The Brookfield Library News
March 2010
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Get Ready for Spring ... take the bus to the Boston Flower Show!
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 The Friends of The Brookfield Library will sponsor a bus trip to the Boston Flower & Garden Show on Saturday, March 27. The registration fee of $65/person includes round-trip coach transportation and admission to the flower show.
The show will feature demonstration gardens from many landscape designers, flower arrangements, lectures, and flower, garden, and landscape-related vendors.
The bus will leave the Town Hall parking lot at 8:00 a.m. We will leave the flower show at 4:30 p.m., which will bring us back to Brookfield by 7:30 p.m. Maximum registration is 47 people, and the Friends reserve the right to cancel this trip for insufficient registration.
Registration and payment are due by March 10. Print this form and mail with your check to the library, or bring it to the library to use your MasterCard or Visa.
If you'd like more information about the flower show, take a look at their web site. You'll find a list of demonstration gardens, lectures, and vendors.
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Have a Question? Text Us!
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We now offer free text message reference service. Text us at 66746 and start your question with askbl. One of our librarians will get right back to you.
Your standard text message rates will apply.
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Free Wi-Fi at the Library
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The li brary offers free wireless Internet access at all times.
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Snow Days: We're (Almost) Always Open
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 Just because schools are closed doesn't mean the library is closed. While we may occasionally close early so the staff can get home safely, we're almost always open on days when the schools have a snow day. We cancel children's programs when school is closed, but the library is open.
As children's book illustrator Ezra Jack Keats says, "On a snowy day, find your way to the library."
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Be part of the cookbook! Recipe deadline extended.
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It's not too late to submit a recipe for the library's forthcoming cookbook!
To submit your recipe, you have options:
- email your recipe to brookfieldcooks@gmail.com (either carefully typed or scanned and sent as an attachment)
- fax your recipe to the library at 203-740-7723
- bring a copy to the library
- bring the original to the library and we'll copy it for you
If you're sending us a recipe from a cookbook or magazine, please let us know where it came from. Be sure to include your name and contact information with your recipe.
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Haunted Happenings: Connecticut Paranormal Research Society Program |
 The Connecticut Paranormal Research Society will present a lecture at The Brookfield Library on Saturday, March 6, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Connecticut Paranormal Research Society is a non-profit organization which is devoted to helping people with paranormal disturbances. For more information about the Society, visit their web site.
CPRS
will provide an opportunity to learn more about what they do and experience on
a typical paranormal investigation. They will share their photographic, video,
and audio evidence using a projector and a PowerPoint presentation. At the end
of the lecture, attendees will have a chance to ask questions or share some of
their own paranormal experiences.
Please register for this program online, or at the library.
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Academy Wind Quintet at the LIbrary
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 Please join us @ The Brookfield Library on Sunday, March 21, 3:00 p.m. for a concert by the Academy Wind Quintet of the U.S. Military Academy.
No registration is required for this concert, and refreshments provided by the library's Concert Committee will follow the performance. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. |
Film Series Continues with Oscar Contenders
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Saturday, March 13, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Up in the Air
Up in the Air transforms some painful subjects into smart, sly comedy -- with just enough of the pain underneath to give it some weight. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) spends most of his days traveling around the country and firing people; he's hired by bosses who don't have the nerve to do their layoffs themselves. His life of constant flight suits him -- he wants no attachments. But two things suddenly threaten his vacuum-sealed world: his company decides to do layoffs via video conference so they don't have to pay for travel, and Bingham meets a woman named Alex (Vera Farmiga), who seems to be the female version of him ... and of course, he starts to fall in love. Rated R for language and some sexual content. Running Time 109m.
Sunday, March 28, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.: The Blind Side
 The Blind Side takes the true story of a young man who went from abandonment to success as a pro-football player and treats it with respect. The movie doesn't oversell what is, on the face of it, already compelling. It's almost impossible to describe the plot without sounding painfully inspirational: Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a hulking but gentle African-American teen in Tennessee, gets taken in by a well-to-do white family; the mother, Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock), pushes and mothers the boy, who eventually wins a football scholarship to the University of Mississippi.
Rated PG-13. Running Time 128m.
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First Ladies and the Press: March 7
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Celebrate National Women's History Month on Sunday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m.
