Burlington Public Library receives grant from Main Street Community Foundation The Burlington Public Library has been awarded a grant of $5,000 from the Women and Girls' Fund of the Main Street Community Foundation. The grant will be used to provide a series of speakers on issues of interest to women and girls and to purchase books and other materials on female-oriented topics. Children's services librarian Laurie Meheran spearheaded the effort to apply for the grant. She was assisted by library director Marie Spratlin Hasskarl, youth services librarian Sheila McCallum and adult services librarian Sarah McCusker in planning the events and materials purchases, all intended to entertain, enlighten, and empower women. The grant was presented to the library at a reception on Thursday, March 1 by Dawn Leger, advisory board chairwoman for the Women & Girls' Fund. Events will continue throughout 2007. Check back here frequently to see what we've got planned! Click here for a list of books purchased for the library collection with the grant money.

Dawn Leger (second from left) presents a $5,000 check to library director Marie Spratlin Hasskarl, youth services librarian Sheila McCallum and children's librarian Laurie Meheran.

Upcoming Programs

Your Home, Only Better

It’s an exciting challenge to create something new from things you already own (also known as “Interior Redesign”). A fresh perspective can bring big improvements to any home! Learn about “home staging” and how you can redesign your living space to work for you – whether or not you plan on moving – by using items you already own. The program is presented by Susan Smith, founder and president of Rooms that Work, and will be held in the Anne Walluk Community Room of the Burlington Public Library. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Wednesday, December 5
7:00 PM

Burlington Day with the Hartford Hawks

Join your friends to cheer on Coach Jen Rizzotti and her Hartford Hawks as they compete against Hofstra University.  A portion of the ticket price will help benefit the Burlington Public Library.

Tickets are $7.00 each and are available NOW at the Burlington Public Library.

Sunday, December 9
2:00 PM
Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion, University of Hartford

Past Programs

Gina Barreca: Who's Laughing Now?

The Burlington Public Library kicks off its series of programs for women and girls with Gina Barreca, author, humorist, and UConn professor of English literature and feminist theory. Gina will entertain women of all ages with her presentation entitled "Who's Laughing Now? The Importance of Humor in Women's Lives." Ms. Barreca has written many books; her most recent is I'm With Stupid: One Man, One Woman, and 10,000 Years of Misunderstanding Between the Sexes Cleared Right Up, co-written with Gene Weingarten of the Washington Post. She has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows including Oprah, 48 Hours, The Today Show and WNPR's Faith Middleton Show. The program will be held at the firehouse on George Washington Turnpike. Reception to follow. Tickets for this event are no longer available. Call 673-3331 with any questions.

Thursday, April 19
7:00 PM

To be held at Burlington Volunteer Fire Department, Station #1
719 George Washington Turnpike

Creating Your Heart's Desire

Let's spend some time getting to know ourselves more deeply and find out what it is that we really desire out of life. Then let's look at nine basic principles for bringing that dream into reality! Our facilitator, Dory Dzinski, is a psychotherapist, pastoral counselor, energy therapist and trainer, crisis debriefer, and Certified Spiritual Healer. She has a private practice in Collinsville. The program is suited for women age 18 and up. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Thursday, April 26
6:30 PM

Women's Self Defense

In this six-session workshop, women will learn the tactics they need to prevent an assault as well as how to execute the physical moves and avoidance measures known to be effective. This program is ideal for the young woman just going off to college or moving away from home for the first time, but is appropriate for teens and women of all ages. The program will be led by Ms. Phyllis Jones, a physical education teacher at Lewis S. Mills High School. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331. Space is limited, so register early!

Tuesdays and Thursdays
6:30 - 7:30 PM
May 8, May 10, May 15, May 17, May 22, May 24

What's Up With That? The Lighter Side of Self-Image and Media Hype

Put the humor back into natural growing pains so often distorted by media hype. Join nationally-known humorist Diane Postoian and Adolescent Pediatrician Cindy St. Onge, MD for an upbeat discussion on how to like yourself as you are. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Saturday, June 2
1:00 PM

The Humor of Clutter

Presented by Linda DeMarco, Certified Life Coach. You might say, "My clutter is no laughing matter!" We buy storage containers, rent storage units, fill our garage so there is no room for the car, and buy bigger houses so we have room for all our "stuff." And yet, we all know that at some level too much "stuff" holds us back. Come enjoy Ms. DeMarco in an inspiring and humorous look at your "clutter hotspots" and learn strategies to clear your clutter. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Wednesday, June 6
7:00 PM

Book Discussion: Plastic Angel

What’s wrong with being a teenage beauty queen?  What if all you really want to do is write songs and sing in a band?  And what if you want to be popular and you really would like your parents to stop fighting?  Come meet Angela and Randi, two unlikely friends, as they deal with family problems, cliques and self-acceptance.  A great mother-daughter read.  Books will be available at the library. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Thursday, July 5
6:30 PM

Meet the Author: Nerissa Nields

Loved the book Plastic Angel?  Come meet the author!  Nerissa Nields, half of the well-known folk-rock-art-alternative duo The Nields and author of the young adult, semi-autobiographical novel Plastic Angel, will share her book, her music, and her life with us.  Nerissa is a gifted songwriter, novelist, and life coach.  As part of the Nields, she has performed around the country at events such as the Newport Folk Festival and the Lilith Fair.  Sure to be an entertaining evening! Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Wednesday, July 11
6:30 PM

Get your Head in the Game!

