The Nutmeg Book Award allows students to choose their favorite books from lists of ten nominated titles at four reading levels (Elementary, Intermediate, Middle School, & High School) and vote for them in April. The Library will be adding copies of many of the 2027 nominees to its physical collection soon, but we already have a curated booklist on the Palace app that includes ebook and audiobook editions of both the 2027 nominees (with sublists divided by reading level) and the 2026 winners!

Whether you’re planning to vote or just looking for a good summer reading book, sign in to Palace and take a look. If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, you can check out our other digital media apps, Libby and Hoopla. All three can be used for free – all you need to create an account is a library card and an email address! More information is available on the Library website.

Thank you to everyone who supported Clark Memorial Library during the 2026 Great Give last week – we exceeded our goals with close to 100 donors, making this the most successful Great Give the Library has ever taken part in. Such strong support from our community is what allows the Library to continue to grow and improve!

If you missed the event but would still like to contribute, the Library’s Great Give webpage will continue to register donations through the end of May – and direct donations can always be made via the Support Us! page on our website.

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!

Congratulations to John Pellicano, 2026’s Bethany Citizen of the Year! John is a longtime member of the Bethany Library Association Board, and we appreciate all that he has done and continues to do for the Library.

We’ve worked hard to make Clark Memorial Library a special place for the children and adults of our community – a place where people can attend a storytime, a D&D session, or a stitch-along, create something in our Makerspace, or browse for a book, movie or puzzle to take home and enjoy. On Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7, the Library will be participating in the annual Great Give. 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 make a donation on the Bethany Library Association’s page on the Great Give website during the event to support Clark Memorial Library – any amount helps! This year, we’d like to ask for your help to let a little more light into our building: twenty-eight of our windows are in sore need of replacing. We are focusing our campaign on much-needed renovations to make our building shine just a bit brighter.

Thank you for all your help – the Library is a better place because of 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!

Did you know…

…that you can check out a Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor at Clark Memorial Library? This easy-to-use device allows you to measure and record your household energy use, and is part of a kit that includes instructions on how to use it and even some tips on managing your energy consumption and costs. Find out where you’re using the most electricity and save on your bills!

The Kill A Watt kit can be checked out just like a book – all you need is your library card. With Earth Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to give it a try!

Book Donation Day

On Saturday, April 25 the Friends of the Library will be on-site from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM to accept new and lightly used book donations for the Friends of the Library Book Sale in the downstairs entryway. Children’s books and recently published adult fiction will be prioritized, and hardcover is preferred over paperback, but all books in good shape will be considered. Thank you for supporting the Friends and the Library!

The work of two local artists will be displayed at the Library during April and May – Jane Weiner in the Community Room, and Edward Rogan in the display cases outside the Community Room.

Jane Weiner has been creating various forms of art since she was a child – first with jewelry, then mosaic work with broken pieces of china and stone, which she felt was like jewelry in picture form. Because mosaic work is quite heavy to transport to craft fairs, she began exploring fluid art acrylic pouring techniques, which she has fallen in love with. She continues to do both fluid art and smaller mosaic pieces, both of which will be exhibited at the Library. During the reception on May 16, Jane will demonstrate acrylic paint pouring and allow visitors to participate!

In the past, Edward Rogan‘s interest was caught by colored glass pieces in the dirt paths and dump sites along the Farmington canal; they turned out to be remnants from the Ball & Socket factory that operated in Cheshire from 1850 until 1992. He spent endless hours digging up glass shards and buttons, and his collection eventually became material for his art. He will be exhibiting hand-crafted jewelry, mosaic artwork, and postcards made using antique glass recovered from the site.

There will be an artist reception on Saturday May 16, 2:00 – 3:30 PM.