Saraland
Alabama
The Brookfield Library Newsletter - December 2022
Schools and Libraries
November 30, 2022
From: The Brookfield LibraryDear Friends,
Happy Holidays! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are getting into the festive spirit here at The Brookfield Library!
We will be bringing "Holiday Magic" to the Library on Saturday, December 17 at 2 pm. Harpist Wendy Kerner will be in our Community Room with a performance for the season that you will not want to miss!
Construction on the downstairs ADA bathroom renovation will wrap up this month and we look forward to having accessible facilities on both floors!
We want to hear about your fondest memories of The Brookfield Library! Starting December 23, we invite you to share your memories on sticky notes downstairs in the Community Room as we get ready to ring in a new year.
Recently, The Friends of The Brookfield Library sent out their annual appeal letter. This organization gives so much time, creativity, and much-needed funding to help bolster our programs all year long. Please consider making a tax deductible donation or purchasing a Brookfield Library tote bag to support this deserving group. Interested in becoming a Friend? Join and volunteer at book sorting dates, book sales, and other events. The Friends meet monthly on the first Tuesday of each month here at the Library.
Details for all of our offerings are below. There is something for everyone here at The Brookfield Library!
Happy reading and Happy Holidays!
Tracey L. Wehking
Library Director
Current Library Hours and Holiday Closings
Library hours are:
Monday and Wednesday 10 am–6 pm
Tuesday and Thursday 10 am–8 pm
Friday and Saturday 10 am–5 pm
Sunday Noon–4 pm
The Library will be closed on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, December 24, 25, and 26, in observance of Christmas Day, as well as Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, December 31, January 1, and 2, for New Year's Day.
We wish all of our patrons a happy and healthy holiday season!
Brookfield Health Department Vaccine Clinics:
Offering Moderna and Novavax Primary and Booster Doses.
We do not carry Pfizer
Town Hall - By Appointment Only, 100 Pocono Road, Brookfield
Please call Tracey Cahill, Public Health Nurse at the Brookfield Health Department at (203)775-7314 to schedule an appointment for COVID 19 vaccinations/boosters.
Coming Soon!
The Friends of the Brookfield Library
Giving Tree
Bring a non-perishable food item and receive a paper ornament to decorate for this year's Giving Tree, which will be located in the Teen section at the Library. Food items will benefit Social Services of the Town of Brookfield. All non-perishable items are welcome, but the following goods would be especially helpful:
Ranch & Italian dressing
Mayonnaise
Paper towels
Napkins
Toilet Tissue
Thank you in advance for helping your neighbors during this important time of the year!
Mindfulness for All
Thursday, December 8
7:00–8:00 pm
by Zoom
Prabha Makayee will lead a guided mindfulness session on Zoom. Zoom information will be sent prior to the event. No camera or microphone necessary to participate.
Topics covered may include: Gratitude takes Guts, Self-Sabotage to Self-Love, I am the Boss of Me, I Want Answers, Failure is the Key, and Worrier to Warrior, and many more!
Prabha Makayee is an educator and mindfulness leader who has been offering mindfulness sessions to libraries in the area for the past year. The country-wide COVID shutdown, along with the glut of online bombardment, seemed to be a natural call to pause, and mindfulness provides the perfect antidote that can help address any problem by helping us take charge and empower ourselves to manage ourselves to our highest potential. She’ll use anecdotal reflections and interaction to help bring the benefits of mindfulness to all with one second, one thought, one breath strategy.
Register here to receive the Zoom information.
Concert
Wendy Kerner
Holiday Magic on the Harp
Saturday, December 17
2:00–3:00 pm
In the Community Room
Share in the glorious music of the holidays, traveling through the ages with the sounds of many lands and cultures from ancient to today. Juilliard graduate and international concert artist Wendy Kerner invites you to enjoy the beauty of the harp and to celebrate with this enchanting cultural festival.
Harpist Wendy Kerner was described by The New York Times as "first-rate." She will explore the music of the winter holidays with Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa selections from around the world including familiar favorites as well as seasonal music by Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, and Britten. Wendy will also include discussion about the harp, the music, and some of our favorite holiday traditions.
The Brookfield Library Art Gallery
The Brookfield Library Art Gallery continues to present Cozy Connecticut, a fine art exhibition by Dennis Stuart on view from November 2 to December 21, 2022. The award-winning painter from New Milford uses both oil and watercolors to convey nature’s ethereal atmosphere, and his work enchants the viewer with suggestive texture. From cozy countrysides to marinas, Stuart’s paintings successfully capture the essence of Connecticut.
