HPL Blogs

By Tricia Haggerty Wenz

“A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection; for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them.” — Mark Twain

In 1977, when I was in the 2nd grade, I spent an extended period of time at home recovering from surgery. I remember feeling bored and sad until one day my mom handed me an abridged version of Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. It was in that moment and that book that I began my lifelong love of reading and discovered the unique voice of Mark Twain. It led me down the road of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

But I left Twain right there, in my childhood for many, many years.

Until about five years ago. Looking for a thin and light book to pack for a vacation I grabbed Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve.

What can I say, he had me from the first page. He combined his familiar humor with a thoughtfulness that said so much about the state of marriage and gender roles. Somehow this book that was written in 1904 about the first man and woman transcends time and can speak to us today about companionship and gender equality.

If you are like me and it has been a while since you spent time with Mark Twain, I encourage you to go back and discover his books and his wisdom once again. It would be a great way to celebrate his birthday and the vital role he plays in our history.

P.S. Want to read The Diaries of Adam & Eve? You can find it HERE.

Through a partnership with CVS Health and Bank of America, Hartford Public Library is offering no-cost flu shot vouchers this winter at all of its library locations.

The effort comes as public health officials have warned against a “twindemic” of COVID-19 and influenza and have encouraged residents not to delay in getting their flu shots. Last flu season was uncharacteristically mild in terms of total reported cases, but officials warn that those numbers could rebound this year as coronavirus restrictions including mask requirements and social distancing have been lifted and businesses and schools have reopened.

“We are pleased to partner with CVS Health and Bank of America to provide the community with vouchers for free flu shots this winter,” Hartford Public Library President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn said. “As we resume in-person programming we want to see all of our customers happy and healthy at the library.”

The vouchers can be redeemed at any CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic location. Children under 3 must schedule an appointment for their vaccine by calling 1-866-389-2727.

“Supporting flu prevention in underserved communities is so important,” said CVS Health Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy Eileen Howard Boone. “Through our work with Bank of America, we are focusing on expanding our reach to individuals who may not otherwise have access to flu vaccines.”

By Tricia Haggerty Wenz

New Britain artist Wladyslaw Prosol will be the first featured artist of ArtWalk’s 2021-22 season and his exhibition, “Portrait of a Picture,” opens Friday, Nov. 5, with a reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Below is an interview with Prosol ahead of the show where he discusses his background and how he approaches his art.

You are an architect and an artist. Where did it all begin? And what came first?

I was born in Poland to very caring parents. From the time I was a young boy I knew I was an artist in my soul. My parents were worried about my ability to make a living as an artist and encouraged me to go to architectural school. However, the wonderful thing about going to school to be an architect is you spend a lot of time learning to draw and using watercolors.

I came to America in 1989 and began my studies of American abstract expressionism art.

How did studying the work of American expressionism influence your own practice?

It was through my study, really my obsession, that I found my voice as a painter. I do not see myself as a European artist, rather through my studies I see my art as being strongly influenced by American expressionist artists.

What did you learn?

Once you begin studying the art you realize that American post-war art is so unique and so powerful you cannot resist it. The power of the communication with this art is so overwhelming that I became swept up in it.

Tell me about your art practice.

You know I did not paint for 20 years? I was so immersed in my work as an architect that I did not even pick up a paintbrush for my own art. Then one day I ran into a friend of mine and he asked me about my art and wanted to know when he could see it. I told him next year, then next year became the following year, and that became 10 years … then more. Finally three years ago, I dropped everything else and began painting. I started painted larger and larger and painted more and more, ’till I created a body of work I now feel comfortable exhibiting and sharing with an audience.

What is next for you?

I will continue to find my authentic voice in my paintings. Process and composition details don’t matter to me. What matters is taking what I conceive deep within my imagination and finding a way to getting that on to the canvas. There is a sacred connection between the imagination and the end of a paintbrush.

I like to keep my work childish. Through pure curiosity, focus, and concentration I can make what I dream come alive on the canvas.

Read more about this season’s ArtWalk artists by clicking here.

Hartford Public Library is pleased to announce that Julia Conversano of Tarzana, California, is the 2021 recipient of the Caroline M. Hewins Scholarship, given to promising library school students who intend to become children’s librarians.

