Pequot Library In Southport Hosts Exciting Slate Of Programs In May

Information from Pequot Library:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Pequot Library announces a number of cultural and educational programs for all ages during the month of May, the vast majority of which are free and open to the public. One exception is the much-anticipated May 4 Derby Day Celebration. This fundraiser plays a critical role in bolstering the library’s annual budget, as they receive about 20% of their funding from the Town of Fairfield but make up the difference through corporate sponsorships, grants, individual memberships, and fundraisers. Also not to be missed: André Aciman of Call Me by Your Name joins Pequot Library for a Meet the Author on May 2 at 6:00 p.m. Read on for more details.

On May 1 at 3:00 p.m., tune in for Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I – A Virtual Author Talk with Douglas Brunt. He’ll discuss his instant bestselling debut non-fiction
work The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This talk is produced in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. André Aciman joins Pequot Library for a Meet the Author on May 2 at 6:00 p.m. The acclaimed author of acclaimed texts such as Call Me by Your Name and Out of Egypt will discuss his themes, process, and inspiration.

The library hosts one of their biggest fundraisers of the year, their Derby Day Celebration, on May 4. Take a stroll around the Great Lawn to view the festive hats, attire, and decorated tailgates. Bid on Silent Auction items and get your Derby Dollars so that you can enter to win raffle items, take home a bottle of bourbon from the Bourbon Wall, choose your winning horse and take home the top prize in the 50/50 raffle, and new this year: be the first in New England to experience the mobile driving range Dryvebox. The fun starts at 4:00 p.m.

On May 8 at 7:00 p.m., log on for A Murder Mystery, Family Story, & Love Letter to Strong Women Everywhere: Virtual Author Talk with Nina Simon. Simon chats about her lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths, Mother-Daughter Murder Night. This talk is produced in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

On May 9, join the library for Tales from ‘The Resolution’: Sailing Adventures with Teens on Long Island Sound. Join Ship 84’s leaders, Erol Eyikan and Paul Lukas for stories of youth-led sailing adventures and a pitch for why learning these skills is still important in our 21st Century world. A related program comes on May 11 at 2:00 p.m. Meet at Ye Yacht Yard, a short walk or drive from Pequot Library. Children and families will have the chance to board The Resolution and learn about how a sailing vessel is rigged and operated.

The library presents Reading and Rhythm, a pre-k concert focusing on developing literacy and reading skills through music, on May 11 at 1:00 p.m. This interactive program will have performers from the orchestra alongside teaching artists from Music Together of Fairfield County.

Four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Margie Smith Holt will present her new memoir, Not on Any Map: One Virgin Island, Two Catastrophic Hurricanes, and the True Meaning of Paradise, on May 16 at 6:00 p.m. This talk will be perfect for anyone interested in sailing, whether you’re relatively new to the activity or a seasoned salt.

Register today for a Building and History Tour on May 18 at 10:00 a.m. Pequot Library is included on the National Register of Historic Places and is the recipient of the 2018 Connecticut Treasures Award. Learn about the history of the library, which was founded by Southport resident Virginia Marquand Monroe in 1889, while exploring the building’s iconic Tiffany & Co. stained glass windows, original steel stacks wing, glass floor, and historic reading rooms. The cost is $10 per person. Space is limited to 20 participants.

On May 18 at 2:00 p.m., the library welcomes the Schubert Club of Fairfield for a piano ensemble group concert. This is one of the many musical arms of the Schubert Club of Fairfield County. It’s made up of ensemble teams: duet, duo, sometimes even eight hands at two pianos.

Tune in on May 21 at 7:00 p.m. for Asian American Representation in Literature: An Online Author Talk with Rebecca F. Kuang. Kuang chats virtually about her New York Times bestselling novel, Yellowface. This talk is produced in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

On May 23 at 6:00 p.m., join Southport resident Stephen Panus as he presents his new book, Walk On, the powerful true story of a father faced with every parent’s worst nightmare. Describing unbearable loss, Panus transcends grief and offers inspiration towards leading a life filled with meaning.

Finally, the library hosts the Fairfield Public Schools Townwide Art Show Reception on May 29 at 5:00 p.m. The Advanced Placement (AP) exhibition with selections from Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde High Schools will be in The Perkin Gallery from May 15 to May 30, and art from Fairfield’s three middle schools and 11 elementary schools will be featured in the Auditorium and the Reading Room from Friday, May 24 to Thursday, May 30, during normal library hours.

Check the library’s website for details about all of these programs as well as listings for recurring events for all ages like the Genealogy Roundtable, Friday Night Young Artists’ Cafe, and the Write-in with Gabi Coatsworth.

ABOUT PEQUOT LIBRARY:
Founded in 1889, Pequot Library’s mission is to enrich lives by serving the cultural, educational, and intellectual needs of the entire community. Its annual programs for adults and children serve more than 45,000 participants a year. As a public association library 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the library relies on the generosity of individual donors and foundations, special event fundraisers, grants, corporate and community partners, and Friends of Pequot Library memberships. Follow Pequot Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.