WESTBROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS

On Saturday, February 6, at 1 p.m., the New Canaan Nature Center returns with “Slimy & Scaly: Up close to Reptiles and Amphibians”. Everyone is welcome and no registration is necessary. Call the library at 860 399-6422 for more information.

School Vacation Week Programs for Children and Families

There will be stories, crafts, and games for children ages four through seven each morning from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, February 16, through Friday, February 19, during school vacation week in the library community room. The activities are organized and conducted by Girl Scout Julia Honan. The program is free and no registration is required.

On Saturday, February 20, at 1 p.m., Michael Graham’s Spring Valley Puppet Theater will perform “Jack and the Beanstalk”. This professional production is free and suitable for people age five and up. The program will take place in the community room and no registration is required.

Preschool Story Hours
Preschool story hours are held on Wednesday mornings. There are two sessions. A session for 3 year olds and young 4s runs from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. A session for 4 and 5 year olds runs from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. The program includes a story time and age appropriate crafts and is for Westbrook children. Please call the library at 399-6422 or contact Children’s Librarian Mary Nyman to sign up.

The library will be discontinuing the Parents and Tots Playgroup. Westbrook Youth & Family Services offers a Little Tykes Play Group on Tuesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. Call 860 399-9239 for more information.

Eleanor Roosevelt in Westbrook
On Thursday evening, February 18, 2010, Russ Barmmer will present a slide lecture about Eleanor Roosevelt and her visits to Westbrook. Eleanor Roosevelt and Westbrook resident Esther Lape were very good friends and Mrs. Roosevelt made many visits to the Lape residence at Salt Meadow. Mr. Barmmer has uncovered many interesting connections between Westbrook and the distinguished First Lady. The free program begins at 7:00 p.m. in the library community room. Everyone is welcome.

Westbrook Readers Book Discussion
The Westbrook Readers meet at the library on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 10:00 a.m.

On February 23, the book for discussion will be The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow, a charming novel about how the people on the island of Guernsey coped with the German occupation during World War II.

On March 23, the group will discuss The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad, a Norwegian journalist who lived with the family of the bookseller in 2002 and describes their life in Afghanistan.

New Museum Passes Available
The Friends have purchased free passes to the Mystic Seaport and 50% off discount passes to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. The library also has 20% off coupons to the new Connecticut Science Center in Hartford.

Next Friends Meeting
The next meeting of the Friends of the Library is Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at 7 p.m. The Friends will be planning a special get together for the April meeting this year.