Farmington Library Adult Blog

Living with an Irregular Heartbeat

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:34:00 +0000

On Thursday, May 23, 2013, the Farmington Libraries will host a presentation on living with an irregular heartbeat. This talk will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Farmington Main Library at 6 Monteith Drive, and will be presented by a Registered Nurse by the Farmington Valley VNA.

Over 2 million Americans live with an irregular heart rate called Atrial Fibrillation. Although this abnormal rhythm is not usually life-threatening it places the person at a greater risk of developing serious, life-threatening conditions such as stroke, heart failure, fatigue and additional heart rhythm problems. The incidence of developing Atrial Fibrillation increases with age and with chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Come hear our education presentation called “Living with an Irregular Heart Rate” to learn more about Atrial Fibrillation and how it affects your daily life. Learn about the potential health risks caused by Atrial Fibrillation, its symptoms, and up to date treatments.

This event is free and open to the public. Please register in advance by calling 860-673-6791 or through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Journey into the Paranormal with the Northeast Paranormal Investigations Society

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

The Farmington Library delves into the paranormal on Thursday, May 23, 2013, when Adam Shefts of the Northeast Paranormal Investigation Society will take us on a “Journey into the Paranormal.” This event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you want to see and hear convincing evidence of spirit activity in some of America’s most historic Northeast locations? The public is invited to this entertaining program featuring fascinating stories, first-hand experiences and many examples of documented paranormal evidence in the forms of photographs, audio and video clips.

Northeast Paranormal Investigations Society (NPIS) is a Connecticut-based, non-profit, seasoned paranormal investigations team. They conduct research and scientific examinations of historical locations throughout the Northeast region of the United States and have successfully documented convincing evidence of paranormal activity to correlate with the history of certain locations.

A new book published by Adam Shefts will also be available for purchase and signing by the author. The book, “When Ghosts Appear, History Speaks,” contains experiences the NPIS team has had at some of the locations featured in the presentation, along with some interesting history associated with each place. The book contains additional stories that will not be shared during the presentation itself due to the amount of evidence that will already be presented.

For more information on NPIS, please visit www.northeastparanormal.org

This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited; advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Why Girls' Education Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:20:00 +0000

The Farmington Main Library will host Wendy Swift, Vice President of Pathways Togo, on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, for a presentation and showing of the UN documentary film, To Educate a Girl. This event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

“Why Girls' Education Matters” focuses on one of the most important issues of our time; the education of girls worldwide. In Nancy Gibb's article, To Fight Poverty, Invest in Girls, published in Time Magazine, 2011, she notes that investing in girls is the smart thing to do, "Girls who stay in school for seven or more years typically marry four years later and have two fewer children than girls who drop out. Fewer dependents per worker allows for greater economic growth." This program will include a viewing of the documentary, To Educate a Girl; a film created by filmmakers Frederick Rendina and Oren Rudavsky who traveled to Nepal and Uganda to learn more about initiatives that are currently in place to help promote girls education where it is critically needed. If you would like to learn more about the role of girls’ education in eradicating global poverty, please join us for an inspiring film and discussion.

Pathways Togo joins international efforts to improve the quality of life for families in Togo through four programs that directly target our most potent, untapped resource: women. By providing scholarships, life skills training, mentoring opportunities, and small-scale community improvement grants, Pathways Togo embraces the vision: educating women, empowering the world.

This event is free and open to the public; advanced registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Basting Day with the Farmington Valley Quilters

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:28:00 +0000

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, members of the community are invited to drop in on the Farmington Valley Quilters to see what quilting and hand basting are all about. This event will take place from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

The Farmington Valley Quilters will set up frames for different quilts and invite you to drop in to watch, learn, and ask questions about the fine art of hand basting a full quilt. Why is basting important? Basting is the joining of the three layers of a quilt to sandwich all the pieces together before beginning the actual quilting. Proper alignment of the three layers is necessary to bind them together and prevent shifting during the quilting process. If a quilt is not basted properly and the layers do shift, you will end up with a lopsided mess in the end!