 Join Lisa Burns, Ph.D., and author of First Ladies and the
Fourth Estate: Press Framing of Presidential Wives at The Brookfield Library
on Sunday, March 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Dr. Burns, an Associate Professor of Media Studies at Quinnipiac University,
will discuss how the First Lady has emerged as a celebrity, an advocate for
humanitarian causes, and a political activist, and how the press has helped
shape the First Lady institution, and has also influenced the changing social and
political roles of American women.
The Brookfield Library is pleased to provide this free adult
program in celebration of National Women's History Month. Teens are also invited to attend.
Copies of Dr. Burns' book will be available for sale and signing following the
program. Register for this program online, at the library, or by phone at 203-775-6241.
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Online Testing and Reference Education
Center -- Online Practice Tests and Career Planning
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Have you checked out our new Online Testing
and Reference Education Center, which was generously funded by the
Brookfield Education Foundation? It's available for use in the library or
remotely by using your Brookfield Library card.
>From high school and community college students just
embarking on a career path to the business veteran who wants to make a career
change, the Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC) provides users with
in-depth information on colleges and universities, graduate and professional
programs, distance learning and much more.
· High School Tools - Take practice tests for AP Exams, the GED and more; read
online full-text test preparation books; create college resumes with the
College Application Resume Builder.
· College Prep Tools - Take practice tests for the ACTs and SATs and more; read
the full text of many test preparation books; research colleges and
universities using the College Search tool.
· Career Tools - Take practice tests for civil service and military advancement
exams, as well as exams such as postal service, real estate, nursing, police officer; research
new career ideas using the Career Assessment tool.
· Graduate School Tools - Take practice tests for
the GRE, MCAT or LSAT; read full text test preparation books; search for
graduate school programs.
· International - Study for TOEFL and US Citizenship exams using practice tests
and online test preparation books.
· Family College Planning
Center - Help your
student plan, prepare, and pay for their education; follow prescribed timelines
and checklists to help students and parents prepare for college.
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Book Discussion: Olive Kitteridge
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Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Rescheduled to March 11 -- 12:30
p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine,
may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer's eyes, it's in
essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all
of the grand human drama - desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love. Olive
Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town
and in the world at large, but she doesn't always recognize the changes in
those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student
who has lost the will to live; Olive's own adult child, who feels tyrannized by
her irrational sensitivities; and Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage
both a blessing and a curse.
Copies of the book and a sign-up list are available at the library's Checkout
Desk.
Our April discussion will be Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones and
will be held on Thursday, April 8 at 12:30
and 7:00 p.m.
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TV Shows on DVD
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As much as we'd love to be able to buy every TV series on DVD, we can't. Do you have series you've watched but are now just taking up space? Whether it's Northern Exposure, The Nanny, Keeping Up Appearances, or Law and Order, why not make room on your shelves by donating your TV series (in good condition, of course) to the library?
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And Now ... Mark Twain!
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"And Now, Mark Twain!"
Save the date: Friday, April 16, 7:00
p.m
 A delightful look at the life and work of America's
foremost humorist, this one-person play is full of wit and wisdom and the
special brand of storytelling that made Mark Twain a legend in his time. This
special program will be presented by Richard Clark, an actor with over thirty
years of experience in New England and New
York Theater and television.
This adult program is also appropriate for high school students
and middle school students accompanied by an adult.
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Consumer Reports Online
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Buying a new washer or dryer? Looking for your next car? Don't forget that The Brookfield Library now
has Consumer
Reports Online, which can be used in the library or from home with your
Brookfield Library card. Just go to the library's web site at www.brookfieldlibrary.org, click on the Research Resources tab, then on Magazines and Journals, and you'll find the link to Consumer Reports Online.
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Book 'Em! Mystery Book Discussions
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Pushing Up Daisies: A Dirty Business Mystery by Rosemary
Harris
Monday, March 29 at 12:30
p.m.
 In Harris's cozy debut, budding landscaper Paula Holliday
turns sleuth after the former documentary filmmaker, a New York City transplant
to the suburbs, unearths a box containing a small dead body in the neglected,
overgrown garden of the Springfield, CT house of the recently deceased
Peacock sisters, Dorothy and Renata. Sgt. Michael O'Malley, who looks like he
knows his way to the donut shop, leads the crime investigation, but Paula does
her share of detecting, supported by such friends as Lucy Cavanaugh, a fellow
filmmaker, and Wanda Babe Chinnery, the proprietor of the local diner where all
and sundry come to gossip.
Coming in April to Book 'Em! -- A Special Guest
Do you enjoy mysteries?
