As we are all aware, the town of Southbury suffered extreme damage from the flooding on August 18th & 19th. We suffered significant flooding, which has made the building unsafe to reopen. We are working with our insurance company to address the damages and we will keep the public updated as we learn. Reopening the library as the “Heart of the Community” is our priority!
Patrons should rest assured that the town is taking all the steps necessary to safeguard the library: the water that was in the basement was quickly pumped out and the basement is in the process of being professionally cleaned and sanitized. There is still a great deal of work to be done; this is a monumental effort, and the town is moving as quickly as possible within the guidelines we must follow. We are very grateful for all the help we have received from town officials and every town department, as well as all the wonderful messages we have received from patrons and other area libraries.
We are working hard behind the scenes to bring you programs and services! Until the library reopens, virtual events for adults will be available to attend via Zoom and we will have off-site events for children and teens. All our in-person events scheduled to be at the library have been canceled. Registration is required to attend our virtual events and some of our offsite children and teen events; sign up on our website here.
The book drop is currently closed while the library is being cleaned. Please hold all returns or return them to any other Connecticut library for now; you can find a list of our closest library neighbors here.
Fines, cards, & holds:
- All Southbury fines will be waived.
- All Southbury patron cards due to expire have been extended until December 31, 2024.
- All renewal and overdue notices have been paused.
- Holds:
- You are still able to put items on hold; requests will be fulfilled by other Bibliomation libraries.
- You can adjust your pickup location to another local library.
Starting on Tuesday, September 3, if you need assistance with anything related to your library card account, please call 203-262-0626 or email asksbylib@biblio.org.
Information on the reopening will be provided when it is available. We will not know anything while cleaning and evaluation are taking place. Please follow our website and social media accounts or the Town of Southbury’s website and social media accounts for the most up-to-date information. We also encourage everyone to sign up for Everbridge, Southbury’s new emergency communication tool for town-wide emergency updates.
For the latest updates from the Town of Southbury, please visit the town’s Emergency Center webpage here. We have received a wonderfully overwhelming amount of inquiries about volunteering. We appreciate your desire to help! There is more information about the Friends of the Library below. Anyone looking to help is encouraged to visit the Town’s How-to-Help webpage here, which links to local nonprofits who are coordinating help for residents affected by the flood.
Adult Reading Challenge
2024 Adult Summer Reading Challenge: Read, Renew, Repeat (Ages 18 & Up)
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge! The Southbury Public Library suffered significant flooding which has made the building unsafe to reopen at this time. We are continuing to tally all entries into this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, and will notify the winners of this summer's prizes as soon as possible!
If you'd like to share what you thought about Summer Reading this year, we would really appreciate hearing from you! We have an anonymous Google Forms Survey here that should take less than five minutes to fill out. Your feedback helps shape what our Summer Reading Challenge will look like in 2025!
Adult Events
All programs require registration unless otherwise noted. The majority of programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. Library programs are not funded by the town fiscal budget. All virtual adult programs require registration, registrants will receive an email with the Zoom links the morning of the program.
Dancing in the Dark: A History of Dance in the Movies
Thursday, September 5, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required
The movies and dancing are a partnership born in heaven. From its very beginnings, the new medium of motion pictures turned toward dance as one of the best ways to showcase its unique ability to make movement come alive. Illustrated with more than 75 video clips, join us as Brian Rose explores 130 years of thrilling movie dance performances and the extraordinary ways cinema brought dance to life. To register for this Zoom program, click here
Leonardo da Vinci: Invention & Creation
Leonardo da Vinci is a name synonymous with genius. His ideas and his work helped to define the High Renaissance in Italy and they still mesmerize audiences worldwide today. This program with Jane Oneail provides an introduction to the artist and some of his most celebrated works including The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. To register for this Zoom program, click here.
Adult Graphic Novel Club
Monday, September 16, 4-5pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Requested
Join us for the Adult Graphic Novel Club! This is an adult focused group to discuss graphic novels and manga. Come with your ideas, experiences, opinions, and an open mind as we explore this amazing world of visual realism and fantasy! This month we'll be discussing American Gods, Volume 1: Shadows, by Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell and Scott Hampton. Join us for a discussion about this month’s book. To register for this Zoom program, click here.
Banned in America
Thursday, September 26, 2-3:30pm, Online via Zoom, Registration Required
When you walk into a library, you’re entering a controversial place--for it’s a venue where you can read, listen to, and watch media that could be considered potentially “dangerous” depending on where (or when) you live. Join us as Dr. Bill Thierfelder explores the history of the long saga of censorship and the need some cultures have to silence certain writers, artists, and musicians. To register for this Zoom program, click here.
American Red Cross Blood Drive at Heritage Hotel
Friday, September 27, 11am-4pm, Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road, Southbury, CT 06488
The American Red Cross Blood Drive is being hosted at the Heritage Hotel on Friday, September 27, from 11am-4pm. Thank you to the Heritage Hotel for accommodating this event! Blood donation is the most common type of donation, during which approximately a pint of 'whole blood' is given. This type of blood donation usually takes about an hour. For more information and to schedule a blood donation, click here or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
Children and Teen Events
See below for information about the Children and Teen programming we are offering this month. All of our Children's and Teen Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. Library programs are not funded by the town fiscal budget.
Children's Offsite Events:
Drop-In Storytimes at Parks & Rec! (All Ages)
Monday, September 9, 16, 23, 30, 10:30-11am, Offsite at Parks and Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Join Jen for an all-ages storytime! We'll share books, rhymes, and songs, and a small craft will be available to take home. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Find out more on our website here.
Storytime at the Farmers’ Market (All Ages)
Thursday, September 5, 12, 19, 26, 3:30-4:30pm, Southbury Town Hall Green, 501 Main Street South, No Registration Required
Stop by the Southbury Farmers' Market every Thursday in September and enjoy stories with the librarians from the Southbury Public Library! Find out more on our website here.
Mermaid Crafts (Grades 1-5)
Wednesday, September 25, 4:30-5:30pm, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join Katie for a fin-tastic afternoon of mermaid-themed crafts! We will create our own mermaid fairy garden and mermaid necklaces! Find out more and register on our website here.
Teen Offsite Events:
Surviving Middle School at Parks & Rec (Grades 6-8)
Tuesday, September 3, 6-7pm, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required
What is it like to survive Middle School? Find out from people who have actually lived it! Our teen panel will talk about their own experiences, and then answer your questions. Hear stories, get tips, and gain confidence to help with middle school. Please note: this event has been rescheduled from its original date of Tuesday, August 20. Find out more and register on our website here.
Teen Crochet & Knitting Club at Parks & Rec (Grades 6-12)
Thursday, September 19, 6:30-7:30pm, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited
Join us for our crochet and knitting club, open to both new and experienced crafters alike. If you’re already working on a project, bring it with you. If you’re new to knitting and crocheting, get started with us! We will have basic knitting and crocheting supplies available. Find out more and register on our website here.