Mortlock Library of South Australiana, 1884
Adelaide, Australia

The building now known as the Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia opened in 1884 as a "Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery for the colony of South Australia" with 23,000 books and a staff of three. It had taken over 18 years to complete after the initial foundations were laid in 1866. The interior has two galleries, the first supported by masonry columns, and the second by cast iron brackets. The balconies feature wrought iron balustrades ornamented with gold while the glass-domed roof allows the chamber to be lit with natural light. The building was restored in 1985 as a Jubilee 150 project by Danvers Architects, consultant architect to the South Australian Department of Housing and Construction. The $1.5 million project was jointly funded by the government and the community. In honor of a substantial bequest from John Andrew Tennant Mortlock, the Libraries Board of South Australia resolved that a percentage of the South Australiana Collections would be housed in the wing and named the Mortlock Library of South Australiana in 1986. The library collections provide a glimpse into the history and culture of South Australia.

Open Library Night

The Norfolk Library Teen Advisory Council invites local teens to an open library night at 5:00 p.m. on March 24th. Come hang out, enjoy some pizza, and see our newly-furnished Teen Owl Cove!

All CT Reads Book Discussion: When Women Were Dragons
Sunday, March 26, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Please join us for our All CT Reads book discussion of When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill. Set in the 1950s, this speculative fiction alternative history of the United States provides an interesting and thought-provoking twist on female choice, especially as we celebrate National Women's History Month in March. Multiple copies of the book are available at the Library. Visit here to find out more and to reserve your copy of the book. Tea and cookies will be served.

A program of the Connecticut State Library, All CT Reads is a year-long initiative to promote conversations and connection across the state to talk about inclusivity, cultures, and acceptance. One main book title and three shortlist book titles are chosen each calendar year for three age groups: kids (ages 8-12), teens (ages 13-18), and adults.

Brené Brown Podcast Discussion Group with Kelly Kandra Hughes
Mondays, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., via Zoom

Join us for our personal growth series on Monday afternoons. In this seven-week discussion group, we'll use the 7 Best Episodes of Unlocking Us with Brené Brown to guide our discussions. Each week, we'll listen on our own to a previously selected "Unlocking Us" podcast (see schedule here) and then join together via Zoom on Monday afternoons to share our insights and opinions. You are welcome, at your convenience, to attend one session, all seven, or pick and choose based on the podcast episode. You only need to register once for this series to receive a Zoom link for all seven weeks.

Register HERE.

March 27: Brenè with Tim Ferriss and Dax Shepard on Podcasting, Daily Practices, and the Long and Winding Path to Healing. Listen here: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-tim-ferriss-and-dax-shepard-on-podcasting-daily-practices-and-the-long-and-winding-path-to-healing/

Exciting Discoveries in Art History
Monday, March 27, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Who doesn’t love learning about a priceless painting found in an attic? Or a sculpture sitting for decades in a public garden, only to be found out as a Renaissance treasurer? After finding herself in the middle of her own art history discovery when she uncovered the provenance of a Rodin sculpture sitting in New Jersey town hall, Mallory Mortillaro learned just how many times this has happened before. Her lecture explores the stories of ten different important and valuable works of art that had been rediscovered in unexpected places. The program explores a brief background of each piece, artist, and how the piece got to be lost, and then found. Mallory joined us last year to talk about her lost Rodin, and we're excited to have her back for another fascinating look at the the history of art.

Please register here for the Zoom link.

Mallory Mortillaro is an art historian and educator.  She has ten years of teaching experience, and has worked on various art research projects for museums and organizations in the New York metropolitan area.

Corner Club: Wild Magic with Angela Grano
Wednesday, March 29, 3:45 - 4:30 p.m.

WILD MAGIC, created by Federally Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator and Animal Control Of?cer Angela Grano, is an interactive wildlife program dedicated to bringing awareness and personal pro-action for habitat conservation through the telling of true, and often astounding, stories. Audiences young and young-at-heart are invited to view large canvas prints featuring just some of the animals Angela has had the honor of interacting with. Gazing at large prints rather than the animal itself eliminates the potential stress live animals tend to experience in these types of talks and presentations.

