Public Library
Constitución, Chile

The building of a public library in the city of Constitución was part of a public-private initiative taken after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami devastated the town in 2010. Constitución is a small town situated in the very core of one of the biggest clusters of wood production in Chile, an important part of the town's identity. Designed by local architect Sebastian Irarrazaval, the wooden building was carefully crafted by talented local carpenters using high quality wood materials.

The Library is located along one of the edges of the central square, a site that holds civic and cultural importance to the town. Three glass-clad wooden naves face the plaza allowing views both into the building and from within the building, establishing a constant connection between people and the books inside. Shaded benches at the foot of each nave provide public seating for the community. Each wood-framed hall corresponds to the three main programmatic sections of the building: children, young adult, and adult books.

Brothers in Spirit: An Illustrated Talk with Jenny Byers
Saturday, June 10, 5:30 p.m.
Scion of the Pittsburgh oil and banking family, William Larimer Mellon, Jr., was married, the father of three, and a successful rancher in Arizona when, at thirty-seven, he read a Life magazine article about Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy of “reverence for life” which guided his mission hospital in a remote area of Gabon, Africa. Mellon immediately wrote to the famous humanitarian in Lambarene, expressing admiration of Schweitzer’s life of service and the wish to engage in similar work with his wife, Gwendolyn. Schweitzer’s reply in March 1948 was a lengthy letter of realistic encouragement. In time, Mellon received his medical degree from Tulane University and later established a well-equipped hospital in one of the poorest regions of Haiti, where, with his wife, he spent the rest of his life working as a physician and a community development engineer.  The hospital continues to thrive. Author Jeannette Q. Byers has brought together sixty-five of the letters written between 1947 and Schweitzer’s death in 1965 in her book Brothers in Spirit: The Correspondence of Albert Schweitzer and William Larimer Mellon, Jr. She will read from these letters and tell us more about this extraordinary humanitarian project on Saturday, June 10, at 5:30 p.m. Please register for this program here.

All Together! Decorating the Library Lawn
Wednesday, June 14, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
Help decorate the library lawn with painted wood insects in preparation for our 2023 Summer Reading program. Erika Crofut will lead this fun artistic painting session. Children will need a note to get off the bus at the Library. Visit here to let us know your child will be there.

A Juneteenth Book Discussion
Thursday, June 15, 5:30 p.m.

In recognition of Juneteenth this year, the Norfolk Library invites you to attend a book discussion of All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake. Author, professor, and public historian Tiya Miles draws on history, art, and many other dimensions to explore the meanings held in a single object, a cotton sack passed down through three generations of African American women. The book won the National Book Award in 2021. In the Library's continuing commitment to social justice equity, copies of the book will be freely given to the first 10 people who would like to participate in the discussion. Please register here or by calling 860-542-5075 ext. 2 and come by to pick up your book.

Dragon Boat Festival at the HUB
Saturday, June 17, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The CT-Asia Cultural Center is bringing a Dragon Boat Festival to Norfolk! A Dragon Boat Festival, or Duan Wu Jie, is one of the three most important lunar festivals in China. The festival is celebrated to commemorate Qu Yuan, a famous ancient Chinese scholar. Chinese people celebrate with dragon boat races and rice dumplings. This year the Dragon Boat Festival in China begins on Thursday, June 22, and is a national 3-day holiday.

Bring your children to the HUB for traditional Dragon Boat Festival food, a Dragon Boat to sit in, Dragon Boat crafts, and a parade by the children who attend.

Registration is required and is limited to 40 people.  Click here to register or call the HUB 860-542-7185.

Click here to View More Information About The Norfolk Library Night Owl - June 9, 2023