1. family and parenting
2. children

Www.meridenlibrary.org
April 2015
Meriden Public Library
Money Smart Week - April 20—25, 2015
See Page 7
Mark Your Calendars
May 4—Financial
Workshop
May 9—Drive
License Seminar
Aid
Only
May 12—Speaking Ill of
the Dead: Jerks in CT
History by Ray Bendici
Meriden Public Library will
be participating in Money
Smart Week. The Federal
Reserve Bank created this
in 2002 to help consumers
handle their personal
finances better. The Library
has scheduled programs on
finances for all ages. The
programs are free and all
are welcome.
May 16—Walk Down
Memory Lane with Linda
Ipanema & the Dixie
Cats (music)
For Adults:
Couponing 101 with Gina
Juliano
May 30—Princess & The
Knights (music)
Gina Juliano will be back on
Monday, April 20 from 6:00
to 8:00 pm in the Griffin
Room to present her class
“Couponing 101.” Everyone
knows about coupons and
how to use them, but not
everyone knows how to use
them effectively. In this two
hour course, participants will
learn how to maximize their
savings and use coupons to
shop for FREE. In addition,
participants will learn how to
find coupon savings and
deals online and in
stores.
Several tips and
tricks for “frugalizing” your
pets and home will also be
discussed.
Inside this issue:
Songs of Pete Seeger
2
Rescue of the Bounty
College Financial Aid
Tax Assistance
3
Castle Craig Adult
Learning Center
Programs
4
Monthly Library
Programs
5
Friends News
6
Save CT Libraries
7
Children’s Library
8/9
Buying Your First Home by
Christopher Blum, Raveis
Mortgage Company
Raising Financially
Responsible Children
Christopher Blum from
William Raveis Mortgage
Company will present the
seminar “Buying your first
home” on Tuesday, April 21
at 6:00 pm in the
Griffin
Room. If you are thinking
about home buying, come to
this seminar to understand
the steps to purchasing a
home that is affordable and
right for you.
A free seminar that provides
age-appropriate tips on how
to teach kids about the
value and responsible use
of money
Protecting Your Money: Tips
for Managing Your Debt and
Avoiding Scams
Up to your knees in debt? It
doesn’t have to go from bad
to worse. Please join
Kathleen Titsworth, from the
St ate D ep artm ent of
Banking, on April 22 at 6:30
pm in the
Griffin Room.
Ms. Titsworth will discuss
ways to manage your debt
and repair your credit the
right way and avoid common
mistakes.
She will also
provide information about
financial scams and fraud
and how to avoid them.
Monday, April 20 at 6:30 pm
in the Children’s Library
For Teens:
Welcome to the Real World
by UCONN Extension
Program
Teens: On the road to
financial independence?
Curious about your life in the
future? Come to the Library
on Thursday, April 23 at
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the
Cook Room to participate in
the program “Welcome to
the Real World.”
This program by the
UCONN Extension Program,
gives young people (ages
13-18) the opportunity to
imagine their lives as young
employed adults. They
select occupations, find out
their incomes and estimated
taxes, and open checking
and savings accounts. They
then visit tables and interact
with adult volunteers as they
make common spending
decisions.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We still need adult volunteers for the “Welcome to the Real
World” program. Contact Melissa at (203) 238-2346 or mmurphy@meridenct.gov if you
would like to help.
Library will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2015.
Meriden Public Library
Money Smart Week Programs Continued
(Cont.
From page 1:
Welcome to the Real
World)
Through the learning
exercise, they learn about
managing money, living
within their incomes,
i d e n t i f yi n g
spending
priorities, saving and
dealing with unexpected
expenses.
For Children
Art Market
Learning to
Alexander
Save
with
Tuesday, April 21 from
10:30-11:15am in the Griffin Room
Thursday, April 23 from
2:30-3:30pm in the Griffin
Room
Children, K-2, will be given
play money to spend on
craft supplies to make a
beautiful mask. They will
explore wants vs. needs
and budgeting basics.
