Category Archives: Collection

Updates about new books, new shelf displays, and non-book items in the collection (puzzles, games, etc).

February is Black History Month, and the Library’s video streaming service, Kanopy, is honoring this celebration of the rich cultural heritage and impactful achievements of Black Americans with a selection of powerful films. Kanopy’s curated watchlists offer profound looks into the history, resilience, and progress of the Black community. For more information about the holiday and access to countless other resources and events, you can visit the Black History Month web portal.

You can use your library card to access the Kanopy collection, as well as hundreds of other classic and indie films, TV shows, and documentaries. New media and watchlists are added on a regular basis. 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!

Have you seen our Sustainable Bethany display, located just outside of the Teens & Tweens area upstairs? Each of the books on display has been recommended by the Bethany Sustainability Association, the local branch of Sustainable CT.

Sustainable CT is a voluntary certification program that provides opportunities for grant funding to help communities promote economic well-being and enhance equity. Reviews of selected additions are posted on the bulletin board, providing both an overview of each book’s content and the reasoning behind its recommendation. Stop by and take a look!

January is National Hobby Month, a time to celebrate your favorite hobbies and pastimes, and to try out new ones. Our book displays this month showcase all kinds of hobbies, from outdoor activities like swimming or hiking, to artsy projects like painting or knitting, as well as stories about characters having fun following their passions. Take a look – you could pick up a new hobby, or get back into an old one that you haven’t thought about in a while!

Pop some popcorn and set up a movie night with Kanopy’s Most Watched Films of 2024, a new watchlist showcasing the breathtaking landscapes, enchanting creatures, and beloved characters that have captivated audiences the most this year!

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!

November is both National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo) and National Memoir Writing Month. In honor of these celebrations of creative and nonfiction writing, we’ve filled our displays with books about the writing process, authorship, and storytelling in general, as well as the tales of people both real and fictional who either write themselves or are involved in the publishing industry. Learn about a favorite author or discover a new one when you stop by the Library this month!

The Library’s video streaming service, Kanopy, is celebrating the approach of Halloween with Fright Fest, a collection of themed watchlists featuring dozens of eerie tales and supernatural adventures! You can use your library card number to access these lists, as well as hundreds of other classic and indie films, TV shows, and documentaries. New media and curated watchlists are added on a regular basis. 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!

In celebration of the upcoming Arts@Clark Fifth Annual Outdoor Art Exhibit – which will take place on July 28th, 1:00 to 5:00 PM – our displays for this month will feature books about artists of all kinds, their works, and the process of making art in general. Take the chance to learn about the people who bring so much wonder and color into all of our lives, and make sure to mark the Outdoor Art Exhibit on your calendar so you can meet the artists in our community in person!

Share your favorite childhood book and enter our raffle!
Add your favorite title to our butterfly display to help readers of all ages explore our collections with tried-and-true suggestions. What ‘grabbed’ you as a young reader – an animal story, a picture book, or an adventure? Which book would you recommend – or like to reread? At the end of summer we will draw names for our raffle basket of restaurant gift certificates and edible treats.

Our book displays have metamorphosed to match the theme of our Summer Reading Kickoff for June! Read about bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, learn more about insects and their relationships with humans and the environment, or enjoy some fiction featuring not-so-creepy-crawlies in starring and supporting roles. Stop in and pick up a book today… and don’t forget to attend our special What’s the Buzz? Presentation on June 8th, 2:00–3:30 PM!

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.