Granby Public Library System
Library website: granby-ct.gov/library
Library phone: 860-844-5275
Library email address: GranbyLibrary@granby-ct.gov
Visiting the Library In Person
Main Branch Open Hours
Tuesday and Thursday, 12–3 p.m. and 4–7 p.m. (closed 3-4 p.m. for cleaning)
Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Children’s room by appointment during open hours (call to schedule)
Curbside Library Pickup
For maximum social distancing and safe, convenient library access, Curbside Library Pickup continues to be a great option. Library materials can be reserved online through the catalog or by telephone, and then patrons can schedule a pick-up appointment—no need to come inside.
In-Person Programs
Write a letter to the North Pole: Dec. 1 – 19. Would you like to write a letter to the North Pole? We’ll supply the note paper and the “stamped” envelopes. Just put your letter into our new red mailbox outside the library and we’ll make sure it gets to the North Pole in plenty of time for the holidays. All ages. No registration needed.
Make a mini Gingerbread House: Saturday, Dec. 12 (Snow date Dec. 19) Choose either 10–11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at the Granby Senior Center. For ages 7 and up, with an adult. Create your own mini gingerbread house to take home with frosting, candy and other fun ingredients. All materials will be provided. Please wear a mask and follow safety protocols. We will hold two sessions of this popular program to ensure distancing guidelines are followed – please register for just one. Generously sponsored by the Friends of Cossitt Library in memory of Bobbie Sullivan.
Take and Make Crafts: Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19, Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30. 10 a.m. – 12 noon. The popular Take and Make craft program continues. Stop by the main library’s curbside pickup area to select a kit from the Craft Box placed outside. No registration or reservation needed. An assortment of crafts for all levels of ability will be available. One craft kit per child, please. All materials and instruction will be provided. First come, first served, supplies are limited. Note: some crafts may contain small pieces that could be a choking hazard to children age 3 and under.
Story Time with Miss Joan: Tuesdays, Dec. 1, 8, 15 and Jan. 5, 12, 19 at 10:30 a.m. at main branch. For ages 3–5, with caregiver. Have you been missing Story Time as much as we have? Miss Joan invites her preschool friends and their caregivers to join her for a very special socially-distanced Story Time. Everyone over the age of two must wear a mask and use hand sanitizer when entering the building. Please bring a blanket or towel for your family to sit on. Advance registration is required, as space is limited.
Virtual Programs, via Zoom
Plan “B” Book Group: Tuesdays, Dec. 1, Jan. 5, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Connect online through reading, conversation, and good books. In December, Doug Soucier and Beth Morrill lead a virtual book discussion featuring award-winning sci-fi author John Scalzi’s Redshirts. The Star Trek parody piece took the 2013 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel as well as the Hugo Award for Best New Fiction. The January book discussion choice is a bestselling collection of essays, Me Talk Pretty One Day, by American humorist David Sedaris. Reading ahead? In February, we’ll be discussing The City We Became, by N.K. Jemisin.
Use your library card to borrow a copy of these books in any format. Register for the book group’s Zoom link on the Library’s website.
Wreath Making: Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Learn to make an evergreen wreath from fresh greens and treasures found in nature. Nan Butler, from Lyric Hill Farm, offers a seasonal tutorial featuring construction techniques, a materials list with sourcing options, and suggested embellishments. There will be ample opportunity for questions. This wreath-making demonstration is part of the Granby Grows series featuring local agricultural experts. Register online to receive the program Zoom ink and other details. Sponsored by Granby Public Library and Granby Agricultural Commission.
EFT Tapping: Monday, Dec. 7, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Need a moment of calm in an anxious world? Try Emotional Freedom Technique, a powerful procedure used by tens of thousands of practitioners around the world. Commonly known as Tapping, the technique helps people overcome anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, traumatic memories, grief, and emotional and physical pain. Certified instructor and Life Coach Cris Jacobs leads the monthly session. Registration required to receive Zoom access.
Writers Group: Tuesdays, Dec. 8, Jan. 12 and 26, 5–6:30 p.m. Adult fiction writers are invited to attend biweekly workshops to hone skills using a variety of creative writing exercises and prompts. Giving and receiving writing critiques is also an option. The group meets only once in December, and resumes biweekly sessions in January. Register online to obtain the program Zoom link.
A Visit with Connecticut’s State Historian: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Connecticut State Historian Walter Woodward helps us understand how people and events in Connecticut’s past played crucial roles in forming the culture and character of Connecticut today.
