Category: Uncategorized

January 2021 HVAC Update

Posted on by Glenn Grube

Avon Library’s geothermal HVAC system, installed during the renovation and expansion project in 2012, has experienced multiple failures over the past five years and will be replaced with a more conventional and robust version of geothermal technology this year.  At the January 7, 2021 meeting of the Town Council, a contract was approved with All State Construction to execute this project.

We expect work to begin in February.  The most immediate and noticeable aspect of this project will be the need to take down several trees on the Library’s grounds and trim several others.  Additionally, fencing will go up around the work site, which will be on the south side of the library building and along the Sunnybrook Drive side of the grounds, while crews dig the new geothermal wells for heat exchange.

While some of this work will occur outside the library, there will also be extensive work inside the building, predominantly in the basement and attic.  Every effort will be made to avoid impacting library programs and services during this project, but inevitably there will be some disruptions that may require a change to library operations.  When possible, that will be communicated in advance.

Periodic updates will be posted on the Library and Town websites (www.avonctlibrary.info and www.avonct.gov).  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Glenn Grube, Library Director at 860-673-9712 x207 or ggrube@avonctlibrary.info.

Would you like to join the Library Board?

Posted on by Glenn Grube

The Avon Free Public Library is seeking candidates to fill two upcoming openings on its volunteer Board of Directors.

If you are a (library) card-carrying resident of Avon and are willing to contribute some of your time and talent to this outstanding community resource, you just may be the right person to fill one of those openings.  A background in finance, accounting, or related areas is desirable, but not necessarily required.

Don’t miss this opportunity to translate your interest into action!  For more information, or to express interest, please contact Glenn Grube, Library Director, at ggrube@avonctlibrary.info or 860-673-9712 x207.

 

What Do I Read? Teens Suggest Titles For You

Posted on by Avon Teen Room

Teen Tuesday Book Talks happen every Tuesday from 4/14-5/19.

Here are the teen recommended books & recommendations from Miss Marisa, the Teen Librarian from a past Book Talk Tuesday.

If you have questions or want to suggest a title to add to Overdrive email mhicking@libraryconnection.info

Teen Recommend Titles & Readalikes By Miss Marisa: 

Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff. Available via Hoopla (audio) Overdrive (ebook & audio). 3 different points of view. Written for adults. 

The teen reader says: 

  • A story of 3 female spies in WWII
  • Mystery, danger, and deception
  • There is a little bit of romance

IF you liked Lost Girls of Paris…because of the spies and WWII, you might also like: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein  (she has a prequel and a sequel to Core Name Verity). Available via Overdrive (ebook)

  • WWII Paris, France: two young women set off on a spy mission from England
  • Plane crash and Nazis take one of the women for interrogation
  • Find out the past, who is who and whose story can you trust?

If you like historical fiction in general, you might like The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee. Available via Hoopla (audio) Historical fiction, action, and romance. 

  • 1840, Georgia: Chinese girl named Jo secretly lives in a basement, with a mysterious past
  • She dreams of a better life, and not that of a lady’s maid
  • What if she she secretly starts an advice column for the newspaper challenging fixed ideas about race and gender. 

As Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco. Available via Hoopla (ebook & audio). Sequel comes out in 2021!

From the teen reader:

  • Subtle gay/queer
  • ICE (immigration) crosses magical lines
  • Prophecies…

IF you liked As Wicked As You Wish…you might like: Havenfall by Sara Holland. Available via Overdrive (ebook). LGBTQIA+ fantasy.

  • An inn: safe haven between four magical realms
  • A girl sworn to protect it — at any cost
  • A murdered body is found, she’s now in charge of the Inn and of finding out long buried secrets…

IF you liked As Wicked As You Wish…you might like: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski. Available via Overdrive (ebook & audio).

