Events

Join us at Essex Library for a 2-part Hatha yoga series, led by Lisa Sanders. Hatha yoga is a branch of yoga that uses physical techniques such as breathwork and mindful yoga movements for balance, strength and stability. Lisa also incorporates yoga philosophy, singing bowls and mindfulness into each session. This drop-in program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Space is limited to 15 participants. The library has a limited supply of yoga mats; we suggest bringing your own.

In a fast-paced world that often leaves us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected, true healing does not come from looking outward—it begins within. Join us for a transformative virtual conversation with Indigenous Medicine Woman Asha Frost as she explores her groundbreaking book, You Are the Medicine: 13 Indigenous Teachings to Connect to Your Inner Wisdom, Reclaim Your Power, and Heal. Call the Library to register: 860-767-1560 or you may register online: REGISTER HERE.

Program for kids ages birth-4 and their caregivers. Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squish, pour, and play with a variety of textures and materials in a safe, supportive space alongside their caregivers. This program supports sensory development, fine motor skills, and social interaction—come play, learn, and make a (little) mess with us! Program funded in part by the Community Foundation of Middlesex County, and made possible by the GSB Grant Making Fund, and the Whelen Family Fund. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required. Drop in!

Program for kids ages 2-5. Kids, come celebrate our prehistoric friends with stories, songs, and fun activities, all to help us celebrate DINOvember! Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opposites, the ABCs and much more, to prepare our pre-school age children for kindergarten. What to expect: Each Little Learners session begins with a welcome song where each child is invited to dance and celebrate themselves. We sing interactive songs that encourage vocabulary development and gross motor movement, then read a story together. After the first book, we sing a few more songs and read another story. We conclude our time together with 3-4 craft and play centers that help children develop their early math, literacy, and motor skills. After story time, families are encouraged to stay, play, and socialize in our Children's Room. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to make friends, caregivers to connect, and our library community to grow together. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Program designed for all kids who love Dog Man! The newest Dog Man came out earlier this week! Celebrate Pilkey’s newest in the series, Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time with some Dog Man fun, right after school! Join us for crafts, activities, games, and plenty of Dog Man silliness as we celebrate the newest adventure. One lucky kid will win a copy of the newest release! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register.

The second day of the Essex FilmFest, hosted by Essex Library, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7. A producing masterclass starts at 9:30 AM with Guest Filmmaker Scott Macaulay. This is a one-hour workshop for filmmakers, writers and anyone curious about the art, craft and business of producing independent films. A line-up of films will be shown on Saturday as well, with a Q&A period for each. The films include Raising Victor Vargas, The Assistant and Gummo. For more information, visit essexfilmfest.com.

Program for kids ages 5-12. Celebrate DINOvember and National STEM Day with some amazing science experiments with Claudia from Cool-ology! Kids will really “dig” becoming junior geologists and paleontologists as they unearth information about the magical world under their feet! Through hands-on activities, they'll learn all about the rock cycle, create a sedimentary "rock" of their very own, and make fossil imprints! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register.

Join us at Essex Library for a 2-part Hatha yoga series, led by Lisa Sanders. Hatha yoga is a branch of yoga that uses physical techniques such as breathwork and mindful yoga movements for balance, strength and stability. Lisa also incorporates yoga philosophy, singing bowls and mindfulness into each session. This drop-in program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Space is limited to 15 participants. The library has a limited supply of yoga mats; we suggest bringing your own.

Join Essex Library for an afternoon program with Ginny Apple, Master Wildlife Conservationist with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Learn what happens after the sun sets and nocturnal creatures emerge from their hiding places to forage, hunt, and play! From opossums and porcupines to great horned owls, this talk explores their habits, homes and howls. This program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is suggested. Register online or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Kids and families are invited to join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National Vanilla Cupcake Day by decorating your own! We will provide the food, but need you to show off your creativity!