This event is free and open to the public. Anyone interested is free to drop in at any time between 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Please call 860-673-6791 for more information or visit the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

When All That’s Left of Me is Love: An Author’s Ode to Her Late Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:30:00 +0000

On Wednesday May 8, the Farmington main library welcomes local author, Linda Campanella, for a talk about her memoir, “When All That’s Left of Me Is Love: A Daughter’s Story of Letting Go.” This event will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

“When All That’s Left of Me Is Love: A Daughter’s Story of Letting Go” is a moving and unforgettable story of a daughter’s undying love for her dying mother. At the same time, this book is a portrait of a dying woman’s courage, grace, and gratitude and of her family’s unwavering determination to enjoy life while anticipating death. It is a heartwarming account that will gently move those who have experienced loss beyond their profound grief to a place of deep gratitude. Although it is a story born of death, “When All That’s Left of Me Is Love,” is above all, an uplifting tale of living, loving, believing, and letting go. It will move and inspire not only those who face or fear death but also those who love and embrace life.

“When All That’s Left of Me Is Love” was recently awarded first-place Reader Views 2012 Literary Awards in two categories, including memoir/autobiography/biography, and earned a special award for the Best Memoir or Biography. In addition, the book was named a 2012 Nautilus Silver Award winner. Described by readers as “unforgettable,” the book also has been lauded by pastors, spiritual counselors, hospice practitioners, palliative care advocates, oncologists, grief counselors, and others involved in or interested in end-of-life care.

Linda Campanella keeps busy as a Connecticut-based management consultant; her solo practice serves nonprofit organizations of all sizes and missions. In previous stops along her career path she was a corporate executive in the aerospace industry, a senior administrator at a private college, and an international trade negotiator in the executive branch of the federal government. She calls herself an “accidental author,” saying that this book essentially wrote itself in the weeks of intense grief following her mother's death.

Advanced registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org. It is free and open to the public.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

The Truth About Estate Planning Workshop with Judge John Caruso and Certified Financial Planner Ednalou Ballard

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:24:00 +0000

On Tuesday, May 7, the Farmington Libraries welcomes Judge John Caruso and Certified Financial Planner Ednalou Ballard for a special educational workshop called, “The Truth About Estate Planning,” which will cover the new 2013 federal estate tax laws.

Judge Caruso will reveal his knowledge and experience on estate tax planning and living trusts—are they now essential?; avoiding unnecessary probate delays and expenses; and preserving your money for your children and charitable causes under the new federal tax law. Certified Financial Planner Ednalou Ballard will explore such topics as: vital tax and retirement planning strategies to provide and pass on; non-taxable income to your spouse, children and grandchildren; and two essential factors to improve your retirement and investment assets.

All Attendees Will Be Given a Copy of the “25 Documents You Need Before You Die.” This event is free and open to the public. No products will be sold at this seminar.

Advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org. The event will take place at 6”30 PM in the Community Room of the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

5K Solstice Race to Benefit the Farmington Libraries

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:33:00 +0000

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013, the Hartford Track Club will run its annual 5K Solstice Race, the proceeds of which will benefit the Farmington Libraries. The race will take place at the MDC Reservoirs at 1420 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford.

This is a rolling USATF/CT certified 5K course following the paved Red Trail around the MDC Reservoirs in West Hartford. It features a few climbs, beautiful views and a fast downhill finish.

Packet Pick-up begins at 5 p.m. and the race begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.

To register, use the race web site:

http://www.active.com/5k-race/west-hartford-ct/solstice-sprint-5k-2013

Registration Closing Date: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 11:59 PM US/Eastern.

The Farmington Libraries are part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association.

Celebrating National Poetry Month with Shakespeare

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

The Farmington Library celebrates National Poetry Month with Shakespeare!

On Thursday, April 18, 2013, actor Stephen Collins returns to the library for an original one-man performance called, “Shake-Scene,” a show featuring the best of Shakespeare’s word play. This event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

Who had more effect on the English language than William Shakespeare? He created over 1700 common words that before him were either used in a new manner or didn't exist at all. He did this by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, or just invented entirely new words from scratch.

Actor Stephen Collins will make Shakespeare's words come alive! From the evil machinations of Richard III, to the philosophical bantering of Falstaff, to the brilliant oratory of Brutus and Antony, Stephen brings the Bard's words to life. Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies, histories, and Sonnets are all represented in this exciting show presented in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Stephen Collins grew up in Cambridge, and received a BA in Literature from UMass Boston. After twenty plus years in a sales career, he is back doing what he truly loves - performing and teaching. Recently he has been teaching seminars on Whitman, Hardy, Shakespeare, Frost, and Contemporary Poetry at various locations throughout the country.