A gifted storyteller, the author of Creating Connecticut: Critical Moments That Shaped a Great State, brings to life the history we thought we knew. From the nearly forgotten early presence of the Dutch, to the time when Connecticut was New England’s fiercest prosecutor of witches, the decades when Nutmeggers were rapidly leaving the state, and the years when Irish immigrants were hurrying into it, Woodward will leave you thinking about our state in a whole new way. Register online to obtain the program Zoom link.
Weather Watch with Sam Sampieri: Monday, Dec. 14, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Weather watchers, storm chasers and flurry fanatics are invited to a program devoted entirely to weather. You are likely to recognize the familiar voice of meteorologist Sam Sampieri during the virtual program. As a longtime resident and meteorologist for local radio and television stations and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Sampieri will share information about general weather patterns, climate concerns and the winter weather outlook. Register online to obtain the program Zoom link.
Cooking with Katie: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 11:30 a.m. For ages 7 and up, with an adult. What’s better than the smell of hot Cinnamon Sugar Rolls on a cold winter morning? Learn how to make them at home with Katie, a registered dietitian from Food Explorers. This yeast-free dough uses Greek yogurt to make them extra fluffy. You’ll need these ingredients: butter, sugar, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla Greek yogurt, flour, salt and vanilla extract. Please register to obtain the Zoom link.
Owls of New England: Thursday, Jan. 14, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Enjoy a captivating presentation by professional wildlife photographer Peter Christoph. View stunning photographs and hear stories that educate and inspire bird lovers, photographers and anyone with an appreciation of nature. Christoph will share how he finds and photographs owls in their natural habitat and display amazing photographs of eight New England owl species. Register online to obtain the program Zoom link. Sponsored by Friends of Cossitt Library in memory of Bobbie Sullivan and Granby Land Trust.
Programs to Watch When You’re Ready
Recorded and posted on the GPL Facebook page and on YouTube
First Chapter Fridays: Fridays, Dec. 4, 11, 18 and Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29. Pour yourself a hot cup of cocoa, get comfy and listen to the beginnings of some favorite—or soon-to-be favorite—books for ages 8 and up. There will be a new video posted each Friday. No registration needed. Dec. 4 is Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater; Dec. 12 is Front Desk by Kelly Yang; Dec. 19 is The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Please check the GPL online calendar for book titles in January.
The Night Before Christmas: Beginning Dec. 23. Gather the family and join Miss Joan for a special reading of this holiday classic by Clement Moore. No registration needed.
More Opportunities To Use Your Library
Downloadable eBooks and eAudio Books: OverDriveoffers library patrons access to thousands of eBook, eAudio Book, eVideo, and eMagazine titles, including family favorites, new best-sellers, and holiday classics.They can be borrowed using your Granby library card, either through the OverDrive website or through the free OverDrive and Libby Apps on your mobile device. Both the Libby and Overdrive Apps access the same collection, which includes a wide range of titles from across Connecticut as well as some titles exclusive to Granby residents. New titles for all ages are added on a weekly basis, so check back often and place a hold if a title you want is already checked out.
Family Puzzle Packs: Shorter days and cooler nights mean longer evenings inside at home. It’s the perfect time for puzzles. The library will be handing out free paper puzzle packs with crosswords, word games, mazes, dot-to-dots and coloring sheets for children of all ages. Packages will be available in the Children’s Room for in-person pickup or they can be included in curbside bags—just ask. Give your family a screen time break and relax with a puzzle or two.
Holiday-Inspired Online Learning: Looking to make your own gifts this season? Want to edit your photos before uploading them into a photo calendar? Ready to spend your winter break learning to knit a scarf, make your own soap, or paint a painting? The Library offers free online classes in all of these (and more) through the Online Learning page of the Library website. Use your library card to register for Universal Class to begin your maker journey in time for the holiday season.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten: It’s never too early to start reading to your child! Studies show that children who have been read to are more likely to do better in school, and in later life, than children who have not had exposure to books and reading when they were young. Granby Public Library’s popular program, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, is an easy and fun way to encourage literacy while spending time reading together. Call the library to register, then schedule a time to stop by to pick up your program information and supplies. As you and your child reach 100-book milestones on your way to 1,000 books, your child will receive small toy prizes and books to stay motivated. A very special personalized gift is presented to your child when they reach the goal of 1000 books. To get started, call the library: 860-844-5275 (main desk) or 860-844-5285 for the Children’s Librarian.
Need Help Choosing Books for Your Children?
Miss Joan, the Children’s Librarian, is happy to help. Reserve a time to stop by in person or call her direct line: 860-844-5285. Leave a message with a callback number and she will respond as quickly as possible.