Welcome to the Tween Nutmeg Book Club at Clark Memorial Library!
If you are between the ages of 9-13, we hope you can join us as we explore the 2025 Nutmeg Book Award Intermediate Nominees. Meetings will be held June 13, June 27, and July 11 from 5:45-6:30 PM in the Library. Read 1-2 books (or more!) from the list of ten and then share what you loved, hated, or need more of!
We will choose books at our first meeting, and discuss them at the second and third. Come to one or all three dates! For more information, contact the Library at (203) 393-2103.
Silent Book Club 2:00-3:30 PM on June 11, July 9, & August 13
We invite our adult patrons to join our community of readers in the Bethany chapter of the Silent Book Club! Take some time to read companionably in the comfort of Clark Memorial Library. This is a “bring your own book” activity – no assigned reading and no pressure. Come for refreshments and an hour of quiet to focus on your latest read. Afterwards you are welcome to chat and share titles, but the hour of reading time is strictly sweet silence.
Need a new book? Come a bit early to browse our shelves, and then dig in!
The Bethany Community School’s LEGO Club will be meeting at Clark Memorial Library again this summer! The program is open to patrons of all ages; drop-in from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Wednesdays, starting June 5th. We have both LEGO and DUPLO blocks. Stop by and get creative!
The Library will be kicking off its Summer Reading Program on June 8th!
Young patrons can take part in our Read & Bead program, which will run throughout the summer during Library hours. Pick up a Read & Bead Chart in the Children’s Room and check off a box for each 20 minutes of reading you do over the summer. You’ll earn one bead or charm for each checked-off box on the chart – by the time summer is over, you’ll have an amazing personalized necklace celebrating your reading achievements!
The Library will also be providing Reading Journals for the CT Reads! Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. You can count your summer reading time towards both the challenge and your Read & Bead Chart!
This week in our Makerspace, create a special spinner card that cycles through compliments for Mom to give her on Mother’s Day! The craft is available during Library hours, while supplies last.
The growing season is in full swing! Garden Tomes are sprouting on the Library’s displays, featuring guides for gardeners and aspiring botanists, stories set in gardens and on farms, and protagonists who care for their local natural and green spaces. Stop by and pick a few!
Don’t forget, there’s a permanent Horticulture and Gardening display upstairs, just outside of the Teens & Tweens area – and our nonfiction collection also includes a selection of books recommended by Sustainable Bethany.
Clark Memorial Library will be participating in the annual Great Give event on Wednesday, May 1 and Thursday, May 2. This 36 hour event raises money and awareness for many causes important to our region, with valuable matching funds and prizes from The Community Foundation, the Valley Community Foundation and other generous sponsors. Please visit the Bethany Library Association’s donation page on the Great Give websiteduring the event to support Clark Memorial Library with a donation – any amount helps!
This Great Give campaign, we are focusing on expanding arts programs that support local artists and reach Bethany citizens of all ages. From Arts@Clark! exhibitions that are available year round in the Community Room, to our Annual Public Art Exhibit, our goal is to showcase the vibrant arts community in Bethany. We hope to continue to offer these free events, as well as bring in local artists for additional workshops and presentations to build on our ongoing commitment to library programming that reaches adults, children and families.
Help us shape the future of Clark Memorial Library! The Bethany Library Association is creating a new strategic plan and would like your input! Whether you use the Library or not, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and opinions – a short survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/5KTDNL2 or via the QR code above.
Don’t forget! There will be a reception for the Library’s featured artist for April and May, Daniel Eugene Kaminski, on Saturday, April 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Stop by to meet the artist – and if you haven’t already, check out his work in the Community Room!
Arts@Clark! and Clark Memorial Library invite you to join us on Sunday, July 28th for our 5th Annual Outdoor Art Exhibit!
New this year: we are inviting artists who are interested, to explore a “plein air” experience in the tradition of our famous Connecticut art colonies. Display your art, and if you wish, demonstrate your process and engage receptive audiences from the Bethany community. Enjoy sharing your passion and having conversations that engage and support local arts. 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.
Artists working in all mediums are encouraged to apply, regardless of whether or not you paint “en plein air”. Artists can exhibit drawing, painting, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, fiber arts, quilting, installations and more!
Artist set-up is from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The exhibit is open to the public from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. De-installation begins promptly at 5:00 PM.
Application forms, instructions, and exhibit information are available on the Arts@Clark! page of the Library website, which is linked under the Community tab. For more information, call the Library at (203) 393-2103.
Applications should be sent to artsatclark@gmail.com; application deadline is Saturday, June 15.