The newest addition to his repertoire, a one man show entitled, "Shake-Scene," has been met to rave reviews. He also works as a professionally licensed tour guide doing narrated historical tours of Boston. His Whitman performances have taken him all over the country. He now has six one-man shows and five courseswhere his teaching style has been described as a hybrid between lecture and performance. For more information, please consult his web site at: http://www.unlaunchedvoices.com/index.htm

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Information Showcase for Seniors and Retirees

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

The Farmington Valley VNA has organized an information showcase that will take place on Wednesday, April 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Farmington Library at 6 Monteith Drive.

This Senior Showcase will provide information to the residents of Farmington, Unionville, and surrounding communities. It is an opportunity for seniors to learn of the programs, services, and businesses that can serve their specific needs, whether it is for daily living or for the future.

This event is free and open to the public. Please register in advance by calling 860-673-6791 or through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Author to Discuss Exploits on Investing and Self-Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

On Tuesday, April 2, the Farmington main library welcomes Farmington resident, Stephen Kushman, for a talk about his self-published book, “Wall Street’s Curse.” This event will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

“Wall Street’s Curse” is the fictional adventure of seven dysfunctional investors, all neighbors, who combine their love of beer and a fascination with the stock market to form an investment club . . . and who, through a secret deal, end up affecting the movements of the stock market and manipulating the economy by accurately predicting market crashes and rallies.

This event will appeal to readers and writers alike. Mr. Kushman served as the president of his investment club for twelve years, and in this talk will share his insight in how to form such a club as well as answer questions about his foray into self-publishing.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Gardening Lecture with Emmy-nominated Lifestyle Expert Mar Jennings: A Four Season Garden with English Roots on American Soil

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

On Saturday, March 23, at 2:00 p.m., the Farmington main library will host Emmy-nominated TV host, lifestyle expert and best-selling gardening author Mar Jennings to discuss his photographic essay documenting the four seasons of his Connecticut garden and garden studio, from the lawn to the layout and from the flowers to the folly—all directly inspired by visits to and plans of traditional English gardens. This amazing presentation shows Mar's beautiful garden design, detail and implementation ideas that are easy enough for novices and interesting enough for seasoned gardeners.

His garden, the subject of his award-winning book, “Life on Mar’s, A Four Season Garden,” has been featured on television shows and magazines across the country. He will share a wealth of inspirational ideas and creative projects to dress up your home, garden, and life. Mar simplifies the art of casual luxury while showing you how to develop your green thumb and flair for design. With Mar’s sophisticated sense of style, color and harmony, you will be inspired by the spirit of the outdoors. A book sale and signing of his book “Life on Mar’s: A Four Season Garden” will follow.

Mar Jennings is an Emmy-nominated TV Host, Lifestyle Expert and best-selling author. Based in Westport, Connecticut, Mar Jennings is also President and CCO (Chief Creative Officer) of a multimedia and design company, S&J Multimedia LLC. Mar Jennings’ brand of lifestyle and hosting combines an infectious energy and passion for conveying information in ways that are fun and inspirational to all, making Mar one of the most desirable personalities in the business.

As one of the top lifestyle experts, Mar has appearances on HGTV, the Today Show, Food Network, ABC, CBS, CNN and more. Mar has been featured in Better Homes & Garden's Decorating Magazine, Home Magazine, Quick & Simple Magazine, Small Gardens Magazine, Page Six and the New York Times, among other national and local publications. More information about Mar Jennings can be found at his web site: http://www.marjennings.com/

This event is free and open to the public and will take place at the Farmington main library at 6 Monteith Drive. Space is limited; advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Bound by Distance: Italian Migrations across Time in Contemporary Italian Fiction and Film

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:47:00 +0000

On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., the Farmington Libraries will co-sponsor, along with Farmington UNICO, the event; “Bound by Distance: Italian Migrations across Time in Contemporary Italian Fiction and Film” This program will be presented by Joshua King, who teaches at Trinity College.

Joshua King is a Ph.D. student in Italian Literature and Cultural Studies at the University of Connecticut. He is primarily interested in Contemporary Italian Literature and Cinema and his current research interests include the links between contemporary cultural production and migration in Italy.

