The Library Vault

This year PrideFEST falls on Saturday, June 7, and Russell Library is honored to serve as a partner for a sixth consecutive year. We welcome you to join us at 123 Broad Street to pick up themed book giveaways, snag a mocktail and a bag of popcorn, get your face painted, make a rainbow crown, and generally chill out when you need a moment away from all the hubbub.

PrideFEST June 7, 2025

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 attending the PrideFEST march, rally, showcase concerts, and/or tea dance downtown, 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 a chance for those of you who live in Middletown to pick up a #middletownproud library card, help yourself to some fresh-popped popcorn, and take away an iced sparkling cherry lemonade in a Russell Library tumbler that is yours to keep. Library cardholders may choose from an array of recently-released giveaway books spanning the full range of reading levels (see far below for a list of titles). We’ll offer a drop-in themed craft to keep the littles entertained and face painting in our “Rainbow Room,” which will also be open for free play. The first 48 kids to drop by can snag a goodie bag filled with a colorful array of age-appropriate swag. 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 bag, 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 the Free People Read Freely bumper sticker featured at the top of this page plus a Progress Pride Flag and an “I’m a Russell Library fan” hand fan to cool yourself off in the warm summer sun *while supplies last.*

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 12 6pm Books & Brews Discussion of The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer @ Forest City Brewing 180 Johnson Street

Tuesday, June 17 6pm Silent Book Party featuring LGBTQIA2S+ titles in The Space @ Russell Library 123 Broad Street

Thursday, June 26 6pm Graphic Novel Book Discussion of Stage Dreams by Melanie Gillman in The Space @ Russell Library 123 Broad Street

Month-long Pride book displays in the lobby and youth department @ Russell Library 123 Broad Street

The Book Giveaway List

Our librarians have curated a suite of giveaway book titles that feature LGBTQIA2S+ authors, characters, and themes suitable for readers at every stage of the lifespan which were recently released and in high demand. We are including subject headings to give you a sense of their content and which identities are represented.

• The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune (Fantasy, Paranormal, Gay)
• The Broposal by Sonora Reyes (Romantic Comedy, Gay, Hispanic & Latino)
• Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid (Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance, LGBTQ+ General)
• Family Week by Sarah Moon (Adolescence & Coming Of Age, Travel, LGBTQ+ General)
• Gay Science: The Totally Scientific Examination of LGBTQ+ Culture, Myths, and Stereotypes by Rob Anderson (Humor, Parodies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Family & Relationships)
• I Can’t Even Think Straight by Dean Atta (Literary, Novels In Verse, Romance, LGBTQ+, Multiracial)
• If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal (Romance, Lesbian, African American & Black, Multicultural & Interracial)
• Isaac’s Song by Daniel Black (Literary, Gay, African American & Black, Southern)
• It’s All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Disability, LGBTQ+ General, Hispanic & Latino)
• Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love) by Laura Gao (Graphic Novels, Romance, Social Themes, LGBTQ+)
• The Lilac People by Milo Todd (Historical Fiction, World War II & Holocaust, Sagas, Transgender)
• Loca by Alejandro Heredia (Literary, LGBTQ+ General, Gay, Hispanic & Latino)
• Lonely Planet the LGBTQ+ Travel Guide: Interviews, Itineraries, & Inspiration from Insiders in 50 Proud Places Around the Globe by Alicia Valenski (Travel, LGBTQ+ General)
• Love in Exile by Shon Faye (Memoirs, Families & Relationships, Love & Romance, Transgender)
• My Child Is Trans, Now What?: A Joy-Centered Approach to Support by Ben V. Greene (Family & Relationships, Parenting, Gender & Sexuality, Health & Fitness, Transgender)
• Ollie in Between by Jess Callans (Juvenile Fiction, Adolescence & Coming Of Age, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Gender Identity, Nonbinary)
• One Love by Matt Cain (Fiction, Family Life, World Literature, Gay)
• Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer by Dylan Mulvaney (Memoirs, Rich & Famous, Entertainment & Performing Arts, Transgender, Gender Transition)
• Pride Puppy! by Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin (Board Books, Juvenile Works, Stories in Rhyme, Pride Parades)
• The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu (Juvenile Fiction, LGBTQ+ General, Drag, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Chinese Americans)
• The Rough Guide to the Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Places in the USA & Canada by Rough Guides (Travel, North America, LGBTQ+ General)
• Spent by Alison Bechdel (Graphic Novels, Literary, Memoirs, Lesbian, Feminist)
• Stag Dance by Torrey Peters (Literary, Short Stories, Transgender)
• Tales from Beyond the Rainbow: Ten LGBTQ+ Fairy Tales Proudly Reclaimed by Pete Jordi Wood (Juvenile Fiction, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Short Stories, LGBTQ+ General)
• That’s What She Said by Eleanor Pilcher (Queer Fiction, Coming Of Age, Sexual Minority Women, Demisexual)
• This Love by Lotte Jeffs (Queer Fiction, Friendship, Parenthood, Lesbians, Gay Men)
• Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Juana Medina (Juvenile Fiction, Picture Books, Historical, Alternative Family, Queer Community)
• Under One Rainbow by Chris Ayala-Kronos, illustrated by Sol Salinas (Juvenile Fiction, Picture Books, Diversity & Multicultural, Activism & Social Justice, Queer Community)
• We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin (Literary, Dark Humor, Dysfunctional Families, LGBTQ+ General)
• When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris (Literary, Queer Fiction, African American & Black, Bisexual)
• Woodworking by Emily St. James (Literary, Bildungsromans, Friendship, Transgender)

If you’ve got your eye on particular titles, swing by 123 Broad Street early on June 7 to snag one before it’s gone!