The Short List

Join us in welcoming new staff member Kim Sheridan to the Library. No newcomer to the area, Kim was born and bred right here in town. She studied Library Science as an undergrad and just received her Masters of Library Science, both from Southern Connecticut State University. You’ll see Kim working behind the Circulation desk most days and she’s also organizing our music CD collection.

When not here at work, Kim enjoys collecting rare and out-of-print books as well as gardening. Be sure to say hello the next time you’re at the Library.

Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library.

The Summer Reading Program is open to children of all ages from preschool through high school. Children must read 10 hours to complete the Summer Reading Program. Great prizes that children will earn by completing the Summer Reading Program are: An Ice Cream Cone from Sweet P’s on Main St in Essex, Tickets to a CT Defenders Game or a New Britain Rock Cats Game, and several others that have not been confirmed yet… Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Essex Summer Reading Program.

Check our website for a complete list of summer activities for kids. http://www.essexlib.org/services-childrens.html

Great news! The Russell Library in Middletown is joining the Wallingford Public Library in allowing LION patrons to place holds on most of the materials in their adult collections including: new books, DVDs and music CDs. Both Wallingford and Russell have great collections and this change should make for a wonderful opportunity to have easier access to them. In addition, on July 1, the Case Memorial Library in Orange, CT will join the LION consortium and its materials will also become available to other LION patrons.

Popular Essex Library staff member Cathy Burgard is retiring as Head of Adult Services on June 27^th, a position she’s held with her trademark creativity and enthusiasm for the last six years. Cathy’s contributions to the cultural life of our community have been tremendous. Her summer Foreign Film Series showcased little-known cinematic gems to ever-growing and appreciative audiences. Parlons Francais, her class in conversational French, ran for three happy years with the same dedicated group of adult students. Cathy helped to develop, and maintains, the Library’s handsome new website. The educational, entertaining programs she’s offered have covered the spectrum from environmental issues to world music, wine tasting, foreign affairs, and literary scholarship, a measure of her own wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. Essex Meadows readers will miss Cathy’s lively book groups, reader’s advisory services, and exemplary patron support. All of our patrons and her fellow staff-members will miss Cathy’s good cheer, ready laugh, and
warm heart. Her grandchildren’s gain is our loss. Have fun at the beach, Cathy!

Please join the Essex Library community in a fond farewell party for Cathy on Friday, June 27^th at 5p.m.

Another successful booksale has added nearly $5,000 to the Friends’ coffers which allows them to support the Library in many ways: by paying for museum passes, books for babies, welcome bags, myriad programs and much else. The engine behind all these successful sales is Dee Grover but Dee would be the first to say she couldn’t manage it well without all the help she gets from many other volunteers. Our hats are off to all who helped with the sale and to all who helped make the sale so successful with donations and purchases.

All booksale items will be half-price through June and there are many wonderful books, hardcover and paperback, still on the sale shelves so come in and browse as they are replenished daily.

The Essex Library Association’s Board of Trustees has named Richard Conroy as the Director of the Library.

Mr. Conroy, who begins work in Essex on June 16th, most recently served as Head of Information Technology Services at the Stratford Public Library. He was previously employed as the Head of Adult Services and Reference Librarian at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme. Mary Fiorelli, Director at Old Lyme, praised Mr. Conroy for his “strong leadership skills, project management experience, excellent librarianship and ability to work with all constituencies in a small town environment.”

Educated in Connecticut, Mr. Conroy holds Master of Library Science degree from Southern Connecticut State University, an M.A. in American Studies from Trinity College and a B.A. in English from Central Connecticut State University. He came to library science later in life after a wide-ranging career that included owning and running a B&B in Maine, managing warehouse operations for a wholesale wine and spirits distributor and managing operations for a trucking company. Mr. Conroy also served as a Board member and Chairperson on the Portland, CT Board of Education from 1995-1999.

The new director was picked from a pool of more than thirty applicants in a nationwide search that lasted nearly four months. “We were impressed by Richard’s enthusiasm for the profession, his tact and his amiability.” said Search Committee co-chair and Board Vice President Stephanie Degen-Monroe. Hans Ullstein, Chair of the Personnel Committee and co-chair of the search committee added that “We think Richard has the right mix of skills to lead the library at this stage in its development.” The Search Committee also included Trustee and President of the Friends of the Essex Library Janice Atkeson, , Trustees Maureen Heher and Casey O’Brien, and former Trustees William Chatman and Edward Castner. Michael Hammond, President of the Board of Trustees, applauded the work of the Search Committee. “They were a very cohesive group and very thorough in their deliberations. They’ve made an excellent choice.”

Please come meet Mr. Conroy at the Library on Wednesday, June 18th from 5:30-8p.m.

On Wednesday, May 21st at 4 p.m., Amy Forbes from the Treehouse Players in Deep River will present a theater workshop for children ages 6-12. Dress comfortably for fun music and movement activities. Call the Library to register: 767-1560.

The Library will be closed this Sunday, May 11th to celebrate Mother’s Day. We will also be closed on Monday, May 26th in honor of Memorial Day.

The Friends’ Book Sale will take place on Saturday, May 17th from 10-5 and on Sunday, May 18th from 1-5. All books are half-price on Sunday. The Library will be closed on Saturday, May 17th although patrons will be allowed to check materials in and out…no computers will be available and access to some materials may be curtailed due to the book sale. The Library will be open as usual on Sunday, May 18th.

The Essex Library now has a teen blog available. It is a space where teens in the Essex area can make the library their own. Find out about teen programs, books and interesting web sites. We’re looking for feedback from our local teens, so log on and let us know what you’d like to see and do at the Library.

John Meisel, MD will present “How Can I Get the Best Healthcare?” on Wednesday April 16 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Library. He will offer advice on how to get the most out of doctor visits, searching the Internet for medical information, finding community resources, keeping personal medical records and combining the best of traditional and natural health treatments.

Dr Meisel has experience in diverse healthcare settings including the medical office, hospitals, emergency rooms and urgent care. He has a strong interest in integrating conventional and natural medicine, minor office surgery, community and preventive healthcare.

This free program is sponsored by VNA Community Healthcare. Seating is limited. Please call toll free 1-866-474-5230, to register.