He has spent time living in Bologna and has travelled extensively around the peninsula. His interested and experiences in Italy have given him a breadth of perspective regarding both his own culture, as well as those of Italy, for which he is grateful. In his classes he enjoys helping students develop ways of approaching Italian culture so they may begin to broaden their own perspectives in similar ways.

This program is free and open to the public and will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Farmington main library located at 6 Monteith Drive. Please contact the library to pre-register: 860-673-6791, or visit our web site: http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org/.

If you have special needs in order to attend this program please contact the library in advance. The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association.

The Beatles: Band of the Sixties

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

On Thursday, February 21, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., the Farmington Libraries will host a lecture led by Aaron Krerowicz entitled, “The Beatles: Band of the Sixties.” This event will take place at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

Explore the music of The Beatles in this 90-minute presentation spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, through the Beatlemania years, and concluding with Abbey Road. The lecture will be supplemented with audio clips of music and interviews from the band members. This discussion is being held as a preview of Farmington Continuing Education's course on the same subject (www.fpsct.org).

An avid teacher and Beatles scholar, Aaron Krerowicz graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Theory & Composition in 2008; from Boston University in 2010 with a Master’s of Music in Composition; and from the Hartt School of the University of Hartford with a Graduate Artist Diploma in the same discipline in 2012. He currently teaches musical keyboarding and leads the school band at Grace Academy in downtown Hartford. He also runs a private instrumental lesson studio at Capital Preparatory Magnet School, in addition to maintaining a home studio. These lessons are open to the public. For more information and a sample of the Beatles course, visit his web site at www.aaronkrerowicz.com.

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; to register please call the library at 860-673-6791 or register online at: http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org. Advanced registration is required.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

American to the Backbone: Author Talk and Book Signing with Chris Webber

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:26:00 +0000

On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, the Farmington Libraries will host Christopher L. Webber, for a talk about his book, American to the Backbone: The Life of James W. C. Pennington, the Fugitive Slave Who Became One of the First Black Abolitionists. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. It will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

American to the Backbone is the incredible story of a forgotten hero of nineteenth century New York City--a former slave, Yale scholar, minister, and international leader of the Antebellum abolitionist movement. At the age of 19, scared and illiterate, James Pennington escaped from slavery in 1827 and soon became one of the leading voices against slavery prior to the Civil War. Just ten years after his escape, Pennington was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational Church after studying at Yale. Moving to Hartford, he became involved with the Amistad captives and founded the first African American mission society. He was also the first African American to preach at the Congregational Church in Farmington, where he befriended John Hooker who eventually helped set him free.

As he fought for equal rights in America, Pennington's voice was not limited to the preacher's pulpit. He wrote the first-ever "History of the Colored People" as well as a careful study of the moral basis for civil disobedience, which would be echoed decades later by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. More than a century before Rosa Parks took her monumental bus ride, Pennington challenged segregated seating in New York City street cars. He was beaten and arrested, but eventually vindicated when the New York State Supreme Court ordered the cars to be integrated.

Kirkus Reviews proclaimed American to the Backbone “A richly detailed, wide-ranging biography of a modestly neglected black religious leader who was born a slave . . . Webber’s decision to cast his net widely has produced an important biography as well as insight into their pre-Civil War free-black subculture . . .”

Christopher L. Webber, a graduate of Princeton University and the General Theological Seminary in New York, has authored numerous books, has spoken around the state, and lives in Sharon, CT. More information on Chris Webber can be obtained from his website: http://www.clwebber.com/

This event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Snow Day in Farmington

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:19:00 +0000

Rick Giannetta, of Harwinton, brought his two sons, Robert & Jason, to the Farmington Library to keep them busy while the kids were off from school on Monday.

Library Closed Due to Inclement Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:18:00 +0000

Please be advised that the Library is currently closed and will remain closed tomorrow, Sunday, February 10th. We will open with normal business hours on Monday, February 11th. Stay safe and warm this weekend!

Getting Started – Workshop for Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Have you wanted to write and are not sure how to start? On Wednesday, February 13, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., at the Farmington Libraries, Ann Sheybani, Anne Batterson, and Sherry Horton, founders of the East Hill Writers’ Workshop, now three years old, are offering a FREE introduction to demonstrate how a workshop at East Hill functions. If you have always wanted to write but do not know what to write about or how to get started, or, for that matter, if anything worthwhile could come of your effort, give East Hill two hours of your time. This free workshop will take place at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive.