A virtual version of the exhibition is available on The Brookfield Library’s website, www.brookfieldlibrary.org/art-gallery.
The Brookfield Library Art Gallery is located in the Library's Community Room and is open during the Library’s regular operating hours. Please check-in at the Circulation Desk before entering the Gallery.
Area artists interested in being considered for future shows in The Brookfield Library Art Gallery are invited to submit samples of their work by emailing The Brookfield Library Art Gallery Committee at [email protected]. The Committee will review all submissions.
For more news and updates on our Art Gallery, follow us on Instagram @brookfieldlibraryartgallery.
Adult Services
Head of Adult Services Librarian, Sarah-Ruth Tasko (left) Adult Services Librarian, Shannon Hitchcock (middle) Reference Librarian, Joy Devorsetz (right)
Unraveled: Knitting & Crocheting Circle
Sunday, December 4, 2:00–3:30 pm
and Monday, December 19, 3:00–4:30 pm
In the Community Room
We are now offering a Sunday meeting! The Unraveled Knitting and Crocheting Circle meets each month to knit and crochet personal endeavors or community service projects, while having some wonderful social time. Participants guide newbies, share project ideas, and show their beautiful creations. Bring in projects you’re currently working on, swap and share supplies, techniques, and ideas, or just come in to chat and share your favorite knitting and crocheting stories. All skill levels are welcome, even beginners, as our members would love to show you the ropes.
Registration is required. Please click one or both of the dates listed above to register.
Meditative Coloring
Monday, December 5, 4:00–5:00 pm
In the Community Room
Color your worries away! This month we will be focusing on holiday-inspired coloring pages. All ages are welcome! Drop in to color with us. Supplies will be made available for you to color at the Library or finish your pages at home.
Want to color on your own? We are selecting or creating new coloring pages every week that you can pick up at the Library. Just email Shannon at [email protected] or call the Library at 203-775-6241 to request weekly pages.
Book Folding Holiday Tree
Wednesday, December 7, 4:00–5:30 pm
In the Community Room
Join us for a relaxing afternoon while practicing the art of book folding. Create a holiday tree out of a gently-used book and decorate it with recycled jewelry, ribbon, and beads. All supplies are provided.
Chess Club—ALL AGES!
Thursday, December 8 from 4:30–5:30 pm
Thursday, December 22 from 4:30–5:30 pm
In the Community Room
This month’s Chess Club is open to all ages! Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or expert player, young or not-so-young, join us for some fun and challenging intergenerational play!
Registration required. Please click one or both of the dates listed above to register.
Making Holiday Baubles
Friday, December 9, 3:00–4:00 pm
In the Community Room
Using supplies that have been pre-cut on our Cricut machine, we will be making pretty ornaments from a variety of holiday-themed paper. All supplies are provided. Space is limited, so save your spot today!
Movie Matinee: Elf
Saturday, December 10, 1:00–2:45 pm
In the Community Room
After accidentally falling into Santa Claus' gift sack, a human baby is raised at the North Pole, growing up to believe he is an elf. Due to his large size, the "elf" causes chaos in Santa's workshop, forcing Kris Kringle to send him on a mission to find his human roots. Starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, and Mary Steenburgen.
Rated PG for some mild rude humor and language. 97 minutes.
Snacks will be provided!
Rockefeller Center Tour with Toni McKeen
Monday, December 12, 6:00–7:30 pm
on Zoom
Trying to feed your travel bug? Join us for a tour of Rockefeller Center! Toni McKeen will share with us the history of this special place, including the famous Art Deco Rockefeller Center complex, its famous Statues of Atlas and Prometheus at the skating rink, and the history of Radio City Music Hall.
Movie Night: Top Gun
Tuesday, December 13, 5:30–7:45 pm
In the Community Room
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw, call sign: “Rooster”, the son of Maverick's late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”. Starring Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Val Kilmer, and Monica Barbaro.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some strong language. 131 minutes.
Snacks will be provided!
Women & Money Roundtable
How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets
Wednesday, December 14, 1:00–2:00 pm
on Zoom
Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. They’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. They’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. The roundtable series is open to women with any level of financial knowledge.
Holiday Card and Tag Creations
Thursday, December 15, 2:00–3:30 pm
In the Community Room
Let’s get together for our card and tag-making craft event. During this program, you’ll be guided and create a holiday card(s) and a gift tag. All supplies are provided.
Needle Felting For Adults: Snowpeople
Friday, December 16, 3:00–4:30 pm
In the Community Room
'Tis the season . . .