Kids, K-2, will hear a story
reading of "Alexander,
Who Used to be Rich Last
Sunday" and decorate a
ceramic piggy bank.
Songs of Pete Seeger
Meriden Public Library is
pleased to host musician
Phil Rosenthal on Saturday, April 11 at 2:30 pm in
the Griffin Room for his
program “Songs of Pete
Seeger.”
Pete Seeger (1919-2014)
was a major figure in
America’s folk music revival. A prolific songwriter,
song collector, and multiins tr um entalis t,
P ete
helped bring the five-string
banjo into the mainstream
of the folk movement.
Known primarily as a solo
performer, Pete was also a
founding member of several influential groups, including the Almanac
Singers and the Weavers.
Phil Rosenthal celebrates
Seeger’s music in this
concert, featuring many of
Seeger’s
best -k nown
compositions and other
songs prominent in his
long recording and performing career. Phil also
includes some of Pete’s
comments about the history and
significance of
the songs in his career.
Phil is an internationally
acclaimed singer and
songwriter. His compositions have been recorded
by Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, Nick Cave and many
others. He was the lead
singer and guitarist in the
seminal bluegrass band
the Seldom Scene and is
also renowned for his skills
on mandolin and five-string
banjo. He was selected
Connecticut
State
Troubadour in 1994.
Phil has been called “a
roots master musician” by
Billboard Magazine and
“one of the most expressive singers in traditional
country music” by the
Washington Post. He has
performed with Jerry
Douglas, Bill Monroe,
Emmylou Harris, Jonathan
Edwards and many others
in his career in folk and
bluegrass music.
All are welcome to this free
program. This program is
funded by the Friends of
the Library and the
Meriden Foundation. To
reserve a seat, contact the
Community
Services
Department at (203) 6306 3 4 9 ,
e m a i l
comsvc@hotmail.com or
v
i
s
i
t
www.meridenlibrary.org.
Save Connecticut Library Funding
The Governor’s proposed budget zeros out funding for Connecticard,
Cooperating Library Support Units, Grants to Public Libraries, and computer
access. Putting $2m in the budget for Connecticut Libraries will save
Connecticut’s taxpayers over $75m annually.
What can you do to help restore this funding? See Page 7.
Page 2
Www.meridenlibrary.org
Rescue of The Bounty
Author Mike Tougias will
be speaking about the
book Rescue of the
Bounty: disaster and
survival in Superstorm
Sandy on Tuesday, April
14 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin
Room. This riveting story
tells of the sinking and
rescue of the ship the
Bounty as it was caught in
Superstorm Sandy.
Captain Robin Walbridge
decided to sail the Bounty
from
New
London,
Connecticut
to
St.
Petersburg, Florida, even
though there was a
hurricane in the forecast.
He intended to sail around
the hurricane, but instead,
Superstorm Sandy made
almost a direct hit on the
ship. The ship took a brutal
beating with the storm and
finally sank off the North
Carolina coast. The Coast
Guard
launched
a
massive and dangerous
search and rescue mission
for the ship and its crew.
Through hundreds of
hours of interviews with
the crew members, their
families, and the coast
guard, the duo of Michael
J. Tougias and Douglas A.
Campbell created an indepth portrait of the
enigmatic
Captain
Walbridge, his motivations,
and what truly occurred
aboard Bounty during
those terrifying days at
sea.
All are welcome to this free
program. This program is
cosponsored by the
Meriden Historical Society
and funded by the Meriden
Public Library, Meriden
Historical Society, Friends
of the
Library and the
Meriden Foundation. To
reserve a seat, contact the
library at (203) 630-6349,
e
m
a
i
l
comsvc@hotmail.com or
v
i
s
i
t
www.meridenlibrary.org
College Financial Planning Night
Is college in your child’s
future? Come to the
Meriden Public Library
Griffin Room on Monday,
April 27 from 6:00 to 8:00
pm for a free college
financial planning night by
College4Less.
