Library News

Online test preparation resources from Avon Library

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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.

 

 

New collection in our digital archives: the William J. Huebner, Jr. papers

Posted on by Tina Panik

The Avon Free Public Library is pleased to announce a new donation to its digital archives: the letters, articles, and photos of veteran William (Bill)  J. Huebner, Jr., as curated by his daughter, Holly Huebner Ryan. The Avon Library will retain the digital scans of this collection, as Bill’s original typed onion skin and handwritten letters from Korea along with pictures will become part of the Library of Congress collections. This Huebner digital collection, including a full biography, joins over 20,000 items of Avon’s history that are available on the CT Digital Archive. The Huebner collection can be viewed at https://ctdigitalarchive.org/islandora/object/150002%3A23288

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) interviewed Bill as part of the Library of Congress/American Folklife Center/Veterans History Project. The interview and transcript can be viewed at https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.18710. His letters are also on the Korean War Educator website, http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/memoirs/huebner_william/index.htm In addition to his letters home, some stories were taken from this oral interview and others were documented in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3372, Avon, CT Military Service History, which is available at the Avon Free Public Library.

William (Bill) J. Huebner, Jr. was proud a veteran of World War II (WWII) and the Korean War (Conflict).  In WWII he was member of the 595th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion in the South Pacific.  During the Korean War he was in the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division as the Training, Information & Education (TI&E), Public Information Officer. He soon became the US Army Correspondent reporting on the operations of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. His articles were published in the Stars and Stripes, the Army Frontline newspaper, The Providence Journal (Rhode Island), The Publishers’ Auxiliary, and other local newspapers.

After the war Bill worked for the Hartford Times (a Connecticut newspaper) as a reporter and editor for 24 years. As a reporter he covered the development of the Apollo Project and rocket development in California and other states.  He covered the advent of commercial and military jet aviation in the U.S. and Europe.  He received several writing awards as a reporter.  He then took a position as the Director of Public Affairs for the Connecticut Construction Industries Association for 18 years before retiring.

Bill’s love of writing continued after retirement as a Ghost Writer for several organizations.  Bill left more typed fascinating stories of his experiences in WWII and Korea but due to the secrecy of some of his missions and his work with Psyops and Intelligence they cannot be fully verified by his family as all names were in code.  Bill and “His Honey”, Janice, had two daughters and two grandchildren.  They divorced after 25 years of marriage.  Bill remarried several years later.  Bill passed away on January 18, 2010 in Avon, CT.

Questions about this collection can be directed to Tina Panik, c/o Avon Free Public Library, 860-673-9712 ext 7235, tpanik@avonctlibrary.info or Holly Ryan, 860-205-9855, h.ryan@comcast.net.

Unearthing History: 2022 Virtual Lecture Series

Posted on by Avon Adult Reference

Unearthing History: The discovery of a 12,500 year old Paleo-Indian site along the Farmington River in Avon. Join us for a virtual series of lectures, sponsored by a grant from the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee that will cover the archaeology, genetics, ice age mammals, trade routes and food ways of early life along the Farmington River, with a focus on the Brian D. Jones Paleo-Indian discovery in Avon, Connecticut.

This 2022 VIRTUAL HISTORY SERIES is sponsored by Avon Historical Society, Avon Free Public Library and Avon Senior Center, in partnership with the Avon Land Trust, Farmington River Watershed Association, and the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington, CT. 

Times are EST: Eastern Standard Time.  Events are free to attend. Webinars will be recorded; links appear at the end of this post and are available on the Avon Library’s YouTube Channel.

Questions? Email Terri Wilson, President Avon Historical Society, president@avonhistoricalsociety.org

View the full Paleo 2022 FLYER

Completed 2022 programs:

Thursday, April 7, 2022, 7:00 pm. Ice Age Animals of New England presented by Dr. Sarah Sportman, CT State Archaeologist & Dr. Nathaniel Kitchel, Dept. of Anthropology, Dartmouth College.  They will present the Pope Mastodon (found in Farmington, CT on the grounds of Hill-Stead Museum) and the Mount Holly (VT) Mammoth, among other animals of the Ice Age. Watch the recording here

Thursday, March 10, 2022, 7:00 pm. What Genetics Teaches Us About the Peopling of North America  by Dr. Jennifer Raff, anthropological geneticist at the University of Kansas.  Presentation is based on her May 2021 Scientific American cover story “Journey into the Americas” and her new book, Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas being released Feb. 2022. Watch the recording here

Thursday, May 12, 2022, 7:00 pm. Paleo-Indian Peoples in the Northeast: Survival in the Ice Age and After, presented by Dr. Jonathan Lothrop, Curator of Archaeology, The New York State Museum. His focus is on the Pleistocene (Ice Age) into the Holocene period where Natives colonized 11,000-8,000BC. His research is on their technology, settlement and subsistence. He is a consultant on the Brian D. Jones site analysis.

According to Dr. Lothrop, the earliest indigenous peoples of the glaciated Northeast migrated  into the region shortly after 13,000 years ago, while this landscape remained in the grip of the last Ice  Age. Today, their ancient campsites are marked by small scatters of fluted points and other flaked  stone artifacts. This scant material record of these first peoples – known to archaeologists as  Paleoindians – testifies to an amazing story of ingenuity and perseverance in the face of daunting  challenges as they spread across the eastern Great Lakes and New England-Maritimes. How and when  did that peopling process happen? How did these people survive on this late glacial landscape? And  how did they interact with each other across these subarctic regions? In this presentation, we’ll review current evidence from recent and ongoing archaeological research that helps to answer some  of these questions. Finally, with the end of the Ice Age roughly 11,600 years ago, we’ll examine tentative indicators for how this abrupt climate change event may have affected these early peoples. Watch the recording here

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 1:00-4:00 pm. In-Person Event: Artifact Identification Day. Bring your artifacts for identification! Free event, open to the public. Presented by staff and volunteers of the Institute of American Indian Studies, Washington, CT. Paul Wegner, Co-Director; Craig Nelson, Member and Secretary of the Board of Trustees; Nancy Najarian, Collections Volunteer. The Institute will have selected items, from various time periods, on display for viewing. Event held at the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Rd., Avon, CT 06001.

Thursday, September 15, 2022, 7:00 pm. Looking into the Past with Ancient DNA. Presented by Christina Balentine and Samantha Archer, PhD candidates and research scholars at the UConn Dept. of Anthropology. They will present a broad overview of ancient DNA (aDNA) research past and present, discuss the ethical considerations of working with priceless aDNA samples, and highlight their own dissertation research using aDNA. View the recording here

Thursday, October 13, 2022, 7:00 pm. Update on the scientific analysis of the Brian D. Jones site in Avon, CT since its discovery in 2019. Presented by David Leslie, Dir. of Archaeological Research, Heritage Consultants, Berlin, CT & Eric Heffter, Senior Archaeologist, Archaeological and Historic Services, Storrs, CT.  They will present will present new findings based on artifacts and new analysis techniques. October is Connecticut Archaeology Month! Register here

Check out our new library card options!

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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!

Download our new Library Connection app!

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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.

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

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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.

Art on a Card contest results

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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

 

 

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

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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.

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

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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.

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

Posted on by Glenn Grube

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.