A Real Giving Tree Story!

During the 2021 replacement of the geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at Avon Free Public Library, several trees had to be cut down on the library grounds, including the beautiful maple tree pictured here.

photo of maple tree

Now in 2022, that tree has returned to the library in the form of two benches and a conference table.  Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of Avon Library who funded this project, and the talent of Ted Esselstyn and the team at City Bench, the wood from two maple trees was milled, dried, and used to create this beautiful furniture!

A “live edge” bench in the library’s Gallery

An eight foot long table in the first floor conference room

A “waterfall” bench in the library’s Gallery (since relocated to the Children’s & Teen Services floor)

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The Stages of a Business: From Start-Up to Succession – presented by the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce

The Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce and the Avon Free Public Library are pleased to offer business-oriented presentations free for interested area professionals.

What stage is your business currently — Start-Up? Established? Approaching Retirement? At each stage there are new challenges along with new opportunities to grow and improve, but many never take the time to look at where they are and take action. Please enjoy this panel discussion to learn more about, and an honest assessment of, each phase of a business.

Presented by Gena Hamilton from Exact Digital Media, Michael Mezheritskiy from Milestone Asset Management Group, and Vic Bible from IFFS Eldercare Consultants

Moderated by David Olchowski from Acadia ActionCOACH

Stream the presentation here.

Visit the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce website.

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Online test preparation resources from Avon Library

Avon Library is excited to announce a new online test preparation resource available with your Avon Library card.  Mometrix e-Library has the largest catalog of any test preparation publisher, now offering over 3,500 products covering over 1,500 different standardized exams.  With your Avon Library card, you can access a curated collection of 50 different online test preparation resources for college admissions and placement, graduate and professional schools, occupational licenses, and career advancement.

Test prep tips, digital flashcards, and sample exams area available for a variety of standardized tests including the ACT, AP, and SAT college entrance exams, the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT graduate school exams, and various professional exams for careers in fields such as public safety, social work, teaching, and transportation.  Mometrix e-Library also has employment resources including interview and resume tips.  Your Avon Library barcode from your library card is required to login to Mometrix e-Library from outside of Avon Library’s network.

See all of Avon Library’s online job and career resources by clicking here, or go to the Research tab of our website to browse all of our online databases and learning platforms.

 

 

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Check out our new library card options!

Beginning this summer, your Avon Library card just got a lot cooler!  Check out the six new designs available to choose from when you apply for or renew your library card.  Your card still provides you all the same great benefits, including free access to books, DVDs, and more inside the library, the ability to download e-books and e-audiobooks from our website and apps, and a free login to our online learning platforms and research databases.  But now you can choose from six exciting library card designs in addition to our “classic” card.  All six versions of the card were designed and created by Avon residents.

Stop by Avon Library today to get or renew your card.  While you are here, be sure to check out our summer gallery display of more than 50 designs entered in our Art on a Card contest earlier in the year.

Congratulations to our winners Aishwarya Balaji, Sara Curran, Shadan Gadkarim, Lidia Kapylova, Dagny Tang, and Shriya Vinodh!

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Download our new Library Connection app!

The Library Connection Mobile app gives you access to many of Avon Library’s resources, all in one place.  Store a digital copy of your library card, search our catalog and place holds, check your library account, see upcoming library events and more!  Download the app by going to the Android Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and search for Library Connection Mobile.

Launch the app and then enter your library card number and PIN to get started. For assistance, please ask at the Reference Desk or reach out by phone (860-673-9712 x4) or via email.

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The Potential Is All Mine – presented by the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce

The Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce and the Avon Free Public Library are pleased to offer business-oriented presentations free for interested area professionals.

Ever wonder why some individuals overachieve? Ever ponder why some individuals underachieve? There are certain things we cannot control; but Learning Not to Give Up, Having A Positive Mindset, A Clear Purpose, a Focus On Your Goals, and Hard Work are all traits that can lead to greater achievement.

In this presentation we will explore:

  • Ways To Maximize Potential
  • How To Utilize An Athletic Mentality In Everyday Life
  • How To View Accomplishments In A New Manner
  • Does Speed Slow You Down?
  • The Control Mentality

Presented by Dr. Brian Magna, DPT, Magna Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center

Stream the presentation here.

View the PowerPoint presentation here.

Visit the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce website.

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Art on a Card contest results

We are excited to announce the winners of our Art on a Card contest!  We had so many great entries, that we have named six winners and four runners up.  Congratulations to all who entered.  The judging panel had a very difficult time narrowing down all the beautiful creative designs to just these 10.

The six winning designs will be turned into library cards available for Avon residents to choose as their library card.  Please note, these cards are NOT available yet!  It will take some time to get them printed and available to use.

We hope to showcase all of the wonderful art submitted in a gallery display at the library later this spring, but below are the winners and runners up.  Stay tuned for more information on when these designs will be available as library cards and when all the art will be on display at the library.

Winners

Aishwarya Balaji
Sara Curran
Shadan Gadkarim
Lidia Kapylova
Dagny Tang
Shriya Vinodh

 


Runners up

Caleb Park
Abhirami Srivel
Shriya Vinodh
Jia Yeum

 

 

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Time Strategies to Maximize Your Profits – presented by the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce

The Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce and the Avon Free Public Library are pleased to offer business-oriented presentations free for interested area professionals.

Time is invaluable to most of us; but no matter how you decide to allocate your time there are only so many hours in a day. Recognizing the importance of effective time management is one way to relieve some of the stress that comes with either running or working for a business, and will help make it easier for you to accomplish your tasks and rise through the ranks.

In this program we will explore:

  • Prioritizing the Tasks that Generate the Most Profitability For Your Business
  • Getting Control of Your Time & Your Business
  • Creating Systems and Efficiencies in Your Business
  • Increasing the Productivity & Profitablility of Your Team Members
  • Marketing Your Business to Attract Employees That Stay With You

Presented by David Olchowski, Owner & President, Acadia ActionCOACH

Stream the presentation by clicking here.

Visit the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce website.

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Stress Management for Business Owners and Their Employees – presented by the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce

The Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce and the Avon Free Public Library are pleased to offer business-oriented presentations free for interested area professionals.

Stress is a common occurrence in the workplace — deadlines, endless paperwork, cranky customers/clients, meetings that drag on for hours — all can contribute to making us feel stressed at work.  But the real key is how we respond to and manage these demands as to whether we become overwhelmed or are energized.

In this program we will explore:

  • What Is Stress
  • How Does Stress Become Chronic and Lead To Disease
  • How Can Unmanaged Stress Affect Employees and Business Owners
  • What Can Be Done to Prevent and Treat Chronic Stress In The Workplace and At Home

Presented by Dr. Karen Bender from Whole Health Wellness Center

Stream the presentation by clicking here.

Visit the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce website.

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How To Deliver a Powerful Presentation – presented by the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce

The Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce and the Avon Free Public Library are pleased to offer business-oriented presentations free for interested area professionals.

The perfect presentation will help your audience see the world a little bit differently afterward — but it takes more than bullet points and handouts to get the job done. Join us as we rethink how to organize, craft and deliver a presentation that will keep your audience engaged from the very beginning, and inspire them when it’s over.

In this program we will explore:

  • Setting The Stage For Your Presentation
  • Planning The Journey
  • Defining The Delivery
  • Creating The Final Masterpiece

Presented by Christine Buhler from The Talcott Mountain Science Center.

Stream the presentation by clicking here.

Visit the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce website.

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