and sign up through the adult calendar.

Meriden Public Library will be hosting the program “Simplifying the Financial Aid Process” by Jennifer Philips on Monday, February 2 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room. Jennifer Philip’s seminar will provide parents and students of all ages with tips on securing the best possible f inancial aid package. Throughout the presentation, Jennifer will explain the various student l o a n s , g r a n t s a n d scholarships available, the critical financial aid forms

and deadlines, the various components of a financial aid offer and how to best compare and appeal offers i n e x t e n u a t i n g circumstances. All are welcome to this free program. This program is funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library and the Meriden Foundation. To reserve a seat, contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6 3 4 9 , e m a i l comsvc@hotmail.com or visit www.meridenlibrary.org

Simplifying the Financial Aid Process

SAT Boot Camp

First Choice College Placement will be presenting the SAT Boot Camp at Meriden Public Library on Saturday, February 21 at 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This seminar is a crash course is designed to familiarize students with the SAT. All 3 sections of the SAT will be reviewed: critical reading, math and writing

sections and will cover test taking strategies. Registration is required. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349, email comsvc@hotmail.com or visit www.meridenlibrary.org and sign up through the adult calendar.

This program is funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library and the Meriden Foundation.

February 2015 Www.meridenlibrary.org

Meriden Public Library

News

Mark Your Calendar

March 2—An Education in

t h e g r o t e s q u e : t h e

g a r g o y l e s o f Y a l e

University by Mathew Duman

March 10—It Happened In

CT by Mike Kachuba

March 23 —The Bear

Reality by Felicia Ortner

M a r c h 2 8 — W o m e n

B r e a k i n g L o o s e : A

Century Ago performed by

Michele LaRue

Inside this issue:

3D Printer Dem-

onstrations

2

A Fresh Look at Purifi-

cation

2

Europe with a tour

group or do it yourself

2

How to self publish your

book

3

Volunteer Income Tax

Assistance

3

Friends News

Monthly programs

4

Children’s Programs 5/6

The library will be closed on Monday, February 16

in honor of President’s Day.

Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450 (203) 238-2344

Starting in February, the Meriden Public Library will have a 3D printer available for public use. Whether you have a design you made yourself or one found online, you can reserve a time to come in and print it out for free. T h e r e w i l l b e a demonstration on how to

use the printer on Thursday, February 5 at 3:00 pm and Monday, February 9 at 6:30 pm. Both presentations will be in the Griffin Room. Beg inn ing Tuesda y, February 10

th, the printer

will be available for public use.

More information about our 3D printer as well as how to sign up to use it will be found on our website at meridenlibrary.org after February 1. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you have questions.

Traveling mostly by train for three weeks, the pair visited Austria, Italy, France and Spain. The Offens have been traveling extensively in North America from the start of their relationship, and have amassed a large photographic history to show for it. Only this one time did they travel to another continent, and to quote Susan, ".... one of the most eventful times of our lives together."

Europe with a tour group or do it yourself? The latter is what Meriden's Neil and Susan Offen did, and their most prized souvenirs are the photos they brought back. They wish to share the experience with you so the pictures have been set to music and narration, scheduled to be presented at the Meriden Public Library on February 28th at 2:30 pm in the Griffin Room.

This program is free and all are welcome.

3D Printer Demonstrations

Europe with a Tour Group or Do It Yourself?

A Fresh Look at Purification

creates natural toxins. Pu-rification is an internal “spring cleaning” for the body and helps support the body’s ability to remove naturally occurring toxins. Toxins that build up in the body can contribute to: a stuffy feeling in the head; fatigue or difficulty sleeping ; indigestion and other temporary gastrointestinal upset; food cravings and weight gain; reduced mental clarity; and low libido.

Come learn how to drastically improve your life, feel better than you ever have, and lose up to 15 pounds in the process. This program is free and all are welcome. If you would like to reserve a s e a t , c o n t a c t t h e Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349.

Dr. David DeRosa, a clinical nutritionist and licensed chiropractor, will be discussing “A Fresh Look at Purification: How to Lose 15 Pounds in 3 Weeks” on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:30 pm in the Meriden Public Library Cook Room. Why purify? We are all exposed to challenges every day in our food, air and water. The body also

Page 2

Meriden Public Library

Venice by Susan Offen

Barcelona by Neil Offen

Shawn Persinger (The Alligator) and Tom Shultz (The Crocodile) stop by the Griffin Room at Meriden Public Library on Wednesday, February 25 at 6:30 pm to talk about their new picture book I’m an Alligator, I’m a Croco-

dile.

