Category: Inside Stories

• A Rainbow Remembers…

  Like … Wow. Where am I? Right … Middletown… Broad Street in Middletown. I’ve been here in front of the Russell Library since, like… 1973? You’ve probably seen me. I’m Rainey … the Rainbow, and I’ve been spreading good vibes at the library for over 50 years. I became part of the scene when they…

  Kim S.

  July 6, 2026

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

  1970s, 1980s, 1980sRenovation, BroadStreet, BroadStreetMiddletown, ChildrensLibrary, FirstFederalSavingsAndLoanOfMeriden, HistoryOfTheRainbow, NewBuilding, NewLibrary, RaineyTheRainbow, RefractionNumber3, RonaldWCross, RonCross, ROYGBIV, RussellChildrensDepartment, RussellChildrensLibrary, RussellLibrary, RussellLibraryRainbow, WesleyanUniversity

• Wine & Words: A Magical Pairing

  The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell The glasses are clinking, there is laughter rising in one corner and someone is shouting a joke across the table. Plates are being passed around and the food keeps coming. Chaos has ensued, surrounding a table of friends. All from different walks of life, but they come together…

  sbarillari

  June 22, 2026

  Book Reviews, Inside Stories, Recipes, Recommendations, Wine & Words

  AlexandraBell, Cava, ElderflowerCordial, EveShaw, JhonnySalasBrochero, MaxEverly, Prosecco, RussellLibrary, SpritzAndReading, Suze, SwissAlps, TheWhiteOctopusHotel, TimeSlipSpritz, WhiteOctopusHotel

• Ramblings from the Russell Library Reading Room Radiator

  Are you a reader? (Oh, who am I kidding . . . if you’re reading this library blog, you must be.) Do you live in or around Middletown? If the answer to both of these questions is, “Yes,” then chances are you’ve been to the Russell Library’s Reading Room more than just one time. Whether…

  Hana T.

  May 11, 2026

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

  FrancesRussell, ghosts, ReadingRoom, Renovations, RussellLibraryRadiator, SamuelRussell, TheRadiator, WorldWarII

• Why Vote for Russell Library?

  Update: check out the July issue of Connecticut Magazine for the winner of the 2026 Best Cultural Attraction for Families category. Thanks to our fabulous patrons, Russell Library has been nominated for CT Insider’s 2026 competition for Best Cultural Attraction for Families. If you look at the listing of other nominees, you might notice that…

  Amy S.

  April 6, 2026

  Contests, Events, Graphic Novels / Manga, Inside Stories, Kids and Teens, Libraries, Library Services, Recommendations

  ActivityRoom, BuildingBlocks, BuildingTable, Chicks, Concert, ConnecticutMagazine, CTInsider, DinosaurBones, IndoorPlayroom, LEGOs, MegaChess, PettingZoo, PingPong, SarahLouRichards, ScienceSaturday, TheSpace, ToniesAndYotos, TrainTable, WallMaze, YogaForLittles

• Born in a Blizzard

  A blizzard was coming. That sounds like the opening of a novel, but it was, unfortunately, real life. It was early Saturday morning, 3:00AM to be exact, and I had just awakened with the realization that we had chicken eggs incubating in the children’s room. This was a big deal because there was a probability…

  Mary

  March 2, 2026

  Inside Stories

  #Blizzard2026, #chickeneggs, #chickens, #hatchingchickens, #libraries, #middletownct