The good news is that everyone really can write and everyone really does have doubts about his or her creative abilities, even those of us who have been writing for years. Our GETTING STARTED workshop will help you get your words flowing on the page. In a series of quick, no-stress writing prompts, you won’t have time to fret. Instead, these activities create a fun, supportive environment for writing freely and for sharing only when and if you want to. Leaders will also provide prompts for writing at home, and offer a discussion about some elements of the craft of writing.

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; to register please call the library at 860-673-6791 or register online. Advanced registration is required.

For more information on library programs, visit our web site: http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org. The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

PROGRAM CANCELLED - “Reflections of My Life with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” A morning with Freedom Rider, the Reverend Ralph Roy

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:22:00 +0000

We have had to cancel the Thursday, February 7, 2013, program: “Reflections of My Life with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

We hope to reschedule this program in the future, but we have no plans at this time.

When the Shift Hits the Fan: 5 Steps to Getting Your Groove Back with Motivational Speaker, Ann Sheybani

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:28:00 +0000

On Wednesday, January 30, the Farmington Libraries welcomes motivational speaker, Ann Sheybani, for her workshop, “When the Shift Hits the Fan: 5 Steps to Getting Your Groove Back.” This event will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Farmington Main Library.

Has your life hit an uninspiring plateau? Had the rug pulled out from under you? Maybe you’ve been downsized, or divorced. Maybe you’re facing the empty nest, or any one of the unexpected bumps that knock us off our centre. Get ready to shine a light on your long forgotten dreams and power up your motivation to reinvent yourself at home and at work. Women are givers by nature, but putting yourself last over and over again will eventually erode your confidence, happiness, and prosperity.

Ann Sheybani is a professional speaker, writer, and coach best known for successfully coaching women in transition on the simple strategies that help you revamp your image, reclaim your personal space, uncover your passions, and pursue exciting new goals that will re-ignite your life. Ann’s clients successfully attract better jobs, more clients, and exciting partners and friends simply by embracing the person they were always meant to be. She has a master’s degree in creative literature and writing from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Connecticut. More information on Ann Sheybani can be obtained at her website: http://www.annsheybani.com/.

Advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Fulfilling Your New Year’s Resolutions: Workshop with Elite Life Coach Bernadette Bolton

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:16:00 +0000

Why are we so excited about our New Year's resolutions on January 1st, but find ourselves frustrated with our lack of motivation after just a short time? On Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., the Farmington Main Library will host Elite Life Coach Bernadette Bolton for a workshop on fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions.

Excited about your resolution, but afraid of failure? In this workshop, Ms. Bolton will help you: Discover what makes change difficult, learn top strategies for success, and get tips for your specific resolution. Learn about the challenges of resolutions and the strategies that can help you successfully create your best you! Guests will be invited to share their resolutions to get specific success tips. And if you've already fallen off the wagon prior to the workshop, don't give up! This will give you a perfect time to climb back on!

Bernadette Bolton is a certified Elite Life Coach and owner of Exceptional Life Personal Coaching. Her mission is to help people live their best lives by creating goal-oriented success strategies individually designed to best suit each person's unique situation, goals and challenges. She empowers people by teaching them how to develop what she believes are the three elements of success - clearly defined values and goals, a manageable lifestyle and a positive mindset.

Offering individual packages, group sessions and workshops, she provides clients with the tools, techniques and support they need to finally make the positive changes in their lives they've always wanted to make, but just haven't been able to do on their own. Her philosophy is, "You only get one life. Make it exceptional!"

This event is free and open to the public and will take place at the main library at 6 Monteith Drive. Advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site at http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org. The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

For additional event notices, please follow the Farmington Libraries on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmingtonlibraries, or Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/FarmlibCT.

A Woman's Guide to Money Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 21:39:00 +0000

On Thursday, January 17, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Farmington Public Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Edward Jones will be sponsoring a free seminar called, “A Woman’s Guide to Money Matters,” with financial advisor, Timothy Germain.

In today’s world, a strong financial strategy is important for women of all ages. Potential for success is limitless – especially when you have a financial strategy that fits your lifestyle. This free seminar will explain what you can do now to prepare for retirement, your options to pay for a child’s or grandchild’s education, and developing a strategy to help achieve your financial goals. No company specific products will be discussed, and there will be no sales or solicitations allowed - just information you should know.

