Norma Francini contributes to the 100 anniversary Time Capsule

 Norma Francini's hand-painted wooden silhouette of the Unionville Museum presents the quintessential Maker project; woodcut on a band saw in the shape of the Museum, formerly the Unionville Carnegie  Library. Norma's work is a beautiful example of the Maker movements influence on our society and her longtime passion for creating art from wood. Thant you Norma! 

Special congratulations to Sarah Mias our Employee of the Year

Special congratulations to Sarah Mias.  

Sarah was elected by her colleagues to the order of 2017 Employee of the Year! 

Sarah is known for her vast social media expertise and her podcasting skills. Sarah is also a tremendous asset at the Information Desk as well as in the Maker Space. I feel fortunate to have Sarah on our Team!

Happy Thanksgiving

November 2017

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving is a special, universally American Holiday, where we have an opportunity to be gourmand without guilt, hug friends and family, feel the warmth of a cozy fire, after being at the high school football game. Indeed, a time for forgetting all those confounding events around us with isolated-focused time with family and friends. As I sit at my desk writing this, I can vividly remember Thanksgiving, 1970; while on submarine patrol in the North Atlantic, how lonely I was and how each of my shipmates longed to be home. I hope we all remember that people, in our armed forces, are away from home; regardless of Skype, Facebook etc., and alone, without the touch of family and loved ones. Let them, no matter where deployed, have the solace to know they will have Thanksgiving when they return to home and wish them all smooth sailing.  

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jay

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dlXmuYuAYc

2017 Library Team Retreat

It is a privileged to work with the highly talented and creative team I have the pleasure of working with here at the Farmington Libraries.  Our 2017, in-service, Team Retreat, was productive, exciting,  and informative.  Chairman, Alan Sherman made opening comments on the strategic plan and the libraries mission. Followed by presentations by; Police Chief, Paul Melanson, international marketing consultant, Phil Lauria, Educational consultant, Richard Brooks, Virtual Reality consultant, Palo Pierce, and the department heads each adding essential elements with successful outcomes. 

Good Bye Farmington Libraries Children's Librarian, emeritus, Nancy DeSalvo

Goodbye Nancy...

I first meet Nancy in the late 1970's and witnessed her great passion and commitment to reading and children's literacy. Nancy lived a life filled with those memories each of us cherishes: children's joy, great stories, and testimonies from children who became amazing adults partially because of her work.  She is, for each of us,  an excellent model of how to live a meaningful life, and I shall miss her; although I shall always remember the joy she developed each day she worked to live the good life.   Smooth Sailing beyond the sea Nancy,  Jay

http://www.courant.com/hc-desalvo-nancy-neal-20170825-externalblogpost.html

We as a community watched the Solar Eclipse!

We as a community came together to watch the Solar Eclipse; when the moon was passing in front of the sun during the day revealing its outline piercing around the moon's shadow.    Yes, over 800 people unexpectedly came to see a partially occluded solar eclipse, with only 100 glasses available, we were surprised but acted quickly distributing each pair of glasses to six people, who were asked to share with their fellow sextet, thereby allowing everyone to see the celestial phenomena without a hitch. I am especially proud to work with  an innovative and  talented library team who each pulled together to make this a super event; one which everyone will remember, not necessarily because of the celestial phenomena, but rather because of the kindness and understanding everyone afforded to each other in the act and synergy of sharing and being together.

The Farmington Connecticut Story