The Library Vault

As the school year draws to a close, and the weather starts to warm up (please?), it’s time to start thinking about your summer plans. We hope that your summer plans include Russell Library. In just four short weeks, Summer Reading will kick off at Russell Library. Can you believe it?

Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your summer with Russell Library’s Youth & Family Learning department.

Summer Reading Kickoff Party

We had such positive feedback about last year’s Summer Reading Kickoff Petting Zoo with Furry, Scaly Friends that we invited them back this year to help us launch the summer again. Drop in (no registration required) between 10am and noon with your kids and families to get some cuddling time in with everything from bunny rabbits to a mini potbelly pig to more exotic creatures like bearded dragons and a sugar glider.

While you’re here, sign up for Summer Reading for all ages and stop by the kids’ desk to meet our freshly hatched chicks. You can even stay until our 3:30pm Hang with the Chicks program, or get lunch downtown and come back to the library.

If you get bored of petting chicks (how is that possible?), you can play Chess instead with Chess Club: every Saturday between 3-4:45pm, all summer long.

While you’re reading up a storm at home to earn fabulous prizes for all ages (stay tuned for more details on that in June), stop by the library throughout the summer for special family-friendly events.

Every other Monday afternoon throughout the summer, join us in the Hubbard Room for our Monday Movie series.

Featured films include popular and classic family titles like Elio, Zootopia 2, My Neighbor Totoro, and more. Free popcorn will be served during the show.

Friday starting June 26th at 10:30am, join us at the Middletown Farmers Market for our very own Farmers Market Storytime.

BYOB: Bring Your Own Blanket. If it rains, you can still find us in the Hubbard Room of the library instead.

On Saturday, June 27th, don’t miss a very special storytime featuring a very special furry mascot who will be visiting from UConn:

Author Bethany O’Brien will be reading her recent picture book The Lucky Husky, the first in a series about UConn mascot Jonathon the Husky. Opportunities for photos with Jonathon will follow the event. No registration required.

In July, mark your calendars for a Family Folk Concert with Middletown’s own singer-songwriter Sarah Lou Richards. While not officially a dance party, attendees of Sarah’s concerts often cannot resist getting up and grooving to her folk-americana songs.

While I’ve already run out of room in this post to talk about all the other special summer events we have running, make sure you don’t forget about our Summer Reading Finale Petting Zoo with Xen’s Critters on Saturday, August 15th from 10am-noon. Xen’s Critters will be bringing their popular Farm Friends program filled with adorable, friendly animals like baby goats and cuddlable chickens.

While you’re here, don’t forget to drop off your Summer Reading trackers to get your tickets for our prize lotteries. Trackers will be available starting in June. Our theme this year, Burrow into a Good Story, can only be found at Russell Library. Prize winners will be drawn on Monday, August 17th, and the winners will be notified that week.