Now is the time to take charge of your financial future. Seating is limited; to register please call the library at 860-673-6791 or visit our web site at: http://www.farmingtonlibraries.org. Advanced registration is required; a minimum number of registrations is required to hold this workshop.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

2012 Staff Favorites - Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:59:00 +0000

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen writes, "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

Well, we have an excellent library in Farmington and we hope you have taken advantage of the many books in our collection. Our staff has read a lot of them, and here are a few of our favorite works of fiction from 2012:

Death In The Floating City by Tasha Alexander
"This is a love story within a mystery. It is set in the late 1800s in Venice. Once you start reading the book you will wish you were there. A British husband and wife detective team are asked to solve a murder in Venice. In the process of solving the murder they have to follow clues that lead them back into the Renaissance and the histories of the families involved."

Defending Jacob by William Landay
The following was found in the book description from Amazon.com: "...[it is the] consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis-—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control." Based on conversations with other readers, this book has had the same effect on everyone: the eerie, mysterious story stays with you long after you finish reading it. This is the best book from 2012 that no one is talking about...but should be.

Heartbroken by Lisa Unger
Heartbroken is a tense, mesmerizing novel about the limits of dysfunctional families, of an island haunted by dark memories and restless ghosts, and of the all-too-real demons we must battle. Wonderfully suspenseful, exquisitely crafted, and written with raw, emotional power, this is Lisa Unger at her very best.

Lethal by Sandra Brown
Former romance-turned-thriller writer, Sandra Brown, pens this compelling suspense story that has more twists than a double helix. Love it or hate it, the surprise ending has had everyone talking.

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper
A coming of age mid-life crisis book. Finally realizing what is important in life will our hero Drew Silver live to tell about it? A funny book that makes you think about your life and everyone in it. Want more Tropper? Try Book of Joe or This Is Where I Leave You.

Spy In A Little Black Dress by Maxine Kenneth (author of Paris to Die For)
"A fun ‘spy thriller’ book based on the premise that Jackie Bouvier may have once worked for the CIA. The idea for the plot is based on a real correspondence between Jackie and the CIA. If you are familiar with Jackie’s story you will get the humor in the books as she pursues her top secret missions."

Talulla Rising by Glen Duncan
"I love when literary authors take on genre stories, like Margaret Atwood's dystopia Handmaid's Tale or Colson Whitehead's zombie apocalypse Zone One, they can stretch the genre's metaphors or archetypes to their full potentials while telling style, originality, and fully-drawn characters. In this book, Duncan extends his revitalization of the werewolf myth to a female protagonist. Yay! It's one of the few stories to explore how the tensions between the animal and social/moral sides of being human applies to women."

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
"The book follows twenty-two year-old newlywed, Grace Winter, as she sets sail in 1914 on a luxury cruise liner bound for New York. An explosion sinks the cruise liner, where she loses her new husband, and Grace gets thrust into an already full-to-capacity lifeboat by a quick-thinking crew member who climbs in after her. The book opens with Grace on trial for her life due to the events that transpire during their twenty-one days stranded at sea, where cold, wet, starving passengers succumb to the desperation of their circumstances and the cunning power struggles to survive the crowded lifeboat." (And, no, we didn't pick this one because this New York Times Bestselling debut author visited us back in May...)

We love to read and talk about books, so leave us a comment with your favorites from the past year. And click on this link if you missed yesterday's post listing our staff's favorite nonfiction titles from 2012. We look forward to seeing what amazing stories will come our way in 2013!

2012 Staff Favorites - Nonfiction

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000

With so many "Best Books" lists for 2012 being named by sources ranging from the New York Times to NPR,our staff decided to put our collective reading experience together to come up with a list of our favorite books from the past year.

This list is subjective and merely reflects the wide reading tastes of your favorite librarians! Without further ado, here is the list of our staff's favorite nonfiction books of 2012:

Ninety Days by Bill Clegg
"A memoir by Clegg, a former alcohol and drug abuser about his struggle to be sober for ninety days after being released from rehab. I found myself rooting for Mr. Clegg every step of the way and cringing and yelling at the book when it seemed he was going to fall. He stumbles a few times and ultimately he may stumble again, but he finally finds reasons to honestly try to stay sober."

Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
Presents a reconstruction of the eighteenth-century empress's life that covers her efforts to engage Russia in the cultural life of Europe, her creation of the Hermitage, and her numerous scandal-free romantic affairs. "Excellent book about a fascinating person."

