The moment guests stepped through the doorway, the library transformed. Instead of snugly packed shelves, bright lights danced across the walls in green and purple hues. Party masks and gem-colored beads lingered on the tables. Music sailed through the room, with silky-smooth vocals that got the house on its feet. As they mingled, guests found themselves sharing stories of their New Haven Free Public Library, their voices rising and falling in the normally-hushed space.
On a school night, no less.
Tuesday, well over 100 library staff, board members, readers and supporters rang in Mardi Gras at the New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL), honoring attorney and former board president Brad Gallant and West Hills Alder Honda Smith before the night was up. Hosted each year by the NHFPL Foundation, the event raised over $60,000, which will go toward programming needs across the library’s five branches.
As attendees nibbled, cheered, and danced their way through the organization’s annual Fat Tuesday fundraiser, food came from Ricky D’s Rib Shack, with a cash bar from Archie Moore’s and live music from artist Timmy Maia. This year, it comes amidst intensifying attacks on libraries and librarians, from book bans and challenges to legislation aimed at the freedom to read.
While New Haven has not received any book challenges, the library did receive complaints last year, after a drag queen story hour was announced at the library’s Mitchell Branch.
“I can’t think of any place I’d rather be than having some drinks and partying at the New Haven Public Library with my friends,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. “This room encapsulates the values that New Haven holds very dear, we are a welcoming city, and we don’t hide from that. We declare that.”
“Learning is noisy, and now more than ever it’s time to be loud,” added City Librarian Maria Bernhey. “Libraries are a center for democracy, and that is extremely important in these trying times.”
Those words echoed through the NHFPL’s main branch, which doubles as a meeting place, warming and cooling center, tax office, computer lab, after-school hangout, storytime nook, makerspace and community hub any given day of the week. Each library branch, in fact, has its own personality, from community music hours and Pashto-language groups for moms to an African Diaspora collection that is thousands of books deep.
Each, in a tight budget year, also needs that extra financial boost for programming. That’s true at all of the library’s five branches, which grace the downtown, Fair Haven, Westville, Hill and Dixwell neighborhoods across the city’s 19 square miles.
“The library is a middle ground for New Haveners,” said Lou Mangini, a member of A Broken Umbrella Theatre Company and staffer for U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro. In 2012, A Broken Umbrella spent hours researching the library, presenting a devised work within its walls to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Eight years later, it brought back screenings of that performance during Covid-19.
“It has free information, people come who are young and old, it’s a refuge for some, and anyone can use it for almost anything,” Mangini said.
That was true for attendee Alice Kustenbauder, who wore a bright smile as the chunky gold, green, and purple beads swayed from her neck along with a purple boa.
“I came tonight for the dancing,” Kustenbauder said. “And because I like to run into old friends, I’m really glad the library hosts this because there aren’t many Mardi Gras celebrations available in Connecticut.”
Although this was only her second year celebrating, Kustenbauder described the evening as magical, and said she was grateful she got to spend it with her friend, Alice Maria Threes, thanks to the NHFPL.
As the night moved from the library’s foyer to its Ives Squared learning hub and makerspace, attendees took time to honor two community champions who have lived the library’s diverse and deep mission through their own work. Gallant is the former president of NHFPL Board of Directors; Smith is a lifelong New Havener and West Hills alder who has become a fierce advocate for those in her neighborhood and her city.
As a longtime friend of Smith’s, Gold fondly told the crowd of Smith’s dedication to her community. She praised her tenacity in funding, launching and maintaining The Shack, a West Hills community center that Smith founded to help both kids and adults in her community.
“Her goal is just to see young people succeed,” Gold added with a smile.
Smith, for her part, expressed her gratitude for events like, Tuesdays, which recognize some of the city’s magic.
“My favorite part of New Haven is seeing the different beautiful hidden gems in every different person,” said Smith.
Grayce Howe was the Arts Paper's 2024 New Haven Academy spring intern and is now in her senior year. The New Haven Academy internship is a program for NHA juniors that pairs them with a professional in a field that is interesting to them. Grayce plans to continue writing for the Arts Paper throughout her senior year, so keep an eye out for her byline in these pages!