne and Reverend Clare Fergusson. With their story, a backdrop in the Adirondacks, and additional suspenseful plotlines, I thought this book was quite enjoyable"

"In the true story The Soloist, by Steve Lopez, the author, an L.A. newspaper columnist, writes about his discovery of and friendship with a former Julliard scholarship student who has descended into a world of schizophrenia and is now living under a bridge."

Want more "Staff Picks"?

Stop by the library to pick up the full list OR check back here next week for more.

August BookPage is Here!

The latest edition of BookPage is in the Library.

Come in to pick up a copy before they are all gone. If you can't make it in, visit the BookPage website for some great reading recommendations.

The August issue hi-lights new authors and also features new craft books, an interview with children's author Dan Gutman, and several picture books to soothe the fears of little ones starting school this fall.

Guess where Shakespeare is spending the summer?

Looking for more drama in your life? There's lots of free and low-cost theatre in Stratford during July and August. The talented players in these outdoor productions in Stratford promise to send chills down your spine no matter what the temperature is.

ROMEO AND JULIET
The Players at Putney Gardens present Romeo & Juliet from July 12 - August 2, 2008, Fridays & Saturdays, 8 pm, at Boothe Park's Sunken Garden. Shakespeare's tale of teen passion and family rivalry. Suggested donation at door.

ROMEO & JULIET, A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM
You can see two plays on the Grounds of the Shakespeare Theatre in August -- Romeo and Juliet with a modern spin, and A Midsummer's Night Dream that "kicks it old school." Suggested donation at door.

• Run to the Capulets, Raise up the Montagues, "Crime Scene Shakespeare" on Thursdays & Saturdays at 8 pm. A hi-tech, post-modern production of Romeo and Juliet
• A Midsummer Night's Dream on Fridays & Sundays at 8 pm.
  A classical production of Shakespeare's summer romp in one of the most beautiful settings on the East Coast. What could be better?

ORIGINAL PLAYS BY STRATFORD WRITERS
SquareWrights Playwright Center presents "Quickies in the Park," August 12 & 13, 2008, Tuesday & Wednesday, 7 p.m. on the Grounds of the Shakespeare Theatre.The Stratford based SquareWrights playwright group has launched numerous plays and debuted more than sixty original works by local playwrights. Come enjoy a collection of short plays that represent the best of the best. Suggested donation at door.

JULIUS CAESAR
The Hudson Shakespeare Company returns to the Stratford Library with a timeless drama of power and betrayal Julius Caesar, on August 23, at 2 pm. Bring a lawnchair! Rain location: library's Lovell Room. Free. The Library is at 2203 Main St. in Stratford.

Did you know about the Farmers' Market?

Stratford has its very own Farmers' Market. It is held every Monday from 1-6 at DeLuca Field.
There are lots of good things at the market: Fresh vegetables & fruits, homemade/organic cookies, pies and brownies, tomato plants, fresh herbs, jams & jellies, fresh clams, flowers and more. It gets more interesting each week as the fruits and vegetables come into season.

Look for the Library’s stand, please be sure to stop by to say "Hi" and pick up some healthy recipes to help you prepare your fresh produce.

If you can’t make it to the Stratford Farmers' Market, there are lots of others around the area to check out. Click here to get the list.

Letting the "genie-ologist" out of the bottle

Genealogy has become one of America's most popular hobbies. While some researchers are hoping to find a Mayflower ancestor or a link to Charlemagne, even more people are looking for stories and facts that will help them understand their family's history, whether it all began on a farm or in a castle.

At the Stratford Library, we have lots of resources for starting the quest for your family tree. Come try out our online genealogy source, Ancestry.com, to see pieces of your family's history like Draft Registration Cards from World War II, the US census records, or immigration records.

You can check out some of the terrific books we have for the new genealogist, such as In search of your Asian Roots, In search of your European Roots, Finding your Hispanic Roots, and Black Genesis: A Resource Book for African-American Genealogy.

What's on the “New Book” Shelves?

If you like cooking, gardening or decorating, be sure to check out these latest additions to the Stratford Library collection:

• Covering Ground: Unexpected Ideas for Landscaping with Colorful, Low-Maintenance Ground Covers by Barbara W. Ellis – no more cutting the lawn & help make your big yard more interesting.


• Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home by Julie Moir Messervy & Sarah Susanka – make your outdoor space as welcome & relaxing as your indoor space.


• Summertime Anytime Cookbook by Dana Slatkin – recipes that make you think you are at the beach.


• Fish Without a Doubt: The Cook’s Essential Companion by Rick Moonen & Roy Finamore – finally, you will know how to cook any kind of fish (and make it taste good too!).


• The Plant Finder: The Right Plants for Every Garden by Tony Rodd & Geoff Bryant – the title says it all, this is a BIG book.


• Summer on a Plate: More Than 120 Delicious, No-Fuss Recipes for Memorable Meals from Loaves & Fishes by Anna Pump & Gen LeRoy –fresh ingredients & tasty treats from the famous East Hampton store.


• Decorating Ideas that Work: Creative Solutions for Your Home by Heather J. Paper – different styles, lots of pictures, full of good ideas.


• Universal Design for the Home: Great-Looking, Great-Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances by Wendy A. Jordan – ideas for adapting your home for the future.
  

And a new favorite: Screen Doors & Sweet Tea: Recipes and Tales from a Southern Cook by Martha Hall Foose – love the recipes in this one & it is fun to read.

Date Change for Teen Anime Club

The first meeting of the NEW Teen Anime Club will be Tuesday, July 15 at 2pm in the Board Room at the library.

NoveList Plus

Stratford Library Association would like to announce access to a fabulous new database! NoveList Plus is a wonderful source for reading information for all ages and all types of books. There are articles, book descriptions, author "read-alikes", and much more!

Anime Club

Stratford teens are reading Anime and Manga and love to talk about it. Teen Services is providing an opportunity to do just that. If you're in grades 7-12 please join us for the beginning of the Anime Club on Wednesday, July 16 from 2-3 pm in the library Board Room.

Teen Movie Night

If you are in grades 7-12 then you're invited! The original Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark will be shown on Tuesday July 15 at 6:00 pm in the Lovell Room. No registration is required.

Stratford's favorite books

Have you ever wondered what are the most popular books at the Stratford Library? You'd probably guess that books on weight loss and job searching would be on the list, and you'd be right. But you might not imagine that The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee is near the top of the list of most popular books in Stratford.

Philosophy may not sound like a blockbuster subject, but this is not your typical philosophy book. Colorful and appealing, Magee's book was called "entertaining and enlightening" when it first came out in 1998. Since then it has caught the eye of at least 150 Stratford readers. If you'd like to join the crowd, check our library catalog to request the book.

Take a Staycation Vacation

Have you heard the word "staycation" used recently?

An article in the Connecticut Post mentions this new trend. A staycation is a vacation spent close to home. It is a very popular idea this summer due to rising cost of everything, especially gas prices. To help you plan a staycation, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism just started a program called “Connecticut-Your Staycation Destination”.

“Connecticut-Your Staycation Destination” has close to 300 businesses offering special deals for Connecticut residents only. Some local attractions include the National Helicopter Museum, the Beardsley Zoo, the Barnum Museum and the Bridgeport Bluefish. To get the complete list of participants click here or go to http://www.ctvisit.com/.

The Stratford Library also has plenty of travel guides for trips close to home. Be sure to stop by our display in the lobby to pick one up.

Fireworks Tonight

Stratford's town fireworks are TONIGHT!

Where: Short Beach Park

When: Approximately 9:30 pm

Atwood Express Band will be performing on the Deck at 7pm.

For the kids: Lynn Lewis will be performing at Gull's Landing Miniature Golf Course at 7:30pm

Rain date: July 5th

Library will be closed Friday July 4th

Stratford Library will be closed Friday July 4th. We will re-open Saturday July 5th at 10:00 am. Have a Happy 4th.

Summer Reading

Incredible! It's already July. Time for Summer Reading!

Please stop by our library service desks and ask about the many reading lists for all ages of readers. We have lists in the Children's Department, the Teen Department, and the Adult Department. We look forward to sharing reading suggestions with you!

Welcome

Welcome to the Stratford Library Blog! Check back often for current happenings at the library. We look forward to hearing from you.