Pequot Library In Southport To Host Full Lineup Of Free April Programs

The following announcement is from the Pequot Library:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Pequot Library hosts a roster of programs during April, many of which tie in with their current exhibition, Alphabets, Bedtime Stories, and Cautionary Tales: Children’s Books and the Shaping of American Identity, and all of which are free and open to the public. Of particular note, Library Giving Day falls on April 4, and the library will celebrate its newly-launched Young Patrons Group on that evening at 6:00 p.m. Read on for details.

The Schubert Club Piano Ensemble returns on April 1 at 2:00 p.m. for a concert. This group is one of the many musical arms of the Schubert Club of Fairfield County and has been in existence for nearly 40 years, giving concerts annually. It is made up of ensemble teams: duet, duo, sometimes even eight hands at two pianos. Enjoy a varied program of ensemble music.

On April 3 at 5:00 p.m., Jerry Pallotta joins the library for a Meet the Author, Jr. program. Pallotta has written over 90 books, including the popular Who Would Win series, and almost 30 alphabet books. He will talk about alphabet books as part of the Alphabets, Bedtime Stories, and Cautionary Tales: Children’s Books and the Shaping of American Identity exhibition and will stay afterward to sign books. A selection of his books will be available for purchase.

Tuesday, April 4 marks Library Giving Day, an annual fundraiser that benefits the library’s book-buying budget. The library will offer a special 10:30 a.m. Drop-In Storytime and a Building and Histpory Tour with Adult Programs Manager Charlie McMahon at 3:00 p.m. Learn about the history of the library, which was founded by Southport resident Virginia Marquand Monroe in 1889, while exploring the building’s iconic Tiffany & Company stained glass windows, original steel stacks, glass floors, reading rooms, and original fireplaces.

April 4 culminates with the 6:00 p.m. launch of the new Young Patrons Group, a dynamic group of friends, neighbors, and supporters in their 20s, 30s, and 40s looking to engage with their community through the lens of arts and culture at the library. This party is free and open to the public as an opportunity to showcase Pequot Library to their young (or young at heart) friends and neighbors. Courtney White will return as the speaker to talk about her time as the president of the Food Network, when she worked with Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, and Guy Fieri, as well as highlight works from the library’s historic cookbook collection donated by Pepperidge Farm founder Margaret Rudkin. White now works as the President of Butternut, a lifestyle and entertainment media company.

The library will hold a talk entitled “Debate and Controversy: Youth Literature in the Twenty-First Century” on April 13 at 6:00 p.m. with Fairfield University professor Dr. Bryan Crandall and several colleagues. From the time of the Puritans through the nineteenth century and to the present day, youth literature has evolved and shifted greatly. In the twenty-first century, children’s books and the topics they cover are often viewed as controversial. This talk is produced as part of the library’s Alphabets, Bedtime Stories, and Cautionary Tales: Children’s Books and the Shaping of American Identity exhibition, on view through May 6, 2023.

At 10:00 a.m. on April 8, the library holds its annual Easter Egg Roll on the Great Lawn. Dance the bunny hop, make crafts, play games, and meet the Easter Bunny himself. Bring your own hard-boiled eggs for coloring and decorating, and then choose a favorite egg to enter in the age-category races; also kindly bring a long-handled wooden spoon for the roll. This program is open to all ages.

On April 19 at 4:30 p.m., the library will hold a resume-writing workshop for teens in grades 10-12 as they look for summer jobs. John Kofron, Youth and Teen Library Services Manager, will impart strategies. He follows this program up the following Tuesday, April 26, with a 4:30 p.m. workshop on writing an effective cover letter.

Celebrate Earth Day on April 20 at 6:00 p.m. Tune into the deep, funky, and delightful sounds of nature at a live storytelling sound jam celebrating humans’ connections to animals and place. Hear tales from local storytellers and participate in indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) listening explorations, led by Meredith Barges, co-chair of Lights Out Connecticut and student policy researcher at Yale Law School. This program is family friendly, and all ages are welcome.

On April 27 at 2:00 p.m., the library holds a special edition of Out of the Vault. Join Special Collections Librarian Cecily Dyer in a conversation marking the 186th birthday of Pequot Library’s founder, Virginia Marquand Monroe (1837-1926). Explore the history of the Marquand family as well as the early history of the library’s building architecture.

Also on April 27, at 6:30 p.m., the library welcomes New York Times bestselling author William Martin for an in-person discussion about his acclaimed historical fiction titles such as Cape Cod, Back Bay, and Harvard Yard. Martin is currently promoting his newest novel, December
‘41. In addition, at 8:00 p.m., join an online discussion with New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger as he reflects upon his newest book in the Cork O’Connor series Fox Creek and his other works. Fox Creek follows Cork O’Connor in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries. This talk is produced in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

April 30 at 1:00 p.m., enjoy a pleasant afternoon of chamber music by advanced and intermediate string musicians from Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras. These string students study in the afternoon with coaches from Orchestra Lumos (formerly Stamford Symphony). GCTYO is proud to partner with the Orchestra Lumos on this special program. This event is suitable for families with young children.

Pequot Library also offers a number of ongoing programs for children and adults, from monthly Genealogy Roundtables to weekly Monday morning Write-Ins with Gabi Coatsworth. Also check out the digital author talks produced in conjunction with the Library Speakers Consortium, including recordings of past talks with Fredrik Backman, Geraldine Brooks, and Simon Winchester.

ABOUT PEQUOT LIBRARY:
Pequot Library’s annual programs for adults and children serve more than 30,000 participants a year. As a public association library 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Library relies on the generosity of donors at fundraisers, corporate and community partners, and Friends of Pequot Library memberships. Follow Pequot Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

— Flyer image via Pequot Library