We love June in Middletown! As warm weather beckons us outdoors, we enjoy ample opportunities to gather with family, friends, and neighbors. One month-long celebration is a personal favorite of mine: Pride. In 2024, PrideFEST falls on Saturday, June 1, and Russell Library is honored to serve as a partner for a fifth consecutive year.
PrideFEST June 1, 2024
For the main event, our building at 123 Broad Street will serve as a supporting location near the goings-on of Main Street. If you’re busy downtown attending Drag Artist Story Hour, the march, the rally, and/or the showcase concerts, rest assured that Russell Library is here if you need a break from the heat, to use a public restroom, a strong WiFi signal, some peace and quiet, or even a good book. You’re welcome to come and go any time between 9am-5pm.
During those hours we’re hosting a Pride party at the library. This will be the first chance for those of you who live in Middletown to pick up a limited-edition #middletownproud library card! While you’re at it, help yourself to some fresh-popped popcorn and a thirst-quenching mocktail in a Russell Library tumbler that is yours to keep. Library cardholders may choose from an array of brand new giveaway books spanning the full range of reading levels (see far below for a list of titles). We’ll have themed crafts to keep the littles entertained and our “Rainbow Room” will be open for free play. The first 48 kids to drop by can snag a goodie box filled with a colorful array of funtivities. Of course, the asterisk following all this cool stuff denotes “while supplies last.” The early bird gets their limited-edition library card, book giveaway, goodie box, tumbler, mocktail, and popcorn too!
A Russell Library contingent will march at 1pm and host a booth at PrideFEST thereafter. We’re rallying around the concept that Free People Read Freely, a slogan which resonates at this moment due to the number of LGBTQIA2S+ titles that have been challenged across the country. You’re welcome to march with us by registering online – registered volunteers get a free multi-color Russell Library t-shirt to wear on June 1. At our booth you can score a giveaway copy of a challenged book *while supplies last* plus a Free People Read Freely sticker and Russell Library swag.
Book Displays & Discussions
Pride continues beyond PrideFEST throughout the month of June. True to form, Russell Library is curating book displays and discussions that feature LGBTQIA2S+ authors and characters:
Thursday, June 13 6pm Books & Brews Discussion of Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride @ Stubborn Beauty 180 Johnson Street
Monday, June 24 12pm Book Talk With A Walk discussing LGBTQIA2S+ stories starting @ Russell Library 123 Broad Street
Thursday, June 27 6pm Graphic Novel Book Discussion of The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen in The Space @ Russell Library 123 Broad Street
Month-long Pride book displays in the lobby and youth department @ Russell Library 123 Broad Street
Children’s Programs
Every day that Russell Library is open in June, we are offering programs that encourage children to love themselves, accept others, and celebrate differences. They include:
Mondays and Thursdays 10am Play Pals! featuring rainbow crafts
Tuesdays 10:30am Outdoor Family Storytime featuring inclusive stories
Wednesdays 10am Fables and Frolic featuring inclusive stories
Friday mornings assorted programs including Mini Movers, Yoga for Littles, Preschool Power Storytime, and Storytime at the Farmer’s Market
Saturdays assorted programs including Saturday Family Storytime, Lego Builders, Country Quilt Llama Farm, Block Party, Parenting Playgroup, and Summer Family Bingo
The Giveaway List
Having piqued your interest in our book giveaways at the top of this post, we have finally arrived at The List (which feels like it should be capitalized for emphasis). Here goes:
- All Boys Aren’t Blue* by George M. Johnson
- All The World Beside by Garrard Conley
- And Tango Makes Three* by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole
- Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero
- The Book Of Pride by Mason Funk
- The Bump by Sidney Karger
- Flamer* by Mike Curato
- Gender Queer* by Maia Kobabe
- Homebody by Theo Parish
- How The Boogeyman Became A Poet by Tony Keith Jr.
- How We Named The Stars by Andres N. Ordorica
- How Y’all Doing? by Leslie Jordan
- Love Makes A Family by Sophie Beer
- The Magic Fish* by Trung Le Nguyen
- Marley’s Pride by Joelle Retener & DeAnn Wiley
- Nearly Wed by Nicolas Didomizio
- Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
- The Savvy Ally by Jeannie Gainsburg
- Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury
- Stella Brings The Family by Miriam B. Schiffer, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
- Sunhead by Alex Assan
- These Letters End In Tears by Musih Tedji Xaviere
- This Book Is Gay* by Juno Dawson
- Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride
- Welcome To Forever by Nathan Tavares
Asterisks mark challenged titles which will be distributed at our PrideFEST booth. All others will be available at Russell Library beginning June 1 and continuing *while supplies last.*
The Library Vault 
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