Drift by Rachel Maddow
"Rachel Maddow always backs up her barbs with research and a desire for pragmatic policy reform. She makes all the nuts and bolts of the development of military and foreign policy over the past four decades very accessible and shocking, all in the service of a book-long plea to restore both the costs and decisions of making war to the people and their representatives."

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag:A Memoir of a Life Through Events--the Ones You Plan and the Ones You Don't by Jennifer Gilbert
At 22, Jennifer Gilbert was attacked in the hallway of a New York City apartment building and stabbed multiple times. She survived, told very few people what had happened to her and went on to found her own event planning business, Save The Date, at the age of 24. The company has since done millions of dollars in revenue, and at 29 Gilbert was named Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year. Now 43 and a mother of three, in 2012 Gilbert published this memoir detailing the attack and how it motivated her to approach her life and work with the mentality, "You picked the wrong girl." (Summary from HuffPost Women)

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson
"A story about the diplomat sent to man the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, along with his family, during the rise of the Nazi party. He is totally unprepared for the role and does not fit the “old boy” image of previous ambassadors. You get the feeling that he is expected to fail. Reads like a novel, but is a true story which makes it that much more gripping."

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Although our culture undervalues them dramatically, introverts have made some of the great contributions to society – from Chopin's nocturnes to the invention of the personal computer to Gandhi’s transformative leadership. Cain argues that we design our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions for extroverts, and that this bias creates a waste of talent, energy, and happiness. Based on intensive research in psychology and neurobiology and on prolific interviews, she also explains why introverts are capable of great love and great achievement, not in spite of their temperaments -- but because of them.

Shadow of the Titanic by Andrew Wilson
Stories of Titanic survivors and the families of Titanic passengers and how their experience shaped their later lives. The author puts a face and context on some of the passengers.

Steve Jobs: A Biography by Walter Isaacson
Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, and when societies around the world are trying to build digital-age economies, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering...His tale is instructive and cautionary, filled with lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values.

The Astaires: Fred and Adele by Kathleen Riley
"This biography is about Fred and Adele Astaire. I knew Fred Astaire from the movies but, didn’t realize he and his sister, who was more famous than him, had a fabulous career long before motion pictures and were the toast of English royalty before WWII."

The President’s Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs
"This book is about the most exclusive club in the world – living U.S. Presidents. The book tells some fascinating, behind the scenes stories, about the presidents—how they helped each other, no matter their personal feelings, how they interacted with one another, how far back their relationships went, etc. and their behind the scenes impact on decision making and as ambassadors for the U.S.—often on delicate missions."

We will have another list tomorrow when we'll post a selection of our favorite fiction titles from 2012!

Holiday Concert Featuring Farmington High School Musicians

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:45:00 +0000

We invite you to attend a holiday concert at the Farmington Main Library on Monday, December 10, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Tom Johnston, teacher and band director at Farmington High School, will bring up to three different instrument ensembles to play holiday music in various places in the library, creating a stroll atmosphere for visitors. These ensembles are entirely comprised of student musicians from the high school.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

Clutter versus Being Organized: A Tips and Tricks Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Farmington Libraries since 1901) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Looking for some tips and tricks to fight the battle against clutter? On Wednesday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. the Farmington Libraries will host Sandee Fleet from the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurses Association for a workshop on conquering clutter and getting organized.

Clutter affects our space, productivity, time management, organization, and even the environment. Numerous studies have been performed on the inundation of clutter in our lives resulting in countless statistics on its negative impact: US News and World Report states that the average American spends one year of their life looking for lost or misplaced items at home and in the office; Mobile Technology Products asserts that using the correct organizational tools can improve time management by 38%; the Quill Filing Products catalog reports that 45 new sheets of paper are generated each day by every U.S. office worker; the Everyday Minimalist lists that 1 in 11 American households rents a self-storage space, spending $1000/year in rent.

If taking control of your clutter and downsizing from its sheer size sounds like the right combination, then this is the workshop for you!

This event is free and open to the public. Handouts will be provided and advance registration is required for this program. Please call 860-673-6791 for details or register through the library’s web site here. The Farmington Library is part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association. If you have special needs to attend library programs, contact the library in advance.

For additional event notices, please follow the Farmington Libraries on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmingtonlibraries, or Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/FarmlibCT.