The Secret Library
Daraya, Syria

The remarkable story of a small, makeshift library in the town of Daraya, and the people who found hope and humanity in its books during the four-year siege of that city, unfolds in Mike Thomson's compelling book Syria's Secret Library: Reading and Redemption in a Town Under Siege (2019). A BBC International Correspondent, Thomson describes his discovery of this secret library in Daraya:

On being given the phone number of a resident there I asked him how he and others coped psychologically, with being bombed, shot at and starved, day after day.

“Mr. Thomson, he replied, this is always difficult, but we here in Daraya have a secret weapon, which keeps our spirits high and fills us with hope for the future.”

Was this, I asked him, some kind of huge gun, hidden under camouflage netting and wheeled out whenever the need arose? Struggling to contain his amusement he said:

“No, not at all, it’s something far more valuable than it. We have built an underground secret library, filled with every kind of book you can imagine. There we can escape the devastation, the killing and the hunger.

Daraya lies on the fringe of Damascus, just southwest of the Syrian capital. Besieged by government forces early in the Syrian Civil War, its people were deprived of food, bombarded by heavy artillery, and under the constant fire of snipers for four years. Deep beneath this scene of frightening devastation lay the hidden library. While the streets above echoed with shelling and rifle fire, the secret world below was a haven of books. Long rows of well-thumbed volumes lined almost every wall: bloated editions with grand leather covers, pocket-sized guides to Syrian poetry, and no-nonsense reference books, all arranged in well-ordered lines. But this precious horde was not bought from publishers or loaned by other libraries--they were the books salvaged and scavenged at great personal risk from the doomed city above. The story of this extraordinary place and the people who found purpose and refuge in it is one of hope, human resilience, and above all, the timeless, universal love of literature and the compassion and wisdom it fosters.

Programs this weekend

Main Street America, A History
Picture Show and Lecture by William Hosley
Sunday, February 12, 2:00 p.m.

Main Street is an idea deeply infused into America's civic culture. It is often the heart of the sense of place that is the hallmark of outstanding communities. William Hosley explores Main Streets and how they have shaped life in this country. This program is presented by the Norfolk Historical Society as part of their Annual Meeting and in conjunction with the exhibition Main Street: A Look Back 100 Years. All are welcome.

William Hosley has been a curator, museum director, public speaker, project manager, writer, photographer, and cultural resource entrepreneur. With more than thirty years' experience in museums and historic preservation, his affiliations have included Historic Deerfield, the Winterthur Museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and, most recently, Connecticut Landmarks and the New Haven Museum, where he served as executive director. Author of five books and many articles, his work has appeared in dozens of magazines and newspapers.

Please register for this program here. And find out more here.
If you are unable to attend in person, visit here for the Zoom webinar link.

Film Screening and Pet Food Drive: A Street Cat Named Bob
Monday, February 13, 5:00 p.m. 

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a nontraditional love story! When James Bowen finds an injured street cat, he has no idea just how much his life is about to change. James lives hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needs is a pet. Yet James can’t resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he christens Bob. He slowly nurses Bob back to health and then sends the cat on his way, imagining he will never see him again. But soon the two are inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other's troubled pasts.

Winner of Best British Film at the National Film Awards, UK.

Register here to reserve your spot. Light refreshments will be served. If you are able, please bring some food, treats, hard chew toys (eg, Nyla bones), and cat toys for the Little Guild of St. Francis Animal Rescue in Cornwall, CT. Thank you for your support!

Film Screening: Hamlet
Thursday, February 16, 5:00 p.m.

Please join us to watch the film Hamlet (1990) on the big screen in the Great Hall. The 1990 film is Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy about the young prince of Denmark who is plagued by indecision when he vows to avenge his father's murder. Filmed on location around the UK, including Stonehaven in Scotland, the film boasts an impressive ensemble cast. The film will be introduced by Melissa Cook, who has been teaching a seminar on the Shakespeare play at the Library. Visit here to let us know you will be there.

Looking Ahead

The Great Backyard Bird Count at City Meadow
Saturday, February 18, 9:00 a.m.

Join expert birder Ayreslea Denny as she leads us on a backyard bird count at City Meadow. Launched in 1988 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count takes place all over the world February 17-20 as people watch and count as many birds as they can find and report back to the eBird citizen science database. Meet at Robertson Plaza at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. After our time bird watching and counting, we’ll walk to the Norfolk Library to enjoy hot beverages and enter our data into eBird. Weather permitting.

Bring your own binoculars and dress warmly, with good shoes for winter walking. This program is in partnership with the Norfolk Land Trust and the Norfolk Church of Christ.

Sambaland's Bossa Triba
Saturday, February 18, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Brazilian music comes to the Library during Carnival season! The six piece melodic ensemble Bossa Triba is a lively troupe of musicians who perform on traditional Brazilian percussive instruments including drums, bells, and shakers. They make up one of three incredible groups of the musical collective known as Sambaland, founded in 1994 by Teri and Jim Weber. Their mission is to provide authentic Brazilian music to the Berkshires and beyond. Please register for this free concert here.

Books & Booties: The Music of Bees
Sunday, February 26, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Kick off your winter boots and gather around a fire in the Great Hall as we discuss The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin. Named a Good Morning America BUZZ PICK, A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick, an IndieNext Pick, and a LibraryReads Pick, this national best-seller is about the power of friendship, compassion in the face of loss, and finding the courage to start over (at any age) when things don't turn out the way you expect.

Over 20 copies of The Music of Bees are currently available through inter-library loan. Contact Front Desk Circulation at 860-542-5075 or [email protected] to reserve a copy today. Visit here to register for this program.

Evening Embers
Monday and Thursday evenings through the winter
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful... and if you've no place to go, enjoy a book, newspaper, or magazine by the warmth of the fire in the Great Hall.

Mindfulness with Miranda Lee
Fridays in February, 9:15 - 10:15 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. There is no class this Friday, January 27. Miranda's theme for February is "Self-Compassion." Visit here to register for the Zoom link. Anyone can join at any time.

Click Here for more information.