Library Programs

Fertilized eggs arrive on Tuesday, September 10, with hatching expected in the library on Tuesday, October 1. Young chicks will depart to their permanent home at Farmer Joe's Gardens in Wallingford, Connecticut early on Tuesday, October 15. 

 

We’re excited to announce the return of our five-week long experience of incubating, hatching and raising Bantam chicks LIVE in the Children’s Room of the Canton Public Library. Eggs and chicks will be available to see and experience during library open hours from Tuesday, September 1 until Saturday, October 12.  Please check the library website to find out more about “candling” dates plus the days and times after October 1  that you can come and pet the baby chicks!  We hear tell that this year our chicks will be named after favorite children’s book characters!

Drop in on Tuesdays between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.  

Weekly September 17 - December 17 (no art studio on October 15 or November 26)

Children’s Programmer Sue Tarinelli designs a new art project each week for children aged 2 and up to complete here at the library with their grownup’s help. It’s a great way to encourage art exploration and fine motor development while visiting with other families!
Drop in and get creative each week with your little one, with all of the supplies provided.   

Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

Explore a variety of creative projects including knitting, perler beads, friendship bracelets, hand-stamped and illustrated lettering, and more. We provide project ideas, extra help, and all materials needed. Feel free to bring your own projects too. In October, get into the spooky spirit with Halloween décor projects, perfect for adding a festive touch to your space. Drop by, chill, and create. Open to anyone in Grades 4-12; free.

Sponsored by Canton Public LIbrary.

Did you know that there is growing scientific evidence that cognitive decline, Alzheimer's and dementia may be prevented, reduced or reversed?  Join Dr. Wendy Hurwitz as she uses the latest information to teach easy, simple, drug-free things you can do that may help prevent, reduce, or reverse cognitive decline, and strategies to optimize brain health. This is a two part series, and although it's recommended that you attend both you can definitely attend one and still get some great information.

A graduate of Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Wendy Hurwitz is a nationally recognized expert on stress. A former medical researcher for ABC News, Dr. Hurwitz is an expert in two fields: Mind/Body Medicine and Energy Medicine.
Registration is required for both programs.
Thank you for keeping these programs fragrance free. Sponsored by Arden Courts of Avon and Farmington.

Drop in on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Weekly September 18 - December 18 (no story time on October 16 or November 27)

Start early and let us help you grow your reader!
We’ll sing, talk, read, and play with your baby and you. Using nursery rhymes, songs, baby sign, short books we read together, plus bounces and bubbles, Children’s Librarian Heather Baker will provide 45 minutes of "library time" to build early literacy skills in our youngest children. This quieter and cuddly group is for children from birth - 12 mo.
Children up to 18 months can attend if they aren’t yet “movers and shakers.”  Older siblings are always invited attend with babies and their beloved grown-ups.

Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

Join us in kicking off October as we welcome three Smithsonian-affiliated scientists to teach us about the remarkable world of tropical bats!
Click to Register Today!

For decades, scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have studied the remarkable biodiversity of bats on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, where an astonishing seventy-six species coexist. Now, for the first time, Smithsonian scientists’ expertise pairs with the stunning photography of National Geographic contributor Christian Ziegler for a captivating visual journey into the fascinating world of these elusive night creatures, to bring you the book Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats.

Register now for this rare look into Bat Island!
Click to Register Today! Sponsored by Friends of the Canton Public Library.

​Drop in on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.  

Weekly September 19 - December 19 (no story time on October 19 or November 28)

Story time is our favorite time of the week!  For children aged 3 to 5 years, with a parent/caregiver.
 Join Ms. Heather for stories, rhymes, songs, and games as we introduce your preschoolers to language, literature, and the library. 
We'll end every week with an art project created by Ms. Sue. Stop first at the Children’s Desk for nametags.

Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

Teen Games Unplugged: Step away from screens and dive into an afternoon of classic and modern board games with Teen Librarian Meghan Glasgow. Whether you're into old-school favorites like “Sorry,” “Uno,” and “Guess Who,” or want to try something new like Azul, Exploding Kittens, or Apples to Apples, we’ve got you covered. Not familiar with a game? No problem—we’ll teach you how to play! Open to students in Grades 4-12; just drop in and join the fun. Sponsored by Canton Public LIbrary.

Drop in on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Weekly September 20 - December 20 (no story time on October 18 or November 29)
 

Let us help grow your reader. We’ll be introducing children aged 1 to 3 years plus their loved ones to language, literature, and the library through songs, rhymes, stories, and games.  An active group where parents and caregivers are heartily encouraged to play and sing along. Siblings are also welcome to attend.  Stop first at the Children’s Desk for nametags.
 

 Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

Join us for First Friday Flicks, a free movie the first Friday of every month at 1:00 pm. In October, we'll be showing Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

Colt Seavers is a stuntman returning to work after a near career-ending accident, determined to win back the love of his life, director Jody Moreno. But when he arrives on set, he discovers that the leading man has gone missing, putting the entire production in jeopardy. Don’t miss this action-packed adventure, filled with thrilling stunts, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a timeless love story—all in one exhilarating film!

Feel free to bring your own snacks and beverages with a lid.

Drop in on Tuesdays between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.  