Celebrate the winter season by making needle felted snowpeople with us.
Join us for a continuation of our needle felting series and make some festive decorations. Supplies will be provided. Space is limited, so reserve your seat today.
Personalized Reading Suggestions
Looking for your next good read? Fill out and submit this short form on the Library's website and a librarian will email you 3–5 book recommendations picked just for you! Once you approve we'll get them ready for curbside pickup.
Book Groups
Brookfield Reads
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Tuesday, December 20, 1:00–2:00 pm
in the Community Room with Zoom option
New members are always welcome!
Copies of the book are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.
A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary…
Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance, and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.
Email Sarah-Ruth ([email protected]) with any questions about Brookfield Reads.
Perfect Match
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Tuesday, December 27, 6:30–7:30 pm
in the Community Room
New members are always welcome!
Copies of the book are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.
Oy! to the world!
Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.
But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg.
Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.
Email Shannon ([email protected]) with any questions about Perfect Match.
Fact Not Fiction
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
by Ruth Reichl
Wednesday, December 28, 4:30–5:30 pm
in the Community Room
New members are always welcome!
Copies of the book are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.
Trailblazing food writer and beloved restaurant critic Ruth Reichl took the job (and the risk) of a lifetime when she entered the high-stakes world of magazine publishing. Now, for the first time, she chronicles her groundbreaking tenure as editor-in-chief of Gourmet.
When Condé Nast offered Ruth Reichl the top position at America’s oldest epicurean magazine, she declined. She was a writer, not a manager, and had no inclination to be anyone’s boss. Yet Reichl had been reading Gourmet since she was eight; it had inspired her career. How could she say no?
This is the story of a former Berkeley hippie entering the corporate world and worrying about losing her soul. It is the story of the moment restaurants became an important part of popular culture, a time when the rise of the farm-to-table movement changed, forever, the way we eat. Listeners will meet legendary chefs like David Chang and Eric Ripert, idiosyncratic writers like David Foster Wallace, and a colorful group of editors and art directors who, under Reichl’s leadership, transformed stately Gourmet into a cutting-edge publication. This was the golden age of print media—the last spendthrift gasp before the internet turned the magazine world upside down.
Complete with recipes, Save Me the Plums is a personal journey of a woman coming to terms with being in charge and making a mark, following a passion and holding on to her dreams—even when she ends up in a place she never expected to be.
Email Joy ([email protected]) with any questions about Fact Not Fiction.
Book ‘Em
No meeting this month
Email Shannon ([email protected]) with any questions about Book ‘Em.
Fall Storytimes Schedule
Please note: The week of December 12 is the last week of the Fall Session. Our Winter Session will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
Storytime Adventures (for ages 2–5)
Mondays and Tuesdays, 10–10:45 am
In the Community Room unless otherwise specified.
This program encourages creative expression, social skills, listening comprehension, and vocabulary building through stories, songs, flannel boards rhymes, and movement activities. Please register:
Monday, December 5 & Tuesday, December 6 – Hats & Mittens
Monday, December 12 & Tuesday, December 13 – Gingerbread
Fun & Friends (for ages 6 months–5 years)
Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00 am
In the Community Room
A casual gathering for parents/caregivers and their children, this program features free-play time, a brief storytime and craft for the children, and socializing for the adults. Meet new friends or catch up with people you already know. Please register:
Shake, Rattle & Read (for ages 6–24 months)
Fridays, 10–10:45 am
In the Community Room unless otherwise specified
This lap sit program promotes social skills and early language development and lays the foundation for reading through letter, color, shape and number recognition. It includes stories, songs, rhymes, finger plays, puppets, and movement activities. Please register:
Special Events
Chess Club—ALL AGES!
In the Community Room
Thursday, December 8 from 4:30–5:30 pm
Thursday, December 22 from 4:30–5:30 pm
This month’s Chess Club is open to all ages! Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or expert player, young or not-so-young, join us for some fun and challenging intergenerational play! Please click one or two of the above links to register.
Ornament Workshop
Grades K–5
Saturday, December 3
10:00 am–11:30 am
In the Community Room
There will be four stations set up and participants will be able to make up to four different ornaments.
