Granby Public Library System
Website: granby-ct.gov/library
Telephone: 860-844-5275
Email: GranbyLibrary@granby-ct.gov
Library Staff Support are in the building and available to answer questions, provide recommendations, fill holds, schedule curbside pickup and technology appointments, and assist with online research/resources six days a week:
Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
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. Call the library for details.
Technology Appointments: Available for Granby Library patrons. Please call the library for more information or to schedule a time to use a library computer, printer, fax machine or photo copier.
Book Bundles/Reader’s Assistance: Not sure what to read next? Contact the library for help finding something new to love or ask for a random assortment and we’ll surprise you with some staff favorites. Need help choosing books for your children? Miss Joan, the Children’s Librarian, is happy to help. Call 860-844-5285, leave a message with a callback number and she will respond as quickly as possible.
Creativebug Classes: Granby Library Cardholders can now access hundreds of art, craft, maker and creativity classes online for free through this excellent resource. Follow the link from the library website and enter your card to start learning how to paint, sculpt, draft, knit and more.
Library Programs (via Zoom)
Register in advance online to receive the Zoom links for these programs.
EFT Tapping and Intro To Meditation: Monday, Feb. 1, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Looking for 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 and offers something extra—he’s introducing basic meditation practices at the end of the program.
Plan B Book Club: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Join us as we connect online through reading, conversation and good books. Leading the discussions are Doug Soucier and Beth Morrill, both experienced book club leaders who know how to keep the conversation fun and interesting. At the February meeting, we will discuss The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin. Too late for this month’s reading? Join us March 2 when we discuss Born a Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. No computer/internet at home? Call the library for information on how you can participate by phone.
Tender Letters: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 6:30–7:30 p.m. While texts and emails are a nice way to stay in touch, very few people tuck them under their pillow or fold them into their wallet to keep the writer close. Letters, on the other hand, are special, physical tokens of a person’s tender feelings.
In this one-hour workshop led by Beverly Army-Williams, writing professor and mixed media artist, you’ll find inspiration reading famous letters written by others and then decide to whom you’ll write your tender letter—a sweetheart, a crush, a parent, a friend. The session continues with one or more writing warm-ups, then letter writing guidelines to help you compose a tender missive. Visit the library website for a list of suggested supplies and to register. Sponsored by Friends of Cossitt Library.
Journal Play: Thursdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25, 1–2 p.m. Whether you think of yourself as a writer or not, keeping a journal provides countless benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety to creating a record of your life to helping you achieve your goals.
In this four-week workshop series with Beverly Army-Williams, writing professor and mixed media artist, you’ll explore different approaches to journaling through guided prompts and active journal writing. We’ll look to famous journalers such as Leonardo da Vinci, Anne Frank, Frederick Douglass, Sylvia Plath, Joan Didion and Lynda Barry for inspiration. Optional homework prompts will be offered to maintain skills between writing sessions. Visit the library website for a list of suggested supplies and to register, for one or all four sessions. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library.
Long Term Care: Thursday, Feb. 4, 6:30–7:30 p.m. You have a 401(k), a diversified portfolio, a retirement nest egg. You’ve thought of everything—except how to protect your retirement investments should you need long-term care. Aldo Pantano, Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care, State Office of Policy and Management, will explain how to protect your life’s savings with long term care insurance. There will be no sales, no solicitations and no company-specific products discussed, just straight-forward information.
Writers Group: Tuesdays, Feb. 9 and 23, 5–6:30 p.m. Adult fiction writers are invited to attend bi-weekly workshops to hone skills using a variety of creative writing exercises and prompts. Giving and receiving writing critiques is optional. Participants also have the choice of leading upcoming sessions.
Love With A Twist: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6:30–7:30 p.m. You’re invited to join award-winning poet Joan Kantor as she shares her expansive perspective on love. Kantor finds her poetic inspiration in traditional, but also unexpected and sometimes quirky places, from the most sublime to the deepest interpersonal connection. This is a reading about love, but with a twist, full of fun, joy, passion, some sadness and plenty of surprises. It comes with the guarantee that there will be absolutely no sappy love poems.
Presidents Day or President’s Day? A Lighter Look At History: Saturday, Feb. 13, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Local historian Ken Kuhl presents interesting and often forgotten facts about the presidential office. Was George Washington really the nation’s first President? Who led the nation between the end of the Revolutionary War and Washington’s inauguration? What happened to the former national holidays celebrating Washington’s and Lincoln’s respective birthdays? Sponsored by Friends of Cossitt Library.
Birdscaping: Home Sweet Habitat: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Explore the importance of creating welcoming habitats for birds through thoughtful landscape choices that include native plants vital for food and nesting sites. Learn about the benefits and joys of creating beautiful layered gardens from Joan Butler, master gardener, horticulturist, and past chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council, and bring avian performers into your own backyard with her landscape management tips. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library, Granby Agricultural Commission and Granby Land Trust.
Special Program Series (via Zoom)
Register in advance online to receive the Zoom links for these programs.
Let’s Talk: A Guide To Conversation In Challenging Times: Navigating conversations with family, friends and neighbors that include sensitive and controversial topics can be difficult and awkward. Pick up pointers for more effective and less stressful communication at one or all four of these important programs facilitated by Linda T. Darcy, equity consultant and trainer.