Our mystery group will have a special guest on Monday, April 26. Mystery writer Robert Ellis, who has written
two books in the Lena Gamble series, The City of Fire and The Lost Witness,
about a young detective newly promoted to the elite Robbery-Homicide Division
in Los Angeles,
will join our discussion and talk about his books. Mr. Ellis began his career in film,
television, and advertising, and won the New York Film Festival for his work
with National Geographic and an Emmy for CBS News. He ghostwrote Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 4,
the most successful film in the series.
Copies of both mystery books will be available, and a light
lunch will be served. Please register
for this discussion online or in the library.
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| Creative Writing Support Group
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No
Write Way!
Creative
Writing Support Group
Thursday, March 25, 10:00 a.m.- noon in the Community Room
Join professional writer Laura Pizzirusso in this informal
opportunity to practice writing techniques and share works in progress with
other writers. All are welcome, and registration
is suggested.
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Civics and Citizenship Toolkit
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New at The Brookfield Library: The Civics and Citizenship Toolkit, which
contains a variety of educational materials to help permanent residents learn
more about the United States
and prepare for the naturalization process.
Included are flashcards for the New Naturalization Test, a DVD titled A
Promise of Freedom: An Introduction to U. S. History and Civics for Immigrants
and "Becoming a U. S. Citizen," a copy of The Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution of the United States, and several other tools for those
planning to becoming citizens. This
item, which has been provided by the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, will be available for checkout.
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New Moon Party & Movie Showing!
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 Get ready for this year's Twilight saga movie event!
On Saturday, March 20, at 6 p.m., we will be celebrating the release of New Moon on DVD. From 6-7 p.m. there will be games, contests, and snacks. The movie showing will begin at 7 p.m.
If you can't make it at 6, feel free to come at 7 to see the show! Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love,
Edward Cullen, but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship
with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she is drawn into the world
of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her
loyalties tested.Come dressed as your favorite character to enter the costume contest!This program is open to ages 11-18. There will be a $3 fee to help cover the cost of showing the movie.Sign up online, by phone, or at the Checkout Desk. |
Teen Program: Keyboard Wallets
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 Join us during this year's Teen Tech Week to make wallets from old computer keyboards! Monday, March 8, @ 4 p.m. - Ages 15-18Sign up onlineTuesday, March 9, @ 4 p.m. - Ages 11-14Sign up onlineThis program is free, but you need to sign up in advance so we can make sure to have enough keyboards. You may register by phone or at the Checkout Desk as well. |
Family Movie Afternoon
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Don't miss a showing of the action-packed blockbuster 2012, starring John Cusak, on Saturday, March 20th @ 2 p.m.
 A geophysical team investigating the effect radiation from other solar
systems has on the Earth learns that the core of the Earth is heating
up and warns the President of the United States. While the leaders of
the world race to build 'arks' to escape the impending doom, volcanic
eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc all
over the world.
Rated PG-13, 158 minutes. This film is for all ages, but ages 11 and up are suggested.
Free popcorn! Feel free to bring your own lunch or beverage.
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Teen Advisory Group
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Our new Teen Advisory Group will be meeting twice in March:
 Wednesday, March 17, @ 3 p.m.
Monday, March 22, @ 3 p.m.
No experience necessary! Just bring your ideas and suggestions for what you'd like to see @ your library. And don't forget that meeting with us may count towards community service hours.
We meet in the teen area, no sign up required!
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Teen Movie Night
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On Tuesday, March 23 at 6 p.m., join us to watch the animated movie Ponyo!
 A young boy named Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, and they
embark on a fantastic journey of friendship before Ponyo's father
forces her to return to the sea. Ponyo's desire to be human upsets the
balance of nature and only Ponyo's mother can restore nature's balance
and make Ponyo's dreams come true.
Rated G, 103 minutes. Ages 11-18.
Free popcorn! Feel free to bring your own beverage.
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Study Skills Coaching Session
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Tuesday, March 16, 4 p.m. - For grades 5-8
Study Skills Coach Hilary Ben-Ami will help you improve your study techniques and more.
Register online, by phone, or at the Checkout Desk.
Stay tuned for more information!
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Book Clubs for Kids
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Kids Night Out Book Club for children in grade 3 and older
Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine by Diane Stanley
Thursday,
March 18, 2010, 7:00-7:50 p.m. Registration recommended. Books are available at the Checkout Desk.
Orphelia, 12, longs to go to the St. Louis World's Fair.