Do you want to better to understand Iran’s Nuclear Program? Hear from Dr. Rick Lawrence in this virtual program presented by Essex Library as he explains the science, history and policy behind one of the world’s most complex issues of today. Dr. Lawrence will break down some complicated topics – nuclear fission, uranium enrichment and nuclear weapon design – and then examine the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, the consequences of the U.S.’s 2018 withdrawal and Iran’s nuclear activities since the withdrawal. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all virtual programs. REGISTER HERE.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Tomorrow is National Family PJ Day, celebrate a day early at the library with cozy songs, stories, and plenty of fun! Wear your PJ’s, of course! Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opposites, the ABCs and much more, to prepare our pre-school age children for kindergarten. What to expect: Each Little Learners session begins with a welcome song where each child is invited to dance and celebrate themselves. We sing interactive songs that encourage vocabulary development and gross motor movement, then read a story together. After the first book, we sing a few more songs and read another story. We conclude our time together with 3-4 craft and play centers that help children develop their early math, literacy, and motor skills. After story time, families are encouraged to stay, play, and socialize in our Children's Room. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to make friends, caregivers to connect, and our library community to grow together. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Program for families with kids ages 6-12. Celebrate DINOvember AND a half-day from school at the library! Join Miss Nicole to create a beautiful dinosaur sunset painting, perfect to decorate the room of any dinosaur lover! All supplies will be provided, and smocks/aprons will be available, but please wear clothes you don’t mind (possibly) getting dirty! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register.

Program for families with kids ages 6-12. Celebrate DINOvember and Join Miss Nicole to create a beautiful dinosaur sunset painting, perfect to decorate the room of any dinosaur lover! All supplies will be provided, and smocks/aprons will be available, but please wear clothes you don’t mind (possibly) getting dirty! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 3-6. Join dancers from Eastern Connecticut Ballet for an interactive creative movement class with a Nutcracker theme. This presentation will be led by Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s teacher educators and will feature dancers from their upcoming Nutcracker performance. Eastern Connecticut Ballet was founded in 1992 to serve students in the shoreline area and beyond. As a nonprofit organization, Eastern Connecticut Ballet recognizes their responsibility to the broader community. Through their educational outreach programs, they raise awareness of the beauty and power of dance. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Space is limited, registration is required. Click here to register.

Program designed around The Food Group book series by Jory John, written for an audience age 4-8. Kids ages 4-12 are welcome to join, and for safety reasons, kids ages 4-8 must have an adult participate alongside! This summer’s popular Food Group program is BACK for the release of Jory John’s newest Food Group book, The Toast of the Town! Meet Toast. He knows everybody, and everybody knows him. He pops up wherever help is needed—shoveling sidewalks, welcoming newcomers, checking in on neighbors—just because. But Toast wasn't always so warm and toasty. In his younger days, he kept to himself, loafed around, and mostly just felt a little . . . stale. It took one life-changing moment to help him rise to the occasion. Can one ordinary piece of toast transform an entire community? And can helping others turn out to be the best thing since sliced bread? What to expect: Cook, read, and explore with us in this deliciously fun program inspired by Jory John’s Food Group series. This program will combine stories with simple snack-making. We’ll kick things off by washing hands and learning a few basic food safety tips, because every great chef starts with good habits. […]

Essex Library is honored to host Gordon Giffin, the United States Ambassador to Canada under the Clinton Administration, for its second annual Fulford History Lecture. His talk, “American Diplomacy, the Canada - US Relationship and Why It Matters,” will take place on November 14 at 4 p.m. in The Cube at Centerbrook Architects. Giffin, born in Massachusetts, moved in 1950 to Montreal, Canada at age 3 months. Ultimately graduating from High School in Toronto, in 1967 he returned south to obtain a BA at Duke University and a JD at Emory University School of Law. After graduation he moved to Washington DC in January 1975 to become Chief Counsel and Legislative Director to US Senator Sam Nunn. He served as outside General Counsel to the 1988 and 1992 Democratic National Conventions. In 1992 Giffin became Chair of the Clinton presidential campaign in Georgia and southeastern coordinator. Following the election, he declined opportunities to move back to Washington to join the Administration to continue to grow his law practice. In 1996 he served as Chair of the Site Selection Committee and Vice Chair for the Democratic National Convention and Chair of the Southern Region Campaign. Following the election, in June 1997 […]

Incorporating healthy indoor plants in a home or office can really add a sense of calm and beauty to a space. A big part of growing houseplants successfully comes from choosing the right plant for your space. We’ll talk about light conditions, temperature, watering requirements and how to consider these factors when it comes to plant selection. Stories of houseplant failures, unexpected triumphs and new favorites will be covered. This talk will be presented by Felicia Millett, a plant scientist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Register online at youresseslibrary.org or call the Library at 860-767-1560.

Step into a sprawling world of celestial magic, political intrigue, and ancient prophecies with New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse as we dive deep into her acclaimed Between Earth and Sky trilogy. Black Sun, Fevered Star, and Mirrored Heavens are inspired by the rich and diverse cultures of the pre-Columbian Americas, reshaping modern speculative fiction with unmissable worldbuilding. This program is free and open to the public. Register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Kids and families are invited to join the Ivoryton Library in giving thanks by creating crafts all around Thanksgiving!