Category Archives: Displays

Updates about decorative or temporary displays.

Local artist Yan Jennifer Zhang will have her works on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets throughout the months of October and November.

Yan Jennifer is a Wallingford-based animal artist who captures the soul and character of wildlife and pets. Working primarily in acrylics and oil, she combines vibrant colors, meticulous detail and confident brushstrokes to bring domestic animals, exotic wildlife and local birds to life.

Yan has always been fascinated with animals. She loves their quirks, head tilts, little paws, and soulful eyes, and she strives to convey the spirit she sees in animals and give a glimpse into their character: sometimes sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes peaceful. Her art has been featured in local exhibitions, collected internationally, and recognized by local libraries, galleries, flower and coffee shops. Through her expressive portraits, Yan’s ultimate goal is to bring a smile to the viewer, raise awareness for animal welfare, and highlight the fragile beauty of nature.

Artist Statement: “My art is a celebration of the raw energy and untamed personalities of the animal kingdom. By breaking away from realistic color palettes, I aim to capture the invisible essence, playfulness, and hidden emotions of my subjects. Through vibrant hues and expressive brushstrokes, I invite viewers to pause and experience a sense of childlike wonder. My goal is not just to paint an animal, but to translate its unique spirit onto the canvas, turning every piece into a colorful dialogue of life, joy, and connection.”

Join the Bethany Sustainability Committee, our local branch of Sustainable CT, on Thursday, October 8 for a presentation and Q&A about balcony solar panels. The presentation starts at 6:30 PM and will take place in the Library’s Community Room.

As of October 1, Connecticut allows homeowners and renters to set up personal solar panels to reduce monthly electricity bills. This empowers individuals to use solar power without the complexities and costs associated with traditional rooftop installments. Attend the presentation to learn more about the ins and outs of this technology, and see whether it’s right for you – and check out our Sustainable Bethany display outside the Teens & Tweens area upstairs while you’re here!

Ahoy! Did ye know that this Saturday be Talk Like a Pirate Day?
This celebration of scalawags and buccaneers takes place every year on September 19! Add some swagger to your everyday conversation with pirate lingo, and stop by the Library any time this week to check out our piratical pop-up book display in the Children’s Room.

Summer 2026 Invitational Art Exhibit

Rooted in Community

Arts@Clark! celebrates its seventh summer exhibition with a special invitational. This exhibition honors the artists, craftspeople, and artisans who have come together year after year to build a supportive and creative community of shared artistic expression. The Library’s Summer Art Exhibit has taken root and flourished, growing beyond its origins as a meaningful response to the pandemic into a vibrant, interconnected network that spans artistic mediums, generations, and neighboring towns beyond Bethany. At its heart, Clark Memorial Library is a place where people come to engage, connect and grow – making it the perfect home for a community built through art.

There will be an artist reception in the Community Room on August 29, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Be sure to stop by and meet some of our longtime artistic contributors!

Featured Artists

Have you seen our Nutmeg Book Displays?

Right now, Clark Memorial Library’s Children’s Room and Teens & Tweens Area both have Nutmeg Book Award displays featuring the 2027 Nutmeg Nominees, as well as the 2026 Nutmeg Winners! Whether you’re just looking for a good summer reading book or plan to vote on which of the Nominees will become next year’s winner(s) in April, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. Every Nominee has been selected from hundreds of submissions from children’s and school librarians – not to mention kids themselves! – from across the state, so you know they’re the best of the best!

If you don’t see a physical copy of the book you’re looking for, remember that many Nutmeg books are also available in ebook or audiobook format via the Library’s apps – Libby, Palace, and Hoopla. Palace even has a curated Nutmeg booklist featured on its homepage!

The Library’s America 250 Celebration may be over, but we will be keeping our Revolutionary Reading and Celebrating 250 Years of American History book displays up until Independence Day! Check out both fiction and non-fiction books covering a variety of touchstone periods in the history of the United States, including the Colonial Period, the Revolutionary, Civil, and World Wars, Westward Expansion, and the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a great chance to learn more about the history of our country!

America 250 at the Library!

On Saturday, June 13, the Library will be taking part in a town-wide celebration of America 250, the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Stop by any time during Library hours to see our Revolutionary Reading book display and the Three Sisters Boundary Stone upstairs, the 2026 Bethany Celebrates America 250th Quilt and 1976 Bethany Bicentennial Quilt in the stairwell, a special Arts@Clark! exhibit by the Bethany Quilt & Friendship Group in the Community Room, and a Children’s Guide to the Founding Fathers Storywalk along the edge of the front lawn!

Our Summer Reading Kickoff will be happening at the same time, so be sure to sign up for the Read & Bead and Summer Reading Flowers programs (ages 10 and under), the Teens & Tweens Summer Reading Challenge (ages 10 and up), or the Adult Summer Reading Raffle while you’re here. There will also be crafts and activities, including a special Rock Painting activity starting at 2:00 PM.

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

Did you know that May is National Pet Month? This annual celebration of the mutual benefits of animal companionship also promotes responsible pet care and animal welfare in general, to ensure pets can live healthy, comfortable, and fulfilling lives. We’ve filled our book displays with pet books to celebrate: from the everyday, to the exotic, to the fantastical! You may find a book about a boy and his dog right next to one about caring for mythical creatures or dinosaurs. Whether its a pet you already love or a pet you wish you had, we’re sure to have something for you!

Spring has officially sprung! Stop by the Children’s Room for “April Showers” umbrellas and raincloud crafts; a “Let’s Fly A Kite” display with colorful ribbons made by patrons; and a brand new “Spring Into A New Book” display. Write the title of your favorite book on a colorful paper book spine and add it to the “shelves” – then check out what other patrons have added. You may discover a new favorite! Outside, our Frog and Toad Storywalk is back, featuring the short story “The Kite”. And finally, we have a Self-Serve Seed Station at the bottom of the main staircase – if you’re planning to plant a garden this year, grab some seeds to get started!