Memorial Day has come to be celebrated as the unofficial kick-off to summer. Let us not forget the true meaning of the holiday–to honor the men and women of our armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. Give pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day for the National Moment of Remembrance enacted by Congress as a way for all of us to pay tribute to the fallen.
The Memorial Day parade in Danbury begins at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Rose and Main St. Following the parade there will be a service held at Rose Memorial in Rogers Park.

A colleague told me several days ago about a book he had read titled Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle that Made England by a woman named Juliet Barker. His enthusiasm for the book led me to find out more about Ms. Barker. She is an incredible author who certainly has a diverse range of interests. She has a doctorate from the University of Oxford in medieval history. She served as curator and librarian at the Bronte Parsonage and Museum for six years. She has written outstanding, multiple literary biographies of the Brontes and William Wordsworth. As if that career were not enough, she has also carved out a second career as the author of authoritative histories of medieval tournaments and the culture of chivalry. She has written major works on the Hundred Years War in addition to her Agincourt book. Please check out her website which, not unexpectedly, is a first-rate site. Pay particular attention to her blog. I should not be that surprised since I am sure her experience as a librarian taught her to multitask.

Who Do You Think You Are? is a television program as well as a new book. In the television series seven celebrities attempt to discover their family history by using genealogy tools. The book, by Megan Smolenyak, includes the stories of the celebrities as well as introducing readers to the basics of family history research. The Danbury Library is a great starting point if you are thinking of undertaking research on your family tree. We have a Local History Room which has a trove of information about Danbury and Connecticut genealogy materials. We also have many online tools available including Ancestry and HeritageQuest. Danbury Library will be hosting a presentation on Tuesday, May 11, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the Farioly Program Room on how to use the Danbury News-Times archives in your genealogy research. It will be hosted by David Smith who is a local genealogy researcher and founder of the Broken Branch Historical Library.

Spring is blooming and all the flowers are out so it’s a perfect time to get yourself outside and make the most of it, but first come into the library and find a fun craft or activity. We’ve got many books in our Home and Family section to keep you entertained all summer long. Tie-Dye: the how-to book gives a lighthearted look into tie dyeing and provides several techniques and methods. If you prefer a slower pace, the gardening books cover everything from flowers to farming. Whatever your mood, the Home and Family section has something for everyone. Whether it’s that deck remodeling you’ve put off or that chicken farm you’ve always wanted, you will find a book to suit your needs.
And once you’ve finished the project, check out the cooking section for some great barbecue and grilling books. After all you’re going to be very hungry after all that fun.