When her idol, the marvelous Madame Meritta, brings her famous traveling
minstrel show to the rural African-American community of Calico Creek, MO,
looking for new talent, the girl sees her big chance. However, her mother seems
set against her daughter's interest in music, allowing her only to play the pinao in
church. After a minor mischievous incident, the child is not permitted to play
in the talent show after all, and, indeed, may not be allowed to play the piano
again. In despair, she runs away with the troupe, where she confronts the
realities of life on the road, experiences the hard work behind the glamour,
encounters racism, and learns about the financial uncertainties of show
business. Orphelia also meets a mysterious man and discovers a secret about her
family's past that may explain her mother's reticence to indulge her musical
talent.
Registration is not required but is highly recommended to
insure enough copies of the book.
Register online, in person or by phone.
Reading Buddies for Grades 1 to 3
Patches and Scratches by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Monday, March 8, 2010
5:30-6:00 p.m. Registration recommended.
Sarah
Simpson, whose father calls her his "Idea Girl," looks for another
problem to solve. When she discovers that her friend Peter wants a dog but is
not allowed to have one in the apartment he shares with his grandmother, Sarah
works hard to find a solution to his quandary. She tries giving him a goldfish
and then a turtle, but he's not satisfied. Then his granny is given a cat, and
neither she nor Peter is sure about keeping it: Granny Belle is convinced that
the feline will leave hair all over the sofa and it immediately scratches
Peter. Can Sarah resolve this dilemma and prove to them both that Patches is a
pet worth keeping?
Registration is not required but highly recommended to
insure enough copies of the book.
Register online, in person or by phone.
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Kids Afternoons @ the Movies
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Old Dogs --Friday, March 12 @ 5:00 p.m.
 Two best friends -- one unlucky-in-love divorcee (Robin
Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta) -- have their
lives turned upside down when they're unexpectedly charged with the care of
six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their
lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of
the twins, leading to one
debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what's
really important in life.
Rated PG for some mild rude humor
Where The Wild Things
Are -- Friday, March 19 @ 5 p.m.
 Innovative director Spike Jonze
collaborates with celebrated author Maurice Sendak to bring one of the most
beloved books of all time to the big screen in Where the Wild Things Are, a
classic story about childhood and
the places we go to figure out the world we live in. The film tells the story
of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and
escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an island where he meets
mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable
as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them,
just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises
to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that
ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more
complicated than he originally thought.
Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief
language.
The Princess and The Frog --Wednesday, March 24 @ 5:00 p.m.
 Walt Disney
Animation Studios presents the musical The Princess and the Frog, an animated
comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. From the creators of The
Little Mermaid and Aladdin comes a modern twist on a classic tale,
featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a frog prince who
desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on
a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.
Rated G.
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Mother-Daughter Book Club
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Mother and Daughter Book Club for mothers and their third grade and
older daughters
Half
and Half by Lensey Namioka
Thursday,
March 4, 7:00 - 7:50 p.m. Registration required. Books are available at the Checkout Desk.
 Eleven-year-old
Fiona Cheng is half and half -- her father is Chinese and her mother is Scottish.
Being biracial hasn't bothered her, but lately she has been thinking about it
quite a bit. Her grandfather calls her red-haired brother "laddie" and
expects him to be the one in the family interested in Scottish culture, and her
paternal grandmother always seems surprised that Fiona is not a delicate
Chinese girl. When it's time for Seattle's annual Folk Fest, Fiona is faced with
a problem. She is expected to perform with her grandfather's Scottish dance
group and participate in a talk her father is giving, wearing the costume her
paternal grandmother has made for the occasion. Unfortunately, both events are
scheduled for the same time. Fiona's solution to her dilemma allows her to
please everyone, making her realize that she is 100 percent Fiona, and that's
just fine.
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Happy Hands Crafts Club
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St. Patrick's Day Crafts -- Wednesday, March 10
5-7 Year-olds 5:00-5:45
p.m.
Registration Required. Payment of $5 materials fee due by Monday, March
8.
 With his cute floppy legs and bright orange beard, this clay pot
leprechaun makes a great table or shelf decoration for St. Patrick's Day!
8-11 Year Olds: 8-11 Year Olds 6:15 - 7:00 p.m.
Shamrock T-Shirts
 Show your festive nature
this St. Patrick's Day -- or just bring yourself some good luck by making and
wearing this shamrock shirt. We will be
using fabric paints, so please wear a smock or old clothes.
Registration required. Payment of $5 materials fee is due by Monday, March
8.
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