Shawn and Tom will share their insights into the creative process, how they used Kickstarter to fund their project, and the pros and cons of self -publishing. A must-see for any aspiring author looking to self-publish.

Shawn Persinger is a music ian, composer, writer, and educator who has written several music books, including the self-published best-seller The 50 Greatest Guitar Books, and released a bounty of critically acclaimed CDs. He is on the CT Department of Economic and Community Develop-ment Performing Artists roster and included on the H a m d e n , C T A r t s Commission: Cultural Arts Notables. Tom Shultz is an artist, writer, and humorist, who works primarily as a

designer, illustrator, and consultant with technology, media, and communication organizations. Tom has designed a wide range of creative marketing and w e b p r o j e c t s f o r organizations large and small, including Yale Repertory Theater and Yale School of Drama, The H a r t f o r d C o u r a n t , T e s s i t u r a N e t w o r k , Tickets.com, Clear Chan-nel, and Trivial Pursuit.

For more information about Shawn, Tom, and their Kickstarted book, p l e a s e v i s i t : www.ImAnAlligator.com.

Teenage Mutant Ninja

Turtles

Saturday, February 14

2:30 pm

In the Griffin Room

How to Self Publish Your Book

Movies at the Library

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

assistance or who have tax questions. Assistance in preparing Connecticut state tax forms will also be available. You may call (860) 612-3983 Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm to make an

appointment.

The schedule is: Mondays through March 23 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Wednesdays through April 15 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Saturdays through April 11 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Meriden Public Library will host the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)Program to April 15, 2015. V . I . T . A . , w h i c h i s sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, provides free help to taxpayers who cannot afford professional

Page 3

Www.meridenlibrary.org

All are welcome to this free program. This pro-gram is funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library and the Meriden Foundation.

If you would like to reserve a seat, contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6 3 4 9 , e m a i l comsvc@hotmail.com or v i s i t www.meridenlibrary.org and sign up through the adult calendar.

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Thursday, February 19

2:00 pm

In the Griffin Room

January 20, 2015 Meeting Notes

President’s Report June described a presentation that she and Roger gave to the Tri-Town Kiwanis Club about the Friends of the library bookstore and the Amazon on-line sale of books. It was very well received and some of the audience decided to join us. Internet Sales Gerry Dion noted that we had a good year in internet sales. We have good volunteers working on internet sales and we will be ridding our shelves of outdated listings to make room for more listings. Membership Roger reported that a steady stream of membership renewals have been coming in since the latter part of December and early January Directors Report Work has progressed on lighting improvements in the Circulation/Entrance area and on the design of a new circulation desk. The current circulation desks are the originals from the opening of this library building in 1973. Thanks to all the Friends’ efforts in 2014, we were able to donate $6,328 to the Library for Children’s programs, museum passes and Summer Reading Program incentives. In addition, the Friends allocated $4,675 from a Meriden Foundation Grant to the Library which enabled them to present educational and cultural programs for adults.

The following is a list of the renewed museum passes: Florence Griswold Museum; Mark Twain House; Mystic Seaport; Discovery Museum, Bridgeport; Stepping Stones Museum for Children; Children’s Museum West Hartford; Children’s Museum Niantic; New Britain Art Museum; New Britain Youth Museum/Hungerford; Harriet Beecher Stowe House; Sturbridge Village; and a State Park Pass.

New Business After considerable discussion it was decided to have the next $5 per bag book sale on April 13 thru 18, 2015 in the Friends Book Store.

We also had a demonstration of the new 3D Printer that will be available for the public to use starting in February.

The next Friends Meeting is on Tuesday, February 17 at 6:30 pm in the Marion Cook Room.

Meriden Public Library

Chess Club

Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30 pm in

the Magazine Area

Classics Group

Thursday, February 12 at 1:30 pm in

the Griffin Room. This month’s

selection: Passage to India by E.M.

Forster.

Writer’s Network

Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 pm in

the Griffin Room

Wednesday, February 25 at 6:30 pm

in the Griffin Room: Guest speakers

Shawn Persinger and Tom Shultz

with the program “How to Self Publish

Your Book.”

Scrabble

Monday, February 9 and February 23

at 2:00 pm in the Cook Room

Friends of the Library News

Monthly Library Programs

Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450 (203) 238-2344

Romance Readers Group

Monday, February 23 at 3:30 pm in

the Seminar Room.

