Adult Programs

The Farmington Mastodon: CT at the End of the Last Ice Age
Tuesday, July 28, 6:00 pm

In August of 1913, workmen digging a ditch on the Hill-Stead estate of A.A. Pope in Farmington uncovered the remains of a mastodon. It is the most complete mastodon ever found in Connecticut and it has recently been radiocarbon-dated (14,900–14,200 cal BP) as has another, less complete mastodon from New Britain (13,100-12,984 ca BP).  While the stories of these mastodons are fascinating in their own right, the significance of the finds become even more apparent when considered in the light of recent archaeological finds, which push the date of documented human settlement in Connecticut back to at least 12,500 years ago. This talk, presented by Connecticut State Archaeologist Sarah P. Sportman, PhD, focuses on what these old and new discoveries tell us about Connecticut’s history and environment at the end of the last Ice Age and examines the question of whether people and mastodons might have once shared the Connecticut landscape.

The Story Underneath: Digging Beneath the One You’ve Been Telling
Thursday, July 30, 6:00 pm

Every one of us is walking around narrating a story about who we are — I’m the responsible one, I’m bad at this, I always end up here. But who actually wrote that story? More often than not, it was a much younger version of you, working with the information you had at the time — and you’ve been telling it on a loop ever since.

Drawing on her workbook “Your Personality and You,” writer and IFS (Internal Family Systems) practitioner Dr. Yael Dubin leads an hour of gentle excavation: how to recognize the old story, where it actually came from, and what it takes to begin telling a truer one. You’ll leave with a framework — and a few questions worth digging into — for understanding the parts of you that have been running the narrative, and for leading from something steadier underneath.

Bring a pen. Some of the best digging happens on the page.

Unearth CT’s Geologic Mysteries
Thursday, August 6, 6:00 pm

Did you know once there were mountains in Connecticut as high as the Himalayas?  Do you know why Connecticut soil is so rocky and why it is nearly impossible to get rid of the rocks?  Did you know that the rocks in part of Connecticut are the same as those in the Netherlands?  How is this possible given the distance and an ocean between them?  If you were standing where the Durham Library is some 200 million years ago, can you guess what two-legged, ferocious animal might have eaten you?  

Unearth CT’s Geologic Mysteries with Dr. Gary Robbins, Emeritus Professor in the Departments of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences at UConn in Storrs. He was a Professor at UConn for 37 years specializing in groundwater and water resources before retiring in 2023. He was honored for his research career being made a Fellow of the Geological Society of America.

The Conservation of Paintings
Thursday, August 13, 6:00 pm

Allen Kosanovich, head paintings conservator at The Wadsworth in Hartford, will explore the ethical, philosophical, and practical considerations of paintings conservation. Through detailed case studies, he will discuss how decisions are made, and by what means historic paintings are documented, preserved and restored through a disciplined approach in accordance with the Code of Ethics outlined by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC). 

Allen specializes in the study, preservation and restoration of old master paintings in the museum’s collection. He has pioneered “Conserving the Collection” at The Wadsworth, which is an ongoing exhibit that allows visitors to the museum to follow along with conservation treatments of works in the collection live in the gallery.

Allen is also an avid painter specializing in old master recreations. Through his passion for the materials and techniques of historic paintings, he has developed “Masterpiece in the Making.” This is an ongoing program at the Wadsworth where he creates faithful reproductions of paintings in the museum’s collection in front of the original masterpieces in the gallery, allowing visitors a rare glimpse into the processes and techniques used to create these works.

Cookbook Club
Friday, August 14, 12:00 pm

Do you enjoy discovering new recipes and sharing great food? Then cook, eat, and connect at our Cookbook Club!

Cookbook Club is part book club, part potluck, and all about delicious fun! We choose a cookbook, and everyone picks a recipe to prepare and bring for the group to sample. It’s a relaxed, tasty way to try new dishes and swap food stories.

Registration is required and space is limited – we’re unable to accommodate drop-ins.

1. Register here.

2. Check out a copy of the cookbook.

3. Visit https://tinyurl.com/2cjz7pcx to tell us which dish you’ll be making and bringing to Cookbook Club.

The Library will provide plates, utensils, napkins, and water – just remember to bring a serving utensil for your dish.

Have questions? Email Julie @ jrio@durhamlibrary.org.

This month’s cookbook: “The Complete Summer Cookbook: Beat the Heat with 500 Recipes that Make the Most of Summer’s Bounty” by America’s Test Kitchen.

Copies of the book are available to check out.

Come hungry & ready to taste!

Non-Fiction Book Discussion Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Our Nation!
Tuesday, September 15, 6:00 pm

In “Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy,” author Nathaniel Philbrick retraces the route of George Washington’s 1789 presidential tour of the New England states by taking the same journey with his wife. Along the way he weaves together three stories: Washington’s original journey and why it mattered, Philbrick’s road trip, and the state of America in 2018. The book is partly a travel memoir and partly a reflection on our national identity.

Join us to discuss “Travels with George,” and revisit America’s founding through an engaging blend of history, travel, and the enduring legacy of George Washington. Copies of the book are available to check out at the library.

The discussion will be moderated by Kristina Poznan, PhD, a Durham resident who earned degrees in History from Vassar College and the College of William & Mary. She is currently the managing editor of the “Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation” (Michigan State University).