Ms. Grano will provide tales, anecdotes and advice from her experience of over twenty years in the ?eld of wildlife rescue and  rehabilitation. Each participant will leave equipped with pointers on what we all can do to improve the lives of the majestic creatures around us. Children will need a note to get off the school bus at the Library.

Enjoy a cup and gather ‘round as we share stories and offer homage to the wild magic that IS… Please register for this program here.

Contemporary German Film Series with film director Diego Ongaro
Great Freedom (2021)
Thursday, March 30, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

In this series, film director Diego Ongaro will introduce us to a selection of powerful films that recently sprouted from the Berlin School. The Berlin School is a German film movement that started in the mid 1990's and created radically new images of German society. With directors coming from different horizons, their films can be seen as documents of a society in transition with lives having to be redefined after the fall of the Wall. The more restrained approach to characters, places, and moods alone made these films stand out from staidly conventional German films. They reflect an unconscious insecurity, and the feeling that history is going down a different road, one in which people do not know what role they are going to play.

Unearthing heartrending chapters of queer history in postwar Germany, Sebastian Meise’s moving drama Great Freedom harnesses the healing power of intimacy that blooms in defiance of systematic oppression. Franz Rogowski mesmerizes with a powerhouse performance in this absorbing tale of resilience and resistance.

Mature audience 

Visit here to register.

Music Among Neighbors: The Banjo Babies
Saturday, April 1, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Next up in our Music Among Neighbors series is Ella Vorenberg and the bluegrass band The Banjo Babies. The Banjo Babies got together this past fall after meeting in the New York bluegrass scene. They’ve played bar jams and small venues in the city, and are excited to bring bluegrass to the Library!

Sam Dallas - Bass
Ella Vorenberg - Vocals
David Chernack - Guitar
Tom Gause - Fiddle
Sam Chester - Banjo
Jackson Earles - Mandolin

Ella Vorenberg is a resident of New York, where she teaches fifth grade at an independent school. Ella's parents Amy and Tom Vorenberg live in Norfolk. Please register here and join us for an evening of music among neighbors.

Film Screening: The Pollinators
Monday, April 3, 6:30 p.m.

Join us as we take a cinematic journey around the United States following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honey bees, which pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables we all eat. Afterwards, we'll briefly discuss how we can locally support pollinators. Wildflower seed packets will also be distributed after the documentary, one per family. This program is in partnership with the Norfolk Church of Christ Green Team. Please register here.

An Introduction to Beekeeping
Thursday, April 6, 6:00 p.m.

Have you ever wondered if you could start a beehive in your own backyard? In this Introduction to Beekeeping, Dan Carr takes you from the anatomy and social structure of honey bees to the basics of managing a hive, and teaches you about what it takes to start your very own beehive.   

Dan met his wife Marleen while beekeeping, and together they started a sustainable livestock farm and apiary in Falls Village, CT; Beavertides Farm. Besides raising sheep, cattle, goats and millions of honey bees, they organize farm tours and teach classes in beekeeping and other farming and homesteading related topics.   

Dan has almost two decades of experience as a beekeeper in both Malawi and the US. He has been teaching beekeeping courses for many years at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm in NYC and at his family farm, Beavertides Farm. For inquiries, a peek at life on the farm and more information, please visit www.beavertidesfarm.com.

Please register here for this program.

Mindfulness with Miranda Lee
Fridays in March, 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. via Zoom

Mindfulness can be defined as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” In this series, mindfulness practitioner Miranda Lee will teach participants how to live a more mindful life and equip them with the tools they need to help build resilience against the challenges of day-to-day life. Miranda's theme for March is "stress reduction." Visit here to register for the Zoom link. Anyone can join at any time.

The deadline for submitting a photo to the Town of Norfolk website photo contest is fast approaching!

March Madness: Battle of the Books

It's down to the final two! Let us know which book you think should win. Voting takes place through Wednesday, March 29, and the winning title in our Battle of the Books tournament will be announced in the Friday March 31 Night Owl, as well as through social media. All voting participants will be entered to win a gift certificate to Oblong Books. Click here to play!

Find our full list here.

Click Here for more information.