Category: History of Russell Library

• Ebenezer Scrooge at Russell Library

  Marley was dead: to begin with. from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens You have to give Charles Dickens credit. He knew how to craft a creepy opening to a story. He then goes on to tell the reader, “This must be distinctly understood. or nothing wonderful can come of the story…” That famous line…

  Mary

  August 18, 2025

  Events, History of Russell Library, Inside Stories, Libraries, Middletown, CT, Secrets of Russell Library

  AChristmasCarol, CharlesDickens, EasternConnecticutParanormalSociety, EastHaddamStageCompany, EbenezerScrooge, ECPS, FrancesRussell, Fundraiser, ghosts, JacobMarley, KandieCarle, MiddletownCT, OldEpiscopalChurch, ReadingRoom, SecretsOfRussellLibrary, Tickets

• Dark Academia is Coming to the Library

  We did a lot of cleaning and painting during the pandemic. Although the library was closed to the public and we only had a skeleton staff in the building, we made some big changes. Anyone who has been to Russell Library since the end of the pandemic knows how much we have spruced the place…

  Mary

  May 19, 2025

  History of Russell Library, Inside Stories, Trending

  Activity Room, ColorPalette, DarkAcademia, DeadPoetsSociety, HarryPotter, LibraryMakeover, Pandemic, TheSpace

• Russell Library Celebrates Its History

  & Looks Ahead to the Next Chapter by Ramona Burkey, Director Middletown’s Russell Library was bustling on the morning of Saturday, April 5th, as hundreds of patrons of all ages gathered to commemorate the library’s 149th birthday. With a giant birthday cake, a children’s dance party with costumed character “Bingo” from the hit children’s cartoon…

  Amy S.

  April 21, 2025

  Events, History of Russell Library, Inside Stories, Libraries, Library Services, Middletown, CT

  Bingo, Bluey, BookMobile, ChildrensActivityRoom, FirstFederalSavingsAndLoan, FrancesRussell, Future, HubbardRoom, LocalHistory, MayorBenFlorsheim, MemoryBox, ReadingRoom, RulesOfRussellLibrary, RussellLibraryBoardOfTrustees, SamuelRussell, sesquicentennial

• New & Fun at the Library

  Spring is a time for re-invention. At Russell Library, we love to keep things fresh and fun — especially in the Youth & Family Learning Department. Like kids and families, we’re always changing. The following are some of the new services and activities available in the kids’ wing and (The Space). The Gaming PC Like…

  Amy S.

  March 17, 2025

  Contests, Events, Giveaways, History of Russell Library, Inside Stories, Kids and Teens, Library Services, Technology

  149thBirthday, ARPA, BallLabyrinth, Bingo, Bluey, BuilcingBlockWall, BuildYourOwnCoaster, ChickCam, Chromebooks, GamingPC, GearFactory, HangWithTheChicks, NameTheChicks, STEM, TheSpace, YMCA

• ‘Twas the Night Before Lobby Refreshment

  by Lil’ Deb ‘Twas the night before Lobby refreshmentwhen all through Russell Librarynot a creature was stirring, not even on the balcony.The bats all hung from the attic eaves with care,in hope that more ghost hunters soon would be there. The Tonies were nestled all snug in their bedswith visions of children dancing in their…

  Amy S.

  December 16, 2024

  History of Russell Library, Inside Stories, Kids and Teens, Library Services, Middletown, CT, Secrets of Russell Library

  AVisitFromSt.Nicholas, Bats, Bronte, Byron, ClementClarkeMoore, Courtyard, Dickens, Dickinson, DirectorLaura, EasternConnecticutParanormalSociety, ECPS, Gaskell, GhostHunters, ghosts, HubbardRoom, Ivy, LauraPhilbrook, LilDeb, Lobby, LobbyRefreshment, ScavengerHunt, SecretsOfRussellLibrary, Shelley, SkidSteer, Tonies, TwasTheNightBeforeChristmas, Unshelved, VictoriaHatchRoom, Victorian, Wollstonecraft, Wordsworth