Weekly September 17 - December 17 (no art studio on October 15 or November 26)

Children’s Programmer Sue Tarinelli designs a new art project each week for children aged 2 and up to complete here at the library with their grownup’s help. It’s a great way to encourage art exploration and fine motor development while visiting with other families!
Drop in and get creative each week with your little one, with all of the supplies provided.   

Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

Explore a variety of creative projects including knitting, perler beads, friendship bracelets, hand-stamped and illustrated lettering, and more. We provide project ideas, extra help, and all materials needed. Feel free to bring your own projects too. In October, get into the spooky spirit with Halloween décor projects, perfect for adding a festive touch to your space. Drop by, chill, and create. Open to anyone in Grades 4-12; free.

Sponsored by Canton Public LIbrary.

Calling all true crime enthusiasts! Join us this fall for a series of programs designed to satisfy your inner arm chair detective. Registration can be found with each individual program listing. Register for one or all! 

-Murder & Mayhem: True Crime with the Connectictut Museum of Culture & History - September 24 - 7:00 PM
-The Manson Family: Questions, Answers, and More Questions - October 8 - 6:30 PM
-Bridget Brosnahan: Forensic Expert - October 16 - 6:30 PM
-True Crime Book Chats - November 12 - 6:30 PM
 

Public School history Teacher and UCONN adjunct instructor Patrick Richardson explores the legacy and myths surrounding Charles Manson, the Manson Family, and the “Helter Skelter” murders of 1969. Patrick has studied the case in depth for several years, traveled to key historical sites dealing with the case in California, and has spoken to several experts who are directly connected to key figures involved in the case. We will explore the key reasons why this case still fascinates and disturbs us today.

Registration Required.

Drop in on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Weekly September 18 - December 18 (no story time on October 16 or November 27)

Start early and let us help you grow your reader!
We’ll sing, talk, read, and play with your baby and you. Using nursery rhymes, songs, baby sign, short books we read together, plus bounces and bubbles, Children’s Librarian Heather Baker will provide 45 minutes of "library time" to build early literacy skills in our youngest children. This quieter and cuddly group is for children from birth - 12 mo.
Children up to 18 months can attend if they aren’t yet “movers and shakers.”  Older siblings are always invited attend with babies and their beloved grown-ups.

Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

You’re invited to free your mind with the highly acclaimed Silvia Moreno-Garcia, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several novels including Mexican Gothic, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and many more!

Click here to register today!

Moreno-Garcia’s most recent novel, The Seventh Veil of Salome, set in 1950s Hollywood, follows two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood, a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue.  But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod. Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.
 
Join us as Moreno-Garcia chats with us about Latin American Genre fiction, her writing process and journey, as well as her newest book The Seventh Veil of Salome.

Click here to register! Sponsored by Friends of the Canton Public Library.

​Drop in on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.  

Weekly September 19 - December 19 (no story time on October 19 or November 28)

Story time is our favorite time of the week!  For children aged 3 to 5 years, with a parent/caregiver.
 Join Ms. Heather for stories, rhymes, songs, and games as we introduce your preschoolers to language, literature, and the library. 
We'll end every week with an art project created by Ms. Sue. Stop first at the Children’s Desk for nametags.

Free; Drop-in, registration not required.​

Join our Science Book Discussion Group at Good Friends Restaurant.  Every month we read a nonfiction Science book or a Science Fiction novel and have a lunch discussion.  You can borrow the current book  at our library circulation desk.  All adults are welcome at our book discussions.  Call or email Beth Van Ness if you have any questions about the group or the readings.  860-693-5800 or bvanness@libraryconnection.info  You can register if you are new to the group and you will receive emails about this book discussion group.

"A quarter of a century after her first book, Thinking in Pictures, forever changed how the world understood autism, Temple Grandin--the "anthropologist from Mars," as Oliver Sacks dubbed her--transforms our understanding of the different ways our brains are wired. Visual thinkers constitute a far greater proportion of the population than previously understood, she reveals, and a more varied one, from the purest "object visualizers" like Grandin herself, with their intuitive knack for engineering and problem-solving, to "visual spatials"--the abstract, mathematical thinkers who excel in pattern recognition and systemic thinking. With her genius for demystifying science, Grandin draws on cutting-edge research to take us inside visual thinking and its intuitive affinities for design, innovation, and problem-solving. She also makes us aware of how a world geared to the highly verbal screens out visual thinkers from an early age. Rather than continuing to waste their singular gifts, driving a collective loss in productivity and competitiveness, Grandin proposes new approaches to educating, parenting, employing, and collaborating with visual thinkers. In a highly competitive world, this important book helps us to see, we need every mind on board."--|cProvided by publisher.

Teen Games Unplugged: Step away from screens and dive into an afternoon of classic and modern board games with Teen Librarian Meghan Glasgow. Whether you're into old-school favorites like “Sorry,” “Uno,” and “Guess Who,” or want to try something new like Azul, Exploding Kittens, or Apples to Apples, we’ve got you covered. Not familiar with a game? No problem—we’ll teach you how to play! Open to students in Grades 4-12; just drop in and join the fun. Sponsored by Canton Public LIbrary.

Join us on the second Thursday of each month for a fun craft adventure.  Try out some new techniques and go home with a completed project. 

Decorative Gourd Season is upon us, so in October, turn the pages of an old mass-market paperback into your very own paper pumpkin.  It's upcycling at its finest!
 
All materials and supplies are included.  Registration is required.    Registration opens on September 1.