Welcome back to Behind the Stacks! Let’s take a sneak peek at what’s coming up here at the West Haven Library!
Feeling competitive? Join us this Saturday, May 24th for an all-ages chess tournament! This event is a fundraiser hosted by the Connecticut State Chess Association (CSCA). Proceeds from the tournament help the CSCA to offer free chess classes at libraries and other non-profit organizations. West Haven residents can participate for a reduced entry fee of $20, and there will be medals, trophies, and cash prizes for participants to win. Registration is required and must be done online before May 24th. Please call or stop by the library if you would like help registering!
Looking for something to do over the summer? Join the club! Really – we have several clubs and groups that meet at the library on a regular basis. There are currently five ongoing book clubs: three at the Main library and two at our Ora Mason branch. We also have a monthly support group called Our Journey of Sight for blind and low-vision individuals and caretakers to share advice, learn about resources, and socialize. Want to share some tips and tricks with other crocheters or cross stitchers? Try out our Crochet and Cross Stitch Clubs where you can bring in your current project to work on and chat and exchange ideas with your fellow crafters! Are your skills more culinary than crafty? Join our Cooking Club! There is a different theme each month for participants to experiment with–bring in a dish that fits the theme and try out others’ recipes. The theme for June will be Indian food!
The library will be hitting the road this summer as our Outreach Librarian, Melissa, will be at various West Haven locations throughout the season! On Mondays you can spot the bookmobile at the Glade Street apartments and the Laundromax on the Post Road. Tuesdays we will be at the CT Mobile Food Bank; and Wednesdays you can find us at the Charlotte Bacon playground and W.H.E.A.T.! Remember–our bookmobile services can be essential for elderly or homebound patrons who are unable to physically make it into the library.
We’ve got plenty of events for the little ones as well! Torch Tales, LLC will be hosting two Live-Action-Roleplay (LARP) story-telling events for children in grades 1-3 and 4-6. Dress up, make decisions, and decide where the story goes! Kids of all ages can join us on the Town Green on June 18th for the Summer Reading Kickoff Picnic and enjoy snacks, bubbles, chalk, face painting, water balloons, and more! Finally, teens can have a bunch of tasty treats during our
Teen Taste Testers program! Challenge yourself and your friends to a blind taste test of different brands of snack foods.
As always, we have a lot going on at the library this month! There is a lot more to look forward to this summer, so make sure to check out our program listings on our website or stop by the library to learn more! Make sure you also keep an eye out for us in the Memorial Day Parade this weekend and say hi!