  • LGBTQIA+ romantic fantasy
  • Lower status girl keeps a dangerous magical secret
  • Learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer (book 2 in Letters to the Lost series). NOT owned in Hoopla or Overdrive, BUT if it sounds interesting, email me OR look it up in Overdrive and recommend we buy! 13+

Teen readers says:

  • kids who are dealing with family issues
  • realistic fiction
  • romance

IF you liked More Than We Can Tell….you might like: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley. Available via Overdrive (ebook)

  • A beloved used bookstore where people leave mysterious love letters….
  • A love story between a boy and a girl
  • Then a girl moves away, and comes and back grieving her brother’s death

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe. Available via Hoopla (ebook & audio) Overdrive (ebook). Nonfiction, written for adults, but a great read for all.

Teen reader says:

  • This is NOT a textbook AND it has comics & pictures
  • Started from  the author & a friend arguing about what would happen if a bullet got struck by lightning, and they agreed” it needed to be resolved. The author liked questions like this so much he started What If.

Listen to The Book Jam, the new teen and middle grade podcast!

Posted on by Avon Teen Room
Do you want to hear about great middle grade and teen books recommendations?
Listen to The Book Jam! It features our own Marisa, the Teen Librarian from Avon Free Public Library and Mary, the Adult and Teen Services Librarian from Colchester Public Library. 
They talk about books! What kind of books? Young Adult, Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, and genres of all different kinds: realistic, science fiction, fantasy, LGBTQ+, and more! 
Where can you listen? More options will be added in the future! Search for “The Book Jam”
Click here to listen via Anchor.fm
Click here to listen via Spotify

Gather around, it’s time for a story!

Posted on by Kari Ann St. Jean

We are happy to bring you a new podcast produced by the Farmington Valley Podcast Network, we invite you and your children to follow along or practice listening skills as Kari Ann reads “The Bird with Golden Feathers: a story from South Africa,” by Barbara Baumgartner. Click here to listen to the story.

This story is from Good As Gold: stories of values from around the world / Barbara Baumgartner, Illustrated by Amanda Hall.  London: DK, c1998. 

 

Support Farmington Valley Farms open during COVID-19

Posted on by Tina Panik
It’s too early for our farmers market, but you can still support our Farmington Valley Farms (and avoid the grocery store!) Click on the farm’s name for a link to their homepage/website.
Their farm store is open at 510 Main Street in New Hartford from 12-5pm. Check their facebook page for the latest details.  The farm itself is closed to the public
They have Sweet Pea Cheese in stock!
Text orders to 860-294-9812
Accepting orders for the Easter holiday season.
Menu is show to the right, as is the contact information.

 
Offering free delivery!

 
Sub Edge Farm (from the early years of our market)
The farm-shop at Sub Edge Farm, 199 Town Farm Road, Farmington, is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6. Right now we have our pasture-raised eggs, forest raised pork, stew hens and honey. We also have local milk, cheese, pickles, pasta, jam and other items. CSA shares are also available. More info can be found on our website at subedgefarm.com/csa

 
The farm is open 7am-7pm
151 East St., North Granby

 
Doing curbside pickup, at their 418 Milford Street, Burlington, store, plus delivery for Bristol and Burlington right now. Here is the site for online orders.

 

Get a library card, even though we are closed to the public!

Posted on by Patricia Valsecchi

All Avon residents in need of a library card – you’re in luck! 

We are currently issuing library card numbers by email while we are closed to the public.  You will then have full access to all of our e-resources including eBooks, audiobooks, streaming movies and more!

Please send an email to librarycards@avonctlibrary.info to request your library card number!  Staff will be working remotely from home, and will respond to your email within 24-48 hours.

Once we re-open to the public, you will need to visit the library in person (with photo ID and proof of residency) to pick up your library card – and we will be so happy to see you!  Our hope is that by having access to all of our online resources, it will provide some degree of entertainment, enrichment and comfort during this stressful time.

New hours for the library!

Posted on by Glenn Grube

Starting after Labor Day, the Avon Library will be open until 8:30 on Wednesday evenings, just like we are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  We hope this change makes it easier for you to visit the library to browse, borrow, socialize and study.

We will also be returning to our full day Saturday hours, with the library open from 10-5, on Saturdays, beginning September 8.

All library hours, including holiday closings, can be found at avonctlibrary.info/hours.