Julia, who has volunteered and interned with the Los Angeles Public Library, is pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, and expects to graduate in 2022. She was enrolled in medical school and planning to become a neurosurgeon before switching her career focus to libraries.

“I am impressed by Julia’s commitment to her community and particularly her work with children with disabilities and her goal to create more inclusive library programming for that population,” said HPL president and CEO Bridget E. Quinn. “As a former children’s librarian I know how rewarding the work can be and wish her well as she embarks on her new career.”

At UCLA, Julia is vice chair of the Young Adult & Children Services organization for MLIS students. She is also a member of both the American Library Association, the California Library Association and a longtime volunteer at The Painted Turtle camp for children and teens with chronic lifelong disabilities.

“I really look forward to working in a public library and being part of a positive, altruistic, inquisitive community eager to improve knowledge accessibility,” Julia said. “It truly takes a team and a village to be able to serve all your patrons equitably regardless of socioeconomic status.”

An interview with Julia Conversano

You were in medical school before enrolling in the MLIS program at UCLA. What made you decide to switch careers?

My career trajectory did not align with my personality, how I really wanted to interact with the people I’m helping. And so I realized that about three weeks into medical school, but I kept pushing through, and did very well. But it was a life lesson that you can be very good at something and not enjoy doing it in the way you can fully give it a piece of your heart, your soul, to truly connect with the people you are helping.

So what drew you to librarianship?

It really was a children’s librarian who brought it all full circle. After medical school I had my first child and have been very open about my postpartum anxiety. The library really was a safe haven for me breaking out of that isolation. I went to every storytime, it gave me something to look forward to, not just for me, but it was beneficial for my relationship with my child. People are very open and honest in a library setting. I felt like part of a community.

I spoke to a children’s librarian about how I was thinking about getting my MLIS degree, thinking about being a librarian, I felt very at home and it seemed like a niche for me. I was concerned about going back to school for a third time, with a very young child. It was the children’s librarian who convinced me that I could do it, convinced me that it was doable, that I was capable enough and that it wouldn’t be a wrong move for me.

What goals do you have for your career as a librarian?

I’m very interested in trying to expand the public library’s role in serving the disability community. In medical school I did clinical research with teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. I feel libraries have a lot of room to grow in terms of programming that is accessible for those with physical and cognitive disabilities.

I’d also like to incorporate music into my library career. Music can be a very therapeutic way to break barriers between different populations and is accessible for children of all abilities. They might be shy or feel reserved, but maybe they are willing to sing a song with you. Music can be a great icebreaker and a great way of forming a bridge between you and your patrons.

Have any book suggestions for us?

I’m a full-time master’s student and a full-time mom, so I read a lot of children’s books to my kids. I love reading children’s books, I think that we all have something that we can learn from children’s books. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh
I really love this book, and my children absolutely love this book. It’s a book about making friends, and how if you’re looking for a friend, there’s probably a friend out there looking for you.

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
This book is wonderful for all kids, it’s about how this tiny snail who’s being told you’re just supposed to stay put accomplishes big things and saves the life of a big humpback whale. So I think it’s a wonderful book for kids showing them that they are not limited by how others view them.

Not so Different by Shane Burcaw
This is a wonderful book for children who do not have disabilities but have a lot of questions they are curious about of those who do. It features photography of the author (Burcaw has spinal muscular atrophy and has been in a wheelchair since age 2)  and teaches kids to use humor, kindness and respect to connect with others who are different.

About the Caroline M. Hewins Scholarship

The Caroline M. Hewins Scholarship Fund was established in 1926 as a tribute to one of the great pioneers in American librarianship in special recognition of her creative work for children throughout the country.

The fund originated by the Hartford Librarian’s Club as a personal gift to Miss Hewins on the occasion of her fiftieth anniversary as Librarian of the Hartford Public Library.  When Miss Hewins chose to use this gift as a basis for a scholarship award, generous contributions were received from family and friends and professional associates throughout Connecticut and the United States, thus assuring to the Scholarship a national character in keeping with the memory of the Librarian it honors.

The fund is administered by the Hartford Public Library as trustee, and current income permits an annual scholarship award of $4,000.

The scholarship is open to those who plan to specialize in library work with children: who have received, or are about to receive a four year undergraduate degree; and who have applied for admission to a library school or are already attending a library school accredited by the American Library Association.  Preference will be given to applicants who plan to pursue a career in public library service.