The 2 hour workshop will
discuss the FAFSA form,
CSS Profile form along
with other important
information parents need
to understand in order to
maximize the amount of
financial aid they are
eligible to receive. This
workshop
is
about
Financial Literacy and
educating families on the
process of getting their
student into the best fit
college.
College4Less
is
an
independent Connecticut
firm offering guidance and
assistance to parents and
students to better position
themselves to get into the
colleges of their choice at
the least possible cost.
This program is free and
all are welcome. Registration is required. Contact
College4Less at (203) 288
-4207 or 1-800-234-0511
to reserve a seat.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The
Volunteer
Tax
Assistance program (VITA)
at the Meriden Public
Library will end on April 15,
2015. V.I.T.A., which is
sponsored by the Internal
Revenue Service, provides
free help to taxpayers who
Page 3
cannot afford professional
assistance or who have
tax questions. Assistance
in preparing Connecticut
state tax forms will also be
available.
The final dates for tax
assistance are:
Wednesday, April 1, April
8, and April 15; Saturday,
April 4 and April 11.
Please call (860) 612-3983
Monday through Friday
from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm to
make an appointment.
Meriden Public Library
New Zealand: Land of Boundless Treasures
Join Joan and Rich Hamel
at Meriden Public Library
on Monday, April 6 at 1:30
pm in the Griffin Room for
their
multimedia
presentation New Zealand:
Land of Boundless Treasures.
New Zealand is comprised
of two main land masses.
Spectacular
glaciers,
picturesque fiords, rugged
mountains, vast plains,
rolling hills, subtropical
forest, and beautiful
beaches – all of this is
New Zealand. We will view
mountain peaks at Mt.
Cook, breathtaking scenery in Queenstown, and
acclimate our sense of
smell to the sulphur odor
at
Rotorua’s mud pits,
thermal pools and geysers.
Visit an independent
winery, sheep farm, follow
us into the depths of the
Ruakuri Caves and view
awe inspiring scenery at
Fiordland National Park.
All are invited to this free
program. This program is
cosponsored by the Castle
Craig Adult Learning
Center.
The Unbroken Circle
Dr. Victor Triay, History
professor at Middlesex
Community College, will
discuss his critically
acclaimed fictional trilogy
The Unbroken Circle at
Meriden Public Library on
Friday, April 10 at 1:30 pm
in the Griffin Room.
The Unbroken Circle focuses on a Cuban family
caught up in Castro’s
Revolution. Book I is titled
“The Struggle
Begins,”
Book II is called “Freedom
Betrayed,” and Book III is
“On Freedom’s Shores.´
Dr. Triay is also the author
of three non-fiction books
dealing with the Cuban
Revolution.
All are welcome to this free
program. Cosponsored by
Castle
Craig
Adult
Learning Center.
Machu-Picchu: Lost City of the Incas
Visit Machu Picchu: Lost
City of the Incas with
Frank and Phyllis Donovan
on Wednesday, April 15
at 1:30 pm in the Meriden
Public Library Griffin
Room.
Machu Picchu, in the
mountains of Peru’s
rainforest, was named as
one of the “New Seven
Wonders of the World” in
2007. Today it remains
alluringly shrouded in impenetrable mystery, raising
more questions than it
answers. What sort of
people
built
this
magnificent city in such a
rem ote,
i nac c es s i bl e
place? Why? How? They
had no written language,
no math, no metal tools for
cutting the huge stones,
and no beasts of burden.
Experience the images,
joys and mysteries of this
awe-invoking
W orld
Heritage site. All are
welcome to this free
program. Cosponsored by
Castle
Craig
Adult
Learning Center.