Monday Night Card Duels

Monday, February 9 at 6:00 pm in

the Teen Center

Anime Club

Friday, February 13 at 2:30 pm in

the Griffin Room

Meriden Public Library ● Tomie dePaola Children’s Library ● 105 Miller St. Meriden, CT 06450 Phone: (203) 630-6347 ● E-mail: juvmrd@hotmail.com

Scan this with your mobile device to launch our website...

Wednesday, February 25

4:00 - 5:00 pm Griffin Room

“Mighty Machines”

During February’s LEGO® Club, kids will be challenged to

build machines to do jobs big and small. We’ll provide the

LEGO® bricks, you just need to bring your imagination. All

finished creations will be put on display.

Sign up is not required –

Late arrivals are welcome.

Contact Gretchen if you have any questions:

gdurley@meridenct.gov or 203-630-6347

Drop-in

Activity:

Build a Roller

Coaster!

Pipe insulation, tape and marbles are all you need to play

with physics. Design a coaster that gets your marble from

Point A to Point B without jumping the track! Add

loop-de-loops, hills, valleys and banked curves!

Saturday, February 21

9am—2pm

All materials provided.

Most appropriate for K-5.

Saturday, February 21 2:30—3:30pm Griffin Room

Drummer and family entertainer Edward Leonard returns with his “Fun with Rhythms” program. “Fun with Rhythms” is a high-energy drumming program for

children and families that is designed to teach music and rhythm fundamentals by playing interactive rhythm games. FREE tickets are available at the Children’s

Information Desk beginning February 2.

Tuesday, February 17 Noon-5pm

Griffin Room

Bring your friends and family to play GIANT games! You’ve seen these games before, but never this big! Drop-in

anytime between noon and 5pm in the Griffin Room of the library for this FREE program!

Drop off stuffed toys on Tuesday, February 17 until 7pm in the Children’s Library

Did you ever wonder what your stuffed animals do at night? Bring your 2nd favorite stuffed animal to a library sleepover! Find out

what adventures they had (or what mischief they got up to) when you pick them up the following day!

Pickup of stuffed toys begins on Wednesday, February 18 after 12pm.

ALL AGES WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE!

Sign-up at the Children’s Information Desk when you drop off your stuffed toy.

La Biblioteca Pública de Meriden presenta

Cuentacuentos/Bilingual Story Hour

La hora del cuento es un programa divertido para familias y niños. Leyendo juntos los niños se preparan para ir a la escuela y tener éxito. Todos están

invitados a celebrar cuentos y juegos divertidos en español y en inglés. Habrá refrescos y bocadillos.

Story hour is a fun program for families and children. Reading together helps prepare children for success in school. Everyone is invited to listen to stories in English and Spanish and participate in games and crafts. Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Sábados a 11:00am 14 y 28 de febrero

Saturdays at 11:00am

February 14 & 28

Interested in

learning more about the

Library’s 3D Printer?

Sign up online for one of our informa-tional meetings coming up in February!

Thursday, February 5th at 3pm Monday, February 9th at 6:30pm

You’ll learn more about 3D printing, the library’s MakerBot printer and policies

and procedures.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Saturday, February 14 at 2:30pm

Griffin Room

When a kingpin threatens New York City, a group of mutated turtle warriors must emerge from the shadows to protect their

home. (PG-13: Paramount, 101 min.)

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”

Thursday, February 19 at 2:00pm Griffin Room

On a day when everything goes wrong for him, Alexander is consoled by the thought that other people have bad days too.

(PG: Disney, 81 min.)

MONDAYS 6:30pm Grades K-2

TUESDAYS 10:15am 2’s with parent/caregiver

11:15am 3-4 years old

1:15 pm 3-4 years old

6:30pm 3-4 years old

WEDNESDAYS 10:30am 2-3 years old with parent/caregiver

11:15am 3-4 years old

6:30pm 2-3 years old with parent/caregiver

Winter

START ON STORIES

Thursdays

10:30am

This program is

designed for babies and children through 2

years old accompanied by a

parent/caregiver. Stories, music, and play are

incorporated into an hour-long

program beginning at 10:30 am.

Registration is ongoing.

Register by calling

(203) 630-6347or

e-mailing

Miss Gretchen at

gdurley@meridenct.gov All first time participants must show proof of age. Storytimes will begin the week of March 2nd.