Registration Required
Gingerbread House Workshop
Saturday, December 17
10:00 am–11:30 am
In the Community Room
This is a family event where each family will be able to decorate a house together. Please only register one member of your family to hold your spot. If possible, please bring in an empty and clean cardboard half gallon milk or juice carton. Registration Required
Children’s Programs
Kids STEAM: Elf Sled
Grades 3–5
Thursday, December 1
5:30 –6:30 pm
In the Community Room
Using cardboard, paper tubes, string and candy canes participants will engineer a sled for Holly Bell McReadsalot, the Library’s Elf on the Shelf. Registration Required
Brookfield Builders—ALL AGES
Saturday, December 10
10:00–11:00 am
In the Community Room
Use the Library's HUGE collection of Lego? building bricks to make your own creation or construct something with a friend. For kids of all ages. Registration Required
Namaste Me Down to Sleep Yoga & Bedtime Stories
Theme: Winter Wonderland
Thursday, December 8
6:30–7:30 pm
In the Community Room
Please bring your own yoga mat if possible as there are a limited number available to borrow from the Library. This program is best for ages 3 and up. It will include a couple of slow yoga flows, two relaxing stories, and mindfulness and breathing exercises. Registration Required
Science Explorers: Holiday iSpy Sensory Bottle (age 4–Grade 2)
Tuesday, December 20
4:00–5:45 pm
In the Community Room
Get in the holiday spirit and make a fun iSpy sensory bottle to take home and enjoy with your family and friends!
Registration Required
Pajama Storytime (for ages 3 and up)
Thursday, December 22
6:30 pm
In the Children’s Area of the Library
Come to the picture book area of the Library to share three BRAND NEW stories with Miss Meg before bedtime. Pajamas are encouraged! Registration required
Read to a Therapy Dog
For kids in First Grade and Up
Please register by clicking the desired timeslot below.
What do you get when you bring children and dogs and books together? You get happy, confident children who love to read! Each child will be able to read with Rio (Monday Evenings) or Mia (Tuesday Evenings) for 15 minutes inside in the Children’s Area.
Rio:
Rio – Monday, December 5 – 4:30 pm 4:45 pm 5:00 pm 5:15 pm
Rio – Monday, December 12 - 4:30 pm 4:45 pm 5:00 pm 5:15 pm
Mia:
Mia – Tuesday, December 6 - 5:00 pm 5:15 pm 5:30 pm 5:45 pm
Mia – Tuesday, December 13 - 5:00 pm 5:15 pm 5:30 pm 5:45 pm
Mia – Tuesday, December 20 - 5:00 pm 5:15 pm 5:30 pm 5:45 pm
Teen Services
Our Teen Programs will be on a brief hiatus for the month of December. Be on the lookout for lots of fun activities in January 2023 for teens.
Please call the Library if you should need any assistance or if you have any questions regarding teen books from our catalog.
Technology & Craft Classes
Machine Embroidery Class: Snowflake Ornament
December 14, 2:00–3:30 pm OR December 15, 6:00–7:30 pm
Learn to make a festive snowflake appliqué using our embroidery machines and a technique called In-The-Hoop.
No experience necessary.
Ages 13 and up, registration required.
Register for December 14
Register for December 15
Open Embroidery & Sewing
Thursday, December 29, 2:00–3:30 pm OR 6:00–6:30 pm
Open time to use the Library's embroidery or sewing machines. Bring your own project or use some of our supplies to make your own.
There will be no formal instruction, but assistance will be provided for the machines if necessary.
Open to ages 13 and up only, registration required.
2:00 pm Embroidery
6:00 pm Embroidery
New Resource for Jobseekers
Designed to support every step of the job search process, JobNow features live, online coaches who assist with resumes, cover letters, and preparation for job interviews. Job coaches also help users strategically target jobs best suited to their interests and qualifications. The Adult Learning Center provides foundational, career-enhancing skills to job seekers, and also offers test preparation and an academic skills center with live, online tutors.
Fine Policy
As you may know, The Brookfield Library recently became fine-free for most of the items patrons are able to borrow. Overdue fines are still charged for museum passes, hotspots, STEAM kits, and Early Literacy backpacks. Please consult Policy 200: Circulation of Library Materials for details regarding borrowing and fines. If you have an overdue item, please make every effort to return it as soon as possible. Any items can be returned in the outside book drop. Please note that some libraries are charging fines for all items; these fines will appear on your account for returned overdue items.
You may also log in to your account to see if any checked out items are able to be renewed.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Get Involved!
The Friends of The Brookfield Library (FOBL) will be meeting on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 6:30 pm in the Community Room.
If you would like more information on what the Friends do, or would like to join this great group, please contact Georgette May at [email protected].
The New Library Committee will be meeting on December 14, at 6:00 pm in the Community Room.
The Library Board of Trustees will be meeting on Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00 pm in the Community Room.
Please join us for any of the above meetings!