Category: Inside Stories

• Chickens in the Library?!

  Last summer, we had fourteen very special guests in the library: two batches of seven chicken eggs, courtesy of a chicken farm in nearby Wallingford, Connecticut. Of the original 14 eggs, 13 hatched into chicks. The chicks visited with Russell Library patrons for about a week and a half, and then were picked up by…

  Amy S.

  April 7, 2025

  Contests, Events, Inside Stories, Kids and Teens, Libraries, Technology

  Chickens, Chicks, DET, EggHatching, Eggs, HangWithTheChicks, HatchTheChicken, PeepShow, RentTheChicken, WebCam

• 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

• Behind the Scenes with Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz

  By Briana Gagnon and Christy Billings We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a blog post from two members of our podcast team! Podcast team members Briana and Christy had the amazing opportunity to interview Susan Bysiewicz, the lieutenant governor of Connecticut, for the latest episode of the library’s podcast Middletown Strong. Briana and Christy…

  brianarusselllibrary

  March 10, 2025

  Inside Stories, Middletown, CT

  connecticut, CTpizzatrail, government, interview, Librarians, librarypodcast, lieutenant governor, middlesexcounty, middletown storng, MiddletownCT, newhavenstlyepizza, pizza trail, Podcast, podcasters, RussellLibrary, susan bysiewicz

• What the heck is “Meescan”, and why should I start using it?

  You may have seen signs throughout the library or on our website, advertising this service called “Meescan”. But, what on earth is it? And why should you care? Meescan is a mobile app you can use to check out your books at the library, and you should use it because it is fun, convenient, and…

  Jack B.

  December 30, 2024

  Inside Stories, Library Services, Technology

  Android, Audiobooks, Flipster, Hoopla, IPhone, Libby, LibraryCard, Mango, MangoLanguages, MeeScan, RussellLibrary, SelfCheckout, Technology, ThePalaceApp, ThePalaceProject

• ‘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