Clark Memorial Library and the Friends of the Library will be at the
2025 Bethany Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 5!
Stop by to grab a tasty treat from the Friends of the Library Bake Sale, enter a FREE raffle to win a seasonal gift basket, and sign up for a library card if you don’t have one already!
The Festival takes place at the Old Bethany Airport (696 Amity Road), and lasts from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
Clark Memorial Library and Willow Tree Montessori once again invite families with young children (ages 0-3) to join a representative from Willow Tree at the Library for a special Montessori Morning storytime! This is a drop-in event that will start at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 4.
Willow Tree hopes to share the love of language with rich vocabulary through stories, songs, and poems. For more information about Willow Tree Montessori, visit their website at wtm.earth.
Help Rocky the Rock Snake, the friendly garden snake created during the Library’s Sixth Annual Public Art Exhibit, grow even longer!
We will be offering patrons the chance to paint their own rocks to add to Rocky’s body on Saturday, September 13, from 12:00 – 3:00 PM. This is a drop-in event for all ages. We hope to see you there – and while you’re at the Library, why not take the opportunity to sign up for a library card if you don’t already have one? September is Library Card Sign-Up Month: the perfect time to get a new library card, or renew your old one if it’s expired. It’s a quick and easy way to get access to countless resources!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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:
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).
Dragon Eye Adventure is back!
June 18th, 4:00-5:00 PM, & June 21st, 11:00-12:00 PM
Sculpt, decorate, and paint a two-dimensional clay dragon profile, then choose from our special collection of glass dragon eyes to give your sculpture a spark of life!
Ages 7 and up. This is a drop-in activity, but space is limited – arrive on time (or early) to make sure you get a spot! Call the Library at 203-393-2103 for more information.
Our Children’s Room has been transformed for our Summer Reading Program – Spellbound: The Enchantment of Reading! Watch the video below to catch a glimpse of all the “spellbinding” decorations our staff have put together.
The Summer Reading Kickoff will take place June 14th. Stop by to pick up a Summer Reading chart, a Read & Bead necklace chain, and a goodie bag, and keep an eye on the Event Calendar for upcoming activities and programs!