3D Printing
The Meriden Public Library has a 3D printer available for public use. Whether you
have a design you made yourself or one found online, you can reserve a time to come
in and print it out for free. Printer sessions are on Mondays from 5:30 – 7:30 pm,
Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and Thursdays from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. More
information about our 3D printer as well as how to sign up to use it will be found on our
website at meridenlibrary.org
Page 4
Www.meridenlibrary.org
Chess Club
Scrabble
Romance Readers Group
Do you enjoy playing
Scrabble? Stop in on
Monday, April 6 and April 20
at 2:00 pm in the Cook Room
at the Meriden Public Library
and enjoy a lively game with
new opponents. All skill
levels are welcome. Scrabble
boards are provided, but you
are welcome to bring your
own.
Is chess your game? Join
the Chess Club at Meriden
Public Library. They meet
the first Wednesday of each
month to play against each
other.
The April meeting is
scheduled for Wednesday,
April 1 at 6:30 pm in the
Seminar Room.
All skill
levels are welcome. Bring
your chess board.
The Romance Readers Group will
meet at the Meriden Public Library
on Monday, April 20 at 3:30 pm in
the Seminar Room.
This is not a traditional
reading group with assigned
books to read each month,
but a group of like-minded
fans of romance literature who
meet to discuss the genre in all its
aspects.
Please contact Becky at (203) 6306350 if you have any questions
about the group.
Writer’s Network
Are you writing a book?
Just getting started or
need some encouragement to finish? Join the
W riter’s Network
at
Meriden Public Library.
nonfiction, wants to learn
the process of getting
published, or needs
support for writing a book
proposal or query letter is
welcome to attend.
The Writer’s Network invites anyone who is serious about writing fiction or
The April meeting dates
are Monday, April 6 at 7:00
pm in the
Griffin Room
and Wednesday, April 22 at
7:00 pm in the Cook Room.
Contact the Community
Services Department at
(203) 630-6349 if you have
questions about any library
program.
Meriden Library Classics Group
Do you enjoy classic
novels and authors? Join
the Meriden Library
Classics Group.
The April meeting is on
Thursday, April 9 at 1:30
pm in the Cook Room and
the selection will be Age of
Innocence
by Edith
Wharton.
May’s selection is This Side
of Paradise by F. Scott
Fitzgerald.
Blackout Poetry Workshop
In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Meriden Public Library Teen Center will
host a Blackout Poetry workshop, on Tuesday, April 7th from 3 to 4:30 pm in the Cook
Room. Come and learn how to make poetry using just book pages, a Sharpie and a little
creativity. Sign up online at www.meridenlibrary.org or contact Melissa at
mmurphy@meridenct.gov or call (203) 238-2347.
Page 5
Meriden Public Library
Friends of the Library News
NOTE: The Friends $5 per Bag Spring Book Sale will be held in the book store on
April 13 to 18. Hours will be Mon. Thru Fri. 10 AM to 4 PM. Sat. 10 AM to 1 PM.
Friends President, June Vandal announced that we will need extra volunteers to work
on the book sale especially on the set up before the sale on Sat. April 11. If you are
able to help, please leave your name and phone number at the desk in the book store.
Library Director, Karen Roesler, is going before the City Finance Committee to discuss
the library’s budget request. Work will soon begin on new lighting and a new desk in
the circulation area. She noted that the current desks were installed when the library
first opened in 1973.
The Friends of Connecticut Libraries, represented by Frank Ridley, noted that the
proposed state budget seeks to zero out funding for libraries which would eliminate
needed programs and services. Frank will be leading a delegation of Friends and
trustees to join with the Connecticut Library Association on April 15 on a trip to the
State Capital in Hartford in support of funding for programs like Connecticard,
Cooperative Library Support and grants to public libraries. A shuttle bus will leave the
Meriden Library on Wed. April 15 at 11:00 AM and return around 3:00 PM. If you would
like to attend this event, please contact Director, Karen Roesler at the library, 203- 2382344.
See Page 7 for all the details of the budget cuts to Connecticut Libraries.
