Author Archives: Antonio Strumolo

What better way to spend Labor Day than with family, friends, and thousands of top-notch films? The Library’s film app, Kanopy, is creating a curated collection of films and TV from across genres (and generations) to be the perfect accompaniment to get-togethers all over the United States. This special No Work, All Watch Weekend collection will become available on September 1st – just in time to settle in and enjoy while the long weekend winds down!

Can’t wait until Monday? You can also use your library card to access hundreds of other classic and indie films, TV shows, and documentaries on Kanopy. New media and watchlists are added on a regular basis! Once it launches, you can go directly to the No Work, All Watch Weekend collection here: kanopy.com/category/53883

For a quick walkthrough of how to set up and use a Kanopy account, visit their Getting Started webpage; if you already have an account, just sign in and enjoy!

It’s that time of year! As summer winds down, we’re filling our display shelves with back-to-school reading material for readers of all ages. Young patrons will find plenty of school-prep jitters and classroom chaos to relate to – but there are also stories about students learning magic, superheroics, and other fantastic skills if you’ve had enough of real-life education. We even have scholarly reads for our patrons who are no longer attending school themselves, all linked to teaching or academia in one way or another.
Come take a look next time you’re at the Library!

The webpage for Spellbound, the Library’s Sixth Annual Public Art Exhibit, is finished! A video showcasing the Exhibit is still in the works, but you can visit the page by clicking the image above or this link to read a brief summary and see a collage of some of the great pictures taken during the event, as well as a list of the participants with examples of their work, and even some bonus poetry.

Thank you once again to everyone who made this year’s Public Art Exhibit possible!

Have you checked out the Teens & Tweens area upstairs lately? It’s home to our Game Zone, where we provide a wide variety of board games, building sets, and gaming supplies – from Apples to Apples and Ultimate Werewolf to playing cards, dominoes, PlusPlus pieces and Keva Blocks, as well as quick crafts to try out and a display of “crafty” books to spark your imagination.

Next time you’re at the Library, stop by and play an old favorite, learn a new game, or build something cool!

Meet Rocky the Rock Snake! Rocky was created by visitors to the Sixth Annual Art Exhibit, and is currently on display in the garden to the left of the Library’s side entrance. Keep an eye on the Library’s Calendar of Events: we will be giving patrons the chance to help Rocky get even longer during September – Library Card Sign-Up Month!

The Bethany Land Trust:
Its Volunteers & Inhabitants

Local artist Carol Vinick will have her works on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets throughout the months of August and September.

Carol uses fabric collage to tell stories. Included in her body of work are stories of the struggle for social justice, her family history, and the wonders of nature. She has exhibited throughout Connecticut, and has had work in juried exhibitions traveling both nationally and internationally. Her work has also been featured in books, museums, galleries, and private collections. She was co-president of Connecticut Women Artists from 2021 to 2023, and is currently co-chair of the Studio Art Quilt Associates Connecticut regional traveling show for 2026.

There will be an artist reception on Saturday, September 6 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM in the Library’s Community Room.

We’re extending the Quilt Raffle that ran during the Annual Art Exhibit through August 31! Enter for a chance to win “Inverted Stars”, a 60 x 75 inch handmade quilt created by one of our local artists, Wendy Frieden. Tickets cost $5.00, and can be paid for either with cash or via PayPal. Just write your name and contact information on the back of each ticket and add them to the basket in the Friends of the Library nook at the bottom of the main staircase. The quilt itself is on display in the same location, if you’d like to see it up close!

With our Sixth Annual Outdoor Art Exhibit around the corner, we’ve filled our book displays with stories that involve art in some way. Whether it be the biography of an artist, a mystery revolving around a famous painting or statue, or even a story told entirely through images – this is the perfect chance to see how visual art and writing interact and intersect. Pick up a story, do some Artful Reading, and get inspired!

Arts@Clark! and Clark Memorial Library invite you to join us
August 3rd from 1:00-5:00 PM for our Sixth Annual Outdoor Art Exhibit:

“Spellbound: Art, Poetry, and the Enchantment of Reading”

This “plein air” experience is in the tradition of our famous Connecticut art colonies; engage with local artists while enjoying fresh air, activities, and live music. Witness countless styles of visual art, from sculpture to painting to needlework – and this year, for the first time, the artistry of our local poets and writers as well!

This event is our gift to the community and is free to all participants – artists, would-be artists, and those who are simply looking to enjoy, renew, and refresh on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Parking will be available at the Bethany Historical Society (512 Amity Road) and Bethany First Church of Christ Congregational (511 Amity Road).

Mark your calendars – we hope to see you there!

A reminder to all of our young patrons (and their parents):
Whether you’re reading on your own, as part of a book club or reading challenge, or even for an assignment, make sure to check out the Library’s Summer Reading resources! We have 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Book Bags available in the Children’s Room, New Books and 2026 Nutmeg Book Award Nominees displays upstairs, and curated booklists – including Nutmeg nominees and the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge – on our apps, Hoopla, Libby, and Palace. Happy reading!