The Library Vault

Hints for winning the Russell Library Games, July 2026 Edition

We threw players for a loop in June with the Russell Library Games’ “game changers.” By comparison, July will return to relative normalcy, with one notable exception that offers lots of point potential. Participating location visits will yield 50 points apiece (up from 10) and players can earn up to 5 per day (up from 3) if you track down the right QR codes. Do your part to support local business at the height of summer and watch yourself climb the scoreboard!

Also, if you haven’t already, now is the time to sign up for summer reading, which will earn you 50 points. And Frances is on the move again, so follow the clues below to find her.

In the Building

10 points per Frances found x10, 100 points possible this month

1. Disc media may be waning in popularity due to the convenience of streaming, but Russell Library still gets new copies of these for recently-released films and TV shows.
2. Where would you go if you needed a whiff of fresh air but didn’t want to exit Russell Library’s building? Hint hint: some solitary sweat bees currently call it home.
3. After our friendly staff have checked out your stack of borrows, look up when you reach for a book mark or the latest edition of The Chronicle.
4. Test your aim at this hanging board in The Space.
5. Some books are just too big to fit on our regular shelves, so we designated a special area where tall volumes live.
6. If you find yourself squinting at the text in standard-issue titles, check out this collection which features more easily-readable font.
7. This pink piece of furniture recently authored a blog post for Russell Library.
8. Did you know that Russell Library maintains a collection of books specifically for English language learners?
9. Your cell phone ran out of juice. We have a spot where you can bring it back to life.
10. Where could you go to see how Middletown was laid out in the past?

On Russell Library’s Website

25 points per Frances found x5, 125 points possible this month

1. Parents can make quick work of book selection for their kids by picking up one of these themed kits.
2. This group of volunteers works hard to raise money to fund Russell Library programs and museum passes.
3. School is out! Visit this page of our website to see everything Russell Library has to offer Middletown’s young’uns.
4. There is a program that Russell Library runs during this time of year for kids, teens, and adults. What is it called again…?
5. When they’re no longer “littles,” this group tends to migrate to The Space which was designed to meet the unique needs of their developmental stage.

In Russell Library’s Email Newsletters

25 points per Frances found x6, 150 points possible this month

Um… you find these Franceses in our newsletters! We have two: our main newsletter goes out every Tuesday, and our children’s newsletter goes out every other Friday. Look all the way up and down the emails for the image below. When you see it, click it* to collect 25 points.

*But not the one below. That one is for illustration purposes only.

Other Ways to Earn Points

To see all the ways you can earn points, visit the Russell Library Games’ Points page. They’re listed from highest to lowest point value (hint hint).

Game Changer

We may be taking a break from game changers in July, but they’ll be back! Stay tuned for the twists ahead…