Darcy grew up in Granby and attended Granby Memorial High School, Class of ’85. She’s returning virtually and looking forward to spending this time with the people of Granby. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library.
Tools for Engaging in Productive Conversations: Thursday, Feb. 18, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Learn about the mindset adjustments needed to engage in productive conversations about sensitive, emotional or controversial topics. Participants will gain knowledge and practice a specific tool to build self-awareness of conversational mindset.
What Is Social Identity and Why Do I Care? Thursday, March 4, 6:30–7:30 p.m. As people, we are all more than the sum of our parts. We identify ourselves in myriad ways: race, gender, religion, nationalist, ethnicity, etc. These aspects of self are simply ingredients…not the whole recipe. We’ll delve further into this concept during the program.
What is the Impact of Culture? Thursday, March 18, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Building on the concept of social identity, we will discuss how our many social identities combine to create our culture. We’ll explore how culture impacts behavior and how that behavior impacts the interpretation of other people’s behavior.
The Words We Use: Thursday, March 25, 6:30–7:30 p.m. “The pen is mightier than the sword.” We know that words have power. We can use them as weapons or as shields. Words are also abstract and can be interpreted differently by different people in different contexts. In this final session, we will discuss how we can be mindful of the words we use and the impact they can have.
Library Programs for Teens and Tweens (via Zoom)
Register in advance online to receive the Zoom links for these programs.
Snack Attack I, Vegetable Potstickers: Friday, Feb. 12, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Grades 6–12. Making—and eating—vegetable potstickers with Katie Shepherd, registered dietitian and all-around excellent cook. It’s fun and easy to make these tasty snacks at home. Simply set up in your kitchen and tune into the Zoom program to learn alongside the Food Explorers co-founder. Space is limited so be sure to register early. You’ll find the ingredients list and other kitchen prep tips on the library website. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library.
Snack Attack II, Mac n’ Cheese Bites: Friday, Feb. 26, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Grades 6–12. Food Explorers returns with another munchie-busting cooking opportunity. Register online for the Zoom program link and your chance to discover the simple magic behind making macaroni and cheese from scratch. The ingredients list is available on the library’s website, but don’t delay. Space is limited and you must register in advance. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library.
Library Programs for Children and Families (via Zoom)
Register in advance online to receive the Zoom links for these programs.
Animal Encounters With Riverside Reptiles: Saturday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m. Ages 7+. It’s international Take Your Child to the Library Day—this year, virtually. Join an educator from Riverside Reptiles, introducing us to several exotic creatures and teaching about their habits and lifestyles. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library.
Good Morning Story Time: Tuesdays, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 10:30 a.m. Miss Joan invites her preschool friends (ages 3–5) and their caregivers to join her for a very special Story Time. Let’s sing, do a fingerplay and share a story. Register by 10 a.m. on the day of the program to receive the Zoom link.
Watch When You’re Ready…GPL on YouTube
The library has a YouTube channel and you’re invited to watch. Visit the GPL channel to view archived library programs, story times and helpful videos to improve your library experience. Find the page by searching for Granby Public Library on the YouTube page, and subscribe to know when we post something new.
Sleepy Time Story Time: Fridays, Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26, posted at 7 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. Snuggle up with your favorite teddy or toy and relax as Miss Joan reads a bedtime story. No need to register. A new story will be recorded and posted each Friday night.
First Chapter Fridays: Fridays, Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26, posted at 12 noon on Facebook and YouTube. Miss Joan reads 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. Please check the library’s online calendar for book titles.
New and Ongoing Library Services
New—Story Time on Your Time: Too busy to attend a scheduled Story Time program? Call the library and request a Story Time Bag for you and your baby or toddler. Each bag contains two board books, two bean bags and pages of suggested finger plays, songs and nursery rhymes to enjoy together. Keep each bag for up to one month, then return it and check out another. Each bag has a different assortment. Call Miss Joan for more information at 860-844-5285.
Take and Make Crafts: Saturdays, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 10 a.m.–noon. Curbside at GPL. Calling all crafty kids—stop by the main library’s curbside pickup area and select a craft kit from the Craft Box we’ve 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.
Book Bundles: All month long. Looking for books to celebrate Black History Month? Valentine’s Day? Chinese New Year? Presidents’ Day? Purim? We will be happy to put together a bundle of age-appropriate books for your family with any theme in mind. Please call Miss Joan directly at 860-844-5285 and leave a callback number.
New—Book Bundles Just For Tweens: All month long. Did you know we have a special section of books just for Tweens? And right now, we have tons of new tween books, just waiting for you to check them out. Request a New Tween Book Bundle, chosen specifically for you by Miss Joan. Call 860-844-5285 and leave a callback number.
Family Puzzle Packs: All month long. Short days and chilly nights mean longer evenings inside at home. It’s the perfect time for puzzles. All month long 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. Packs are available for curbside pickup, just ask us to include one in your bag. Give your family a “screen time” break and relax with a puzzle or two.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten: Ongoing. This popular program is an easy and fun way to spend time reading together. We provide everything you need. Just call the library to register and schedule a convenient time to stop by for curbside pickup of your program information folder. Then start reading together. As you and your child reach 100-book milestones on your way to 1000 books, your child will receive small toy prizes and books to help keep them motivated. A very special, personalized gift is presented to your child when they reach their goal of 1000 books! To get started, call: 860-844-5275 (main desk) or 860-844-5285 for the Children’s Librarian.