Essex Library

Program for families with kids of all ages. Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Kids are invited to sign up for a private 15-minute slot to read to and interact with local licensed therapy dog Louie the Labrador! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register for 5:15 time slot. Click here to register for 5:30 time slot. Click here to register for 5:45 time slot.

Program for kids age 5-12. Kids age 5-8 must have an adult participate alongside. It’s a half-day, spend it at the library! Join us for a sweet and cozy treat-making experience! Participants will learn how to make classic s’mores (no campfire required)! Roast marshmallows, layer them with chocolate and graham crackers, and enjoy your delicious creation. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Celebrate friendship and love at our Valentine’s story time with books, songs, and activities for little ones! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 8-12. Join Children’s Librarian Miss Nicole and Teen Librarian Miss Jessica for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at life as a librarian. Across four exciting sessions from January to April, Junior Librarians will explore everything from keeping the library organized, and creating eye-catching displays, to planning programs and learning the skills real librarians use every day. Get ready to discover what it really takes to run a library and have fun doing it. Session 2, February 19, 4 PM: Books, Books, and More Books! How do librarians select books for the collection? How much can they spend? How do librarians decide when it is time for a book to retire? All of these questions, and more, will be answered! Session 3, March 26, 4 PM: Show Off the Shelves: Creating Eye-Catching Displays Session 4, April 30, 4 PM: Plan the Fun: Programs & Events! May 21, 4 PM: Junior Librarian Graduation & Celebration! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Who doesn’t love learning about a priceless painting found in an attic? Or a sculpture sitting for decades in a public garden, only to be found out as an Italian treasure? After finding herself in the middle of her own art history discovery when she uncovered the provenance of a Rodin sculpture sitting in Madison, NJ’s town hall, Mallory Mortillaro learned just how many times this has happened before. Her lecture explores the stories of several different important and valuable works of art that have been rediscovered in unexpected places, reviewing how they came to be “lost and found”. All programs of the Essex Library are free and open to the public. Registration is required for this virtual program. Register HERE or by calling the library at 860767-1560. About Mallory Mortillaro Mallory Mortillaro serves as the Curator of Collections for the Hartley Dodge Foundation in Madison, NJ and is an art historian and educator. She has ten years of teaching experience, and has worked on various art research projects for museums and organizations in the New York metropolitan area. She has a bachelor’s degree in Art History and English from Drew University and is a graduate of the University’s Caspersen School of Graduate […]

Program for kids ages 2-5. Join us for a tooth-rific story time celebrating National Family Dental Health Day with fun stories, songs, smiles, special guest readers from Essex Dentist, and goodies to take home! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Have we had enough snow this winter? Let’s make some of our own! Kids are invited to bring the magic indoors by conducting an experiment to make your very own fake snow that even feels cold! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Tom D. Crouch, a Smithsonian veteran of almost 45 years, paints a robust picture of a unique American establishment and its lasting legacies in his book Smithson’s Gamble. REGISTER HERE. Follow the fascinating growth and development of the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years. Told in rich detail, Smithson's Gamble reveals how, as it defined a role rooted in curiosity and exploration, the Smithsonian helped to shape the nation's developing identity. The Smithsonian evolved from a small, narrowly focused organization into an institution leading the way in fields from astrophysics to zoology. Smithsonian researchers, and the hundreds of citizen scientists who they recruited, created a collection that documented the natural and human history of a continent. The American conservation movement and a national weather service are rooted at the Smithsonian. Smithson's Gamble is filled with fascinating characters, twists and turns, and moments of triumph and tragedy, complete with political machinations, a bit of backstabbing, accusations of murder, and the occasional scandal. Register now to take part in the conversation and learn about the trials, errors, and incredible legacy of the Smithsonian’s foundation. About the Author: Tom Crouch joined the Smithsonian in 1974 and has served both the National Air and Space Museum […]

Program for kids ages 2-5. Vroom, beep, and honk! Celebrate all of the ‘things that go’ at our story time full of books, songs, and fun for little vehicle enthusiasts! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 8-12. Join us on Pokémon Day with a party celebrating all things Pokémon! Complete a Pokémon-themed scavenger hunt, play BINGO, test your Pokémon trivia, and create a fun Pokémon craft. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Join award-winning novelist Catherine Con Morse for a creative writing workshop followed by a Q&A and book-signing! In this class, you'll learn how to write compelling characters and fresh descriptions through a variety of fun writing exercises. Catherine is the author of The Notes and The Summer I Remembered Everything (shortlisted for All CT Reads 2026.) Ages 12 - 18, Grades 6+. Registration is required. https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=578767&PK=

From Cosmos to Compost: Our Place in the Universe explores how science connects the vast history of the universe to the everyday processes that sustain life on Earth. Bringing together astronomy and biology, the talk traces the story from stars and galaxies to the biological processes that recycle matter through ecosystems. Together, the talks show how fundamental scientific processes link the cosmos, life, and our daily actions. Speakers: Shashank Dattathri, PhD student, Department of Astronomy & Kriza Sy, MD-PhD student working in Cell Biology Yale Science in the News is a student-driven initiative where Yale graduate students and postdoctoral researchers present complex and exciting science topics to the general public. The talk is coordinated by Tos Chan, a PhD student in Computational Biology. This program is FREE and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! For the movie title, call the library at 860-767-1560 or visit the Events Calendar at youressexlibrary.org.