Anime Club
Free Computer Classes
Are you a fan of anime, manga
or just like Japanese culture?
Then come to the next meeting
of the Teen Anime Club at the
Meriden Public Library on
Friday, April 17th at 2:30 pm in
the Griffin Room.
All are welcome whether
you’re an otaku or just
d is c o v er in g a n im e an d
manga.
This program is
geared towards 13-18 year
olds. Food and drink are provided. If you have any
questions contact Melissa at
mmurphy@meridenct.gov or
call 203-238-2347.
Monday Night
Card Duels
Do you play Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon or
Magic: The Gathering? Come and play
with your friends at our monthly
Trading Card Game Night at Meriden
Public Library. The next meeting is on
Monday, April 20 at 6:00 pm. Snacks
and drinks will be provided. Bring your
own deck or learn how to play from
one of our members.
Meriden Public Library offers free
computer classes. To sign up for a class,
stop by the Information Desk or call (203)
238-2346. The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, April 1 at 1:45 pm – Basic
Computer Skills
Wednesday, April 8 at 1:45 pm – Basic
Computer Skills
Wednesday, April 15 at 1:45 pm –
Introduction to Email
Wednesday, April 22 at 1:45 pm - Basic
Computer Skills
Wednesday, April 29 at 1:45 pm –
Basic Computer Skills
Computer classes in Spanish.—
Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 am and
11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450 (203) 238-2344
The proposed State budget not only
zeroes out funding but eliminates the
enabling statutes that allow needed
library programs and services to exist!
The proposed budget :





Eliminates funding for the Connecticut Humanities Council
Eliminates funding for the Connecticard Program
Eliminates funding for Cooperating Library Supports
Eliminates Funding for Grants to Local Public Libraries
Eliminates Funding for Computer Access
Cutting Connecticard means

CT residents will no longer be able to borrow from any public library across the state and local
libraries will be forced to shut their doors to their neighbors

The savings CT residents realized through Connecticard ($68M in 2014 by borrowing 4.5 million
items from libraries across the state) will vanish
Slashing Cooperating Library Service Units (CLC) means

The Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC), formed by the merger of four CLSUs saving CT
taxpayers through coordinated services and efficiencies, will be crippled

Without state funding, CLC will severely hampered in its mission of saving public libraries and
taxpayers over $7.1M annually by coordinating the purchase of books and other products for the
state’s public, school and academic libraries.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Take the shuttle bus from the Meriden Public Library to Hartford with the Friends of the Library on
Wednesday, April 15 to rally in support of libraries. The bus leaves the Meriden Public Library at 11:00
am and returns at 4:00 pm. Contact library director Karen Roesler at (203) 630-6352, Alexis Burgess
at (203) 630-6349 or sign up through the calendar at www.meridenlibrary.org to reserve a seat.
Contact your Meriden state representative and let them know what the loss of these services would
mean to you!
Senator Dante Bartolomeo
860-240-8600 or 1-800-842-1420
Email: Bartolomeo@senatedems.ct.gov
Mail: State Capitol Room 011, Hartford, CT 06106-1591
State Representative Emil “Buddy” Altobello
860-240-8585 or 1-800-842-8267
Mail: Legislative Office Building Room 4015, Hartford, CT 06106-1591
State Representative Catherine Abercrombie
860-240-0492 or 1-800842-1902
Email: Catherine.Abercrombie@cga.ct.gov
Mail: Legislative Office Building Room 2002
State Representative Hilda Santiago
860-240-8500 or 1-800-842-8267
Email: Hilda.Santiago@cga.ct.gov
Mail: Legislative Office Building Room 4000
Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450 (203) 238-2344
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Wednesday, April 8
4-5 pm
Griffin Room
Robots
During April’s LEGO® Club,
kids will be invited to design a
robot. Open to ages 4+. We’ll
Wednesday, April 22 at 4-5pm
Griffin Room
provide the LEGO® bricks, you just
need to bring your imagination. All finished creations
will be put on display.