Spend an evening with Jen Rizzotti, Head Coach of the University of Hartford Lady Hawks basketball team and star of the 1995 NCAA Championship UConn Lady Huskies basketball team, as she discusses what it takes to achieve your goals and be a success, both on and off the court. Visit the Burlington Public Library to pick up your FREE tickets.

Thursday, September 6
7:00 PM

Program will be held in the Lewis S. Mills High School Auditorium
24 Lyon Road, Burlington

Dames and Danger

Join us for a lively evening of discussing modern mysteries and the women who write them.  Our writer panelists will be Lori Avocato, Roberta Isleib, and Jessica Speart, members of the New England Chapter of Sisters in Crime. These three authors have created strong female characters who investigate fictional crime.  Avocato’s character is Pauline Sokol.  She is sick of nursing, so she gets a job as a P.I. (which she knows nothing about) for an agency that investigates medical fraud. Her first job is to go undercover at a medical clinic as a temporary nurse.  One of Isleib’s protagonists, Dr. Rebecca Butterman, is a psychologist and advice columnist who discovers murder and mayhem right in her own neighborhood.  Her other character is Cassie Burdette, a clever and delightful sleuth who plays a mean game of golf. Speart’s alter ego is Rachel Porter, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent who is a crusader in a deadly environment.

Books will available for purchase and signing after the authors’ presentation. Refreshments will be served. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Wednesday, October 17
7:00 PM

Women in a Man's World: A Panel Discussion

Have you ever wondered why women chose the career they have? Have you ever thought about working in a man’s world? Join the Burlington Public Library as we take a fascinating glimpse into the career paths of five women who have excelled in workplaces which are predominately male.

The panelists are Jodi Markley Rochford, Burlington, CT, Senior Vice President of Production Operations at ESPN; Beth Gillespie, Burlington, CT, Water Quality Inspector, Town of Wallingford, Water Division; Jean Radcliff, Bristol, CT, President, Radcliff Wire Company; Beryl Piper, Burlington, CT, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, CCSU; and Sinue Gomez, PhD, Corning, NY, Research Scientist, Corning, Inc. The evening will be moderated by Dr. Carole Shmurak, of Farmington, CT, a professor, a scientist, and an author of numerous works about women and science and the effects of gender on education.

For women and girls ages 10 and up. Refreshments will be served. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Wednesday, November 7
7:00 PM
Program will be held at the Burlington Fire Department Station #1, 719 George Washington Turnpike

Do It Yourself: Tool Girl for Beginners

Discover what tools you need in your own personal tool box and how to use them. Demonstration of simple tools for everyday use such as a stud finder (handy when hanging anything on your walls), caulking gun (why wait for the plumber to seal the tub?) and a cordless drill/driver (it's simpler than you think!). See the steps involved in repairing small holes in drywall and in repairing the most common problem with leaking toilets.

The program will be presented by Jan Brown, Tomboy Tools consultant. Tomboy Tools sells tools that are made ergonomically correct for women. Our mission is to empower women to care for their places of residence. Women. Tools. Knowledge. Pass it on...

For women and girls ages 10 and up. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Friday, November 9 (No school that day!)
1:00 PM

Creative Sparks

One of a writer's biggest challenges is confronting a scary blank page and trying to find the words to fill it. But a blank page represents unlimited possibilities!

Every author needs creative sparks to start writing. Local children's author Dana Meachen Rau will talk about how she finds her own sparks as she writes, and together the class will join in discussions and brainstorming activities to get their own sparks popping.

Once the ideas are flowing, the students will need a place to write them down -- and that means they'll need a book! The second part of the class will involve making a blank book that the students can bring home. They can fill these pages with their thoughts, stories, and all the other possibilities sparks can create.

Dana Meachen Rau has written more than 200 books for children in a variety of genres -- early readers, picture books, historical fiction, biographies, and nonfiction on scientific, historical, geographical, and other popular topics. She lives and works in Burlington, Connecticut and is currently working on a nonfiction book about bookmaking for kids.

For students in grades 5-7. Maximum of 12 students. Please register in advance in person or by calling the library at 673-3331.

Wednesday, November 14
5:00 PM