Monthly Archives: June 2026

Summer Reading Flowers

This program is for children under 10, and will run alongside our Read & Bead program – so your reading times count towards both! When you sign up, you’ll receive a flower head that you can add a colorful petal to for every 20 minutes you read over the summer – and once your flower has fully “bloomed”, it will be added to our Summer Reading Garden in the Children’s Room! You’ll also earn a ladybug or bee to add to the Garden for every 200 minutes you read, and a butterfly for every 500 minutes. By the end of summer, we hope that the Summer Reading Garden will be bustling with life.

The Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Kickoff is Saturday, June 13! Early sign-ups start Tuesday, June 9, but we encourage you to stop by during the Kickoff even if you’ve signed up already. Take part in fun crafts and activities – and while you’re here, check out our displays for the state-wide America 250 Celebration as well!

Read & Bead

This Summer Reading Program is for children under 10. Create a custom necklace over the course of the summer – you’ll earn a bead for every 20 minutes you read, and a charm for every 100 minutes. Participants receive a book log to track their reading time in when they sign up, as well as a necklace chain and a red, white, or blue starter bead in honor of the America 250 Celebration!

Summer Reading Challenge

This NEW Summer Reading Program is for children ages 10 and up! You’ll start off by receiving a Positive Pickle for inspiration – then hang a flower decoration on our “branch bouquet” for every 30 minutes you read during the summer, and pick another Pickle for every 90 minutes! You’ll be entered into the Participation Raffle if you return your reading log with at least 30 min of reading marked – but those who complete all 12 of the Reading Challenges in the reading log will also be entered into the Reading Challenge Raffle!

Participation Raffle Prizes:
– Copper Water Bottle
– Giant Tub of Popcorn
– Rechargeable Earbuds
– Pack of 200 Stickers

Reading Challenge Raffle Prizes:
– Copper Water Bottle
– Pack of 200 Stickers
– Guinness Book of World Records 2026
– The Ultimate Book of Random Fun Facts
– Leather Journal and Pen
– $100 Gift Certificate to The Clay Date

Adult Summer Reading Raffle

Who says Summer Reading is just for kids? Our adult patrons can take part by filling out a Raffle Entry Form online (or in person at the Library) for each book read over the course of the summer. One winner will be selected at the end of the summer to receive a special “Connecticut Adventure Basket” – a mix of passes, gift certificates, and guidebooks to all Connecticut has to offer – courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Delve into the rich resources that surround us here in the Nutmeg State. Every book is a chance for adventure!

The works of the Bethany Quilting and Friendship Group (also known simply as the Bethany Quilters) will be displayed at the Library during June and July. Their exhibit, “Quilting with Friends”, will display some of the quilts made by members during their time in the group. The exhibit will include both small and large quilts in the Community Room, as well as other fiber crafts in the hallway display cases. There will be an artist reception in the Community Room on Saturday, June 27 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.

The Bethany Quilters have been gathering weekly for over 10 years, spending time together to create quilts and other textile crafts. Some members were already expert quilters the first time they attended, some had never sewn a stitch. It doesn’t matter what project members work on: the biggest benefit is the conversation, support and friendship from the group.

The Bethany 250th Committee worked with the Bethany Quilters and the students of Bethany Community School to create the Bethany 250th Quilt for this year’s national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signature of the Declaration of Independence. Students created artwork based on the prompt “What Does American Mean to You?”, and the Committee selected 20 winning entries to be worked into a quilt design by the Bethany Quilters. The Bethany 250th Quilt is currently on display in the main stairwell of the Library.

Exhibitors:

Bernadette Lowen
Carol Hotz
Ditas Benipayo
Eileen Ede
Jane Tintachart
Linda Seaholm
Marcia Cohen
Susan Varanka
Wendy Frieden

Congratulations to Clark Memorial Library’s Passport to Connecticut Libraries Top Travelers – the patrons in the program’s two age categories that collected the most stamps over the course of April! The winners of the state-wide raffle will be drawn next week, but we are also sending each of our local winners a small prize (sponsored by the Friends of the Library). Thank you to our Top Travelers, and to everyone who participated – we hope to see you all again during the Passport Program’s next run!

Parents and caretakers, if you are waiting for your children during a Library program or tutoring session, we have special places for you to pass the time! Comfy chairs are tucked away in our Periodical and Biography area (across from the Teens & Tweens area) and just inside the Adult Literature area (near the public computers). Look for signs featuring Pete Oswald and Jory John’s character “The Good Egg”!