Sign up is not required – Late arrivals are
welcome.
Contact Gretchen if you have any questions:
gdurley@meridenct.gov or 203-630-6347
Read to a real dog at the library!
FOR PARENTS:
Raising Financially
Responsible Children
One-on-one sessions build confidence
for beginning readers!
Monday, April 20
6:30pm
Children’s Library
Thursdays, April 16, 23, and 30
at 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, and 4:45pm
Kids in K-4th Grades
Tomie dePaola Children’s Library
A free seminar that
provides age-appropriate
tips on how to teach kids
about the value and
responsible use of money.
Give your child the chance to practice
reading aloud to a gentle and trained
therapy dog. Children will have
approximately 15 minutes to read.
Spots are limited and registration is
required.
For more information, call the
Children’s Library at (203)630-6347.
Water and oil don’t mix. But watch what
happens when you add the fizz factor!
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Open to K-3rd graders.
All materials provided. Space is limited.
Call 203-630-6347 or e-mail gdurley@meridenct.gov
for more information or to register.
FOR KIDS:
Art Market
Tuesday, April 21
10:30-11:15am
Griffin Room
Children, K-2, will be given
play money to spend on
craft supplies to make a
beautiful mask. They will
explore wants vs. needs
and budgeting basics.
FOR KIDS:
Learning to Save with
Alexander
Thursday, April 23
2:30-3:30pm
Griffin Room
Kids, K-2, will hear a story
reading of "Alexander,
Who Used to be Rich Last
Sunday" and decorate a
ceramic piggy bank.
Wednesday, April 22
10:30-11:15am
Griffin Room
Children K-3 will learn more about trains and safe actions
around trains and tracks during this fun, engaging presentation
by CT DOL staff. Registration
requested.
For more information, call the
Children’s Library at (203)630-6347.
Meriden Public Library ● Tomie dePaola Children’s Library ● 105 Miller St. Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 630-6347 ● E-mail: juvmrd@hotmail.com
La Biblioteca Pública de Meriden presenta
Cuentacuentos/Bilingual Story Hour
Sábados a 11:00am
11 y 25 de abril
Saturdays at 11:00am
April 11 & 25
La hora del cuento es un programa divertido para familias y niños. Leyendo juntos los niños se preparan para ir a la
escuela y tener éxito. Todos están invitados a celebrar cuentos y juegos divertidos en español y en inglés. Habrá
refrescos y bocadillos.
Story hour is a fun program for families and children. Reading together helps prepare children for success in school.
Everyone is invited to listen to stories in English and Spanish and participate in games and crafts. Refreshments and
snacks will be served.
START ON
STORIES
Spring
TUESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
Thursdays
10:30am
10:15am
2’s with parent/caregiver
11:15am
3-4 years old
6:30pm
Grades K-2
10:30am
2-3 years old with parent/caregiver
11:15am
3-4 years old
6:30pm
3-4 years old
This story time program is designed for babies and
children through 2 years old accompanied by a
parent/caregiver. Stories, music, and play are incorporated into an hour-long
program beginning at 10:30 am.
Registration is ongoing.
Register by calling (203) 630-6347 or
e-mailing Miss Gretchen at
gdurley@meridenct.gov
Parents/caregivers may be asked to show proof of age.
Storytimes will end the week of April 13th, and begin the
week of May 4th.
“Night at the Museum:
Secret of the Tomb”
“Penguins of
Madagascar”
Saturday, April 4 at 2:30pm
Griffin Room
Saturday, April 18 at
2:30pm
Griffin Room
Get ready for the wildest and
most adventure-filled night as
Larry, the Museum’s security
guard, spans the globe, uniting
favorite and new characters
while embarking on an epic
quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. (PG:
20th Century Fox, 98 min.)
Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and
Private join forces with undercover organization The
North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine
from destroying the world
as we know it. (PG: Dreamworks, 92 min.)