Korolenko Central City Public Library
Mariupol, Ukraine

A sobering Night Owl on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the full-scale invasion, the Russian occupiers damaged 221 libraries and destroyed more than 100 libraries in Ukraine. Mariupol's Korolenko Library was filled with thousands of books. The collection of 120,000 books impressed not only residents but also visitors to the city. Today, the city is left with ruined buildings that have no life. The Mariupol Library has been relocated to Dnipro, where employees have been collecting donated books and electronic versions of books by Ukrainian authors to preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage and national identity.

On a positive note, volunteers have been evacuating books from under the rubble of libraries bombed by Russian aircraft. In Chernihiv, half of the 60,000 books in the library have been evacuated. Books In Hands is an initiative in Lviv aimed at collecting books for Ukrainian children and youth who lost their homes due to the war and are now in shelters without access to books and reading. The project organizers collect children's, adolescent, and youth literature in the Ukrainian language.

Programs this weekend

Books & Booties: The Music of Bees
Sunday, February 26, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Kick off your winter boots and gather around a fire in the Great Hall as we discuss The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin. Named a Good Morning America BUZZ PICK, A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick, an IndieNext Pick, and a LibraryReads Pick, this national best-seller is about the power of friendship, compassion in the face of loss, and finding the courage to start over (at any age) when things don't turn out the way you expect.

Over 20 copies of The Music of Bees are currently available through inter-library loan. Contact Front Desk Circulation at 860-542-5075 or [email protected] to reserve a copy today. Visit here to register for this program.

Film Screening and Discussion: Selma
Monday, March 6, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

In recognition of the historic 1965 march led by Dr. Martin Luther King on March 7-25, please join us at the Norfolk Library for a screening of Selma followed by discussion. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated with President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

From the Oscar-winning producers of 12 Years a Slave and acclaimed director Ava DuVernay comes this true story of courage and hope that changed the world forever. Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo shines as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who rallied his followers on the historic march from Selma to Montgomery in the face of violent opposition, an event that became a milestone victory for the civil rights movement. Oscar nominees Oprah Winfrey and Tom Wilkinson also star in this landmark film, released in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historical march and nominated for Best Picture in 2015. Visit here to register for this program.

Documentary Film: Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees
Thursday, March 9, 7:00 p.m.

The Norfolk Conservation Commission is sponsoring a screening of the documentary film Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees at the Norfolk Library on Thursday, March 9, at 7:00 p.m. Written by and featuring Diana Beresfoird-Kroeger, the film draws the viewer into the green world that sustains life on this planet. From the sacred sugi and cedar forests of Japan to the great boreal forest of Canada, Beresford-Kroeger shares the history and legacy of these old growth forests while explaining the science of trees and the irreplaceable role they play in protecting and feeding the planet. Please register here for this program.

The NCC serves as an advisory body to the Town Hall and to Norfolk residents on a wide range of issues, such as road salt pollution of waterways, invasive species control, pollinator plantings, and composting. One of its chief responsibilities is to issue and periodically update the Natural Resources Inventory. A new edition is due out later this year so stay tuned!

Mindfulness with Miranda Lee
Fridays in February, 9:15 - 10:15 via Zoom

Mindfulness can be defined as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” In this series, mindfulness practitioner Miranda Lee will teach participants how to live a more mindful life and equip them with the tools they need to help build resilience against the challenges of day-to-day life. Miranda's theme for February is "Self-Compassion." Visit here to register for the Zoom link. Anyone can join at any time.

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