Middlesex Hospital Paramedic Brad Fowler will discuss the signs and symptoms of stroke in the Buel Room of Essex Library on Wednesday, March 4 at 4 p.m. Fowler will address: How often strokes occur and their impact; Who is at greatest risk of suffering a stroke; Causes and types of strokes; How to recognize stroke signs and symptoms and the importance of recognizing them early; Available treatments to reverse the side effects of stroke. The program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.  Register on the Events Calendar at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the library at 860-767-1560.

A trained Naturalist and President of the Connecticut Horticultural Society, Jim Sirch will be at Essex Library to provide a lecture on how to create a healthy eco-system in the landscape that functions well for people and wildlife. Sirch will discuss how species interact in the landscape as well as offer tips related to which plantings help create synergy. This program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register online HERE or by calling the library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Join us for a special Read Across America Day story time with favorite stories and early literacy activities that highlight the magic of reading together! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 5-12. Step into the “kitchen” with Miss Nicole and learn how to make no-bake monster cookie balls! This super delicious recipe is full of oats, peanut butter, and of course, chocolate! Allergens: recipe contains oats, peanuts, honey, vanilla extract, chocolate, & M&M Candy. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the Essex Library will welcome former Connecticut State Troubadour Pierce Campbell and Banjoist Paul Neri for an unforgettable and lively performance filled with Irish and Celtic folk music. The repertoire is sure to get feet tapping and hands clapping, creating a spirited and energetic atmosphere. This program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, Ct. Space is limited. Registration is required. Register HERE or call the library at 860-767-1560.

Are you looking for a casual way to meet new people and socialize in a fun way? Visit the Essex Library this month to play a low-stress, engaging adult board game! Participants can choose from a variety of games including Parcheesi, Scrabble or Checkers, among other options. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. No registration is necessary, drop-in!

Learn how to harness your dreams to improve your sleep and health with dream engineer Dr. Michelle Carr in this virtual author talk presented by Essex Library. In Nightmare Obscura, Dr. Carr unlocks the science behind the sleeping body. Drawing on her expertise in nightmares, lucid dreaming, and the cutting-edge field of dream engineering, she reveals how we can revolutionize our sleeping—and waking—health. REGISTER HERE.

Join educators from the Amphibian Reptile Center for their All About Axolotls presentation, filled with engaging education, hands-on fun, and fascinating facts to remember and share with friends and family. Participants will learn about axolotls’ origins in Aztec culture, the scientist whose laboratory discoveries have helped shape modern research, the responsibilities of caring for one as a pet, the three ways axolotls breathe, and how some can even glow! The Amphibian Reptile Center’s mission is to help change the world for people and animals who need it most. Serving as a voice for animals who cannot speak for themselves, the Center promotes proper care, health, and responsible ownership as top priorities. Through educational programs for all ages, the Amphibian Reptile Center aims to inspire individuals to be the change they wish to see and to work toward a more responsible and compassionate future for the reptile and amphibian community. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Lyman Allyn Curator Tanya Pohrt will present an illustrated lecture at Essex Library focusing on America’s 250, with dynamic stories and highlights from the Lyman Allyn’s collection. This lecture will preview a special installation opening in late April 2026 in the American Perspectives gallery showcasing recent acquisitions, seldom-seen objects from storage, and new research undertaken with Connecticut College students. This talk reflects on regional history, identity, and the complex shaping of American ideals in the Revolutionary era and beyond. This program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register by calling the library at 860-767-1560 or visiting the Events Calendar of youressexlibrary.org. About Tanya Pohrt: Tanya Pohrt has curated numerous exhibitions at the Lyman Allyn, including China from China: Porcelain and Stories of Early American Trade (2025), Beatrice Cuming: Connecticut Precisionist (2024), Barkley L. Hendricks in New London (2023), and The Way Sisters: Miniaturists of the Early Republic (2021- ’22), among other exhibitions, including the Museum’s long-term exhibition gallery Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London. Holding a Ph.D. in American Art History from the University of Delaware (received 2013), she was previously a Marcia Brady Tucker Fellow in American Paintings and Sculpture at the […]

You’re invited to join us for a virtual conversation with acclaimed author Kate Quinn about her latest fantastical work, The Astral Library, which poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures. REGISTER HERE. or call the library at 860-767-1560.

Join us for a relaxed, playful story time that helps kids notice how the seasons change. We’ll explore the shift from winter to spring with bold, energetic stories and soft, cozy tales that highlight nature’s changing moods. 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Join us for a special conversation between award-winning journalist Shoshana Walter and bestselling and award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver as they chat about Walter’s book Rehab: An American Scandal, presented by Essex Library Association. In this work, Walter, a Pulitzer finalist, exposes the country’s failed response to the opioid crisis, and the malfeasance, corruption, and snake oil which blight the drug rehabilitation industry. For more information, call the Essex Library at 860-767-1560. Register HERE. 

In this 30-minute illustrated talk, Essex Library’s March Artist of the Month, Theresa Marchant-Shapiro, will delve into her artistic process as a collage quilter and highlight notable artists that used similar forms of art for political expression. Marchant-Shapiro’s creative use of textiles takes quilting to a new level from practical craft to stunning visual works. This program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register HERE or by calling the library at 860-767-1560. ABOUT THERESA MARCHANT-SHAPIRO Theresa Marchant—Shapiro is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University. She teaches courses in leadership and mass political behavior. ARTISTS’ STATEMENT As an educator, knowledge is central to my identity and my interaction with the world. When I teach, I feel like I create a tapestry using the threads of my students' lives to color my planned design. My hope is that the knowledge I share allows my students to surmount the mountains that can form barriers, but can also unveil beautiful vistas.