Interested in researching your family's roots? The Waterford Public Library has recently become a FamilySearch affiliate library.

This comprehensive digital genealogy resource is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. FamilySearch manages the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 5,000 family history centers throughout the world.

As an affiliate library, Waterford Public Library can now offer you free access to FamilySearch's digital genealogical collections that are otherwise accessible only through a center. Similar to Ancestry.com Library edition, FamilySearch is limited to library access only. Reference staff will be happy to assist you in creating your free account to start exploring your family's history.

October events

Much is happening at the library in October! On Saturday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m., we welcome back the Original Waterford Community Band for a free outdoor concert. Bring your chair or blanket and join us on the library's side lawn. (Rain date is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m.)

There's a new healing power in the news called havening. We welcome Hilary Russo, a certified havening practitioner, who will present her online talk Brain Candy: the Healing Power of Havening Techniques on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m.

Havening is used as a therapeutic soothing tool that employs a neuroscience-based approach to healing.

Napoleon or bust

Unbeknownst to them, a small New Jersey town had an Auguste Rodin bust of Napoleon in their building for over 80 years! We share this fascinating story, "The Discovery of a Masterpiece" by Mallory Mortillaro, with you online Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

And another gem: "Secret London: a Travel Lecture" on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., presented online by Dr. Richard Benfield, Professor Emeritus of Geography at CCSU.

On this virtual tour we will look at 20 historic places and attractions that most visitors to London are not only unaware of but also whose location is unknown!

Don't forget our Monday Night at the Movies every Monday at 6 p.m. in our lower level meeting room.

Sign up for all programs on the library website.

Family fun

October is a busy month for children and families too. Outdoor Storytimes and grab & go crafts continue to be offered all month long.

In recognition of National Observe the Moon Night, we will host STEAM Ahead: Moonlight Madness outdoors for children, ages 6 to 11, on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. In this program sponsored by the Rotary Club of Waterford, participants will make moon-like craters, learn about moon phases using Oreo cookies, and design & launch mini-rockets.

Singing Youth

Children ages 10 to 13 are invited to join us for a series of five weekly Signing Youth virtual programs starting Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. where you can learn the basics of American Sign Language with your peers.

Canvas Kids is back on Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. with a workshop on mosaics. Discover the strange materials used by mosaic artists like Maurice Bennet and Peter Mason, and unleash your creativity with your own tile project.

Don't miss the Trick or Treat Magic Show for families on Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. (Rain date: Monday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.) or our Sunset Cinema Halloween Movie Night on Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to visit the Children's room in costume on Saturday, Oct. 30 for a Halloween treat!

More info

Further details about all of our programs, registration, and more can be found by heading to our website www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org and clicking on our Calendar of Events.

If you didn't know that your library had a streaming service, think again — we have two! hoopla and Kanopy are two streaming services available for free with your Waterford Library card. Stream movies and TV shows, music, audiobooks, ebooks and comics on demand with hoopla. Kanopy offers streaming access to over 30,000 movies, documentaries and foreign films including the PBS collection, the Great Courses and a special platform for children called KanopyKids.

Stop in to renew or apply for a free card today to start streaming!

Reminder: Sunday service hours begin Sunday, Nov. 7, 1 to 4 p.m.

Jill Adams is the director of adult services at Waterford Public Library.