Essex Library

Program for kids ages 4-8 & mentors age 13-18. Level up your reading skills, work on your summer reading goals & beat the Summer Slide with a Teen Buddy! Build social skills, reading fluency, and confidence! Each teen volunteer (ages 13-18) is paired with a younger reader (ages 4-8) for a relaxed hour of literacy fun. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required to ensure that each reader is matched with a mentor. Click here to register a child buddy! Click here to register a teen mentor.

Stay cool this summer in the Buel Room of Essex Library with a "Book-to-Screen" movie matinee! For more information, including the movie title, call the Library at 860-767-1560 or visit the events calendar section of the Library’s website, www.youressexlibrary.org.

Delve into the fascinating world of birds through astonishing photography and clear explanations in this absorbing global guide, "The Bird Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds." Register for this virtual author talk with Smithsonian Biologist Jay Falk HERE.  This program is FREE and open to the public.

Dive into the world of sharks with Essex Library as we host Kristen Smith of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) center. Register HERE for this virtual program. This virtual program provides adult audiences with an understanding of the ongoing white shark research projects being conducted and funded by the AWSC, how that research is impacting conservation and public safety efforts, and up-to-date information on what that research has taught us. Audience members will also have an opportunity to view videos and photographs taken during the research season and to develop their knowledge of what a shark is and what is required to conduct white shark research. There will be a short Q&A period after the presentation. This program is FREE and available to the public. Registration is required for this virtual program.

You’re invited to a fascinating conversation with neurologist and author Pria Anand to chat about her new book The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains (forthcoming June 10, 2025). Register HERE. The Mind Electric speaks to the stories we tell ourselves about our brains, and the stories that our brains tell to us. This program is FREE and open to the public.

Did you know that the Smithsonian has a living botanical collection? Hear all about it from Smithsonian Horticulturist, Carl Johnson, on July 29 at 12:00 pm, on Zoom. Johnson will discuss the diversity of plants in the collection as well as how the collection supports the work of scientists doing work on plant genetics, evolutionary biology and species conservation, among other areas. Register HERE. This virtual program is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required for this virtual program.

Master Wildlife Conservationist Paul Colburn will present a talk focused on the history of coyotes in Connecticut, which includes an overview of coyote habitat, diet, behavior, and reproduction. Colburn will also offer practical recommendations for optimum coexistence with our coyote population. Coyote artifacts will be shared with attendees. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT 06426. Register online HERE or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

The Tri-Town Libraries have collaborated to bring you a family concert at the Chester Meeting House! Get ready to wake up and shake up with the rocking tunes of Rolie Polie Guacamole! All are welcome! Registration is required. Click here to register. This program is a collaborative effort between Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Ivoryton libraries.

Lighthouses and Lifesaving Services: A fun and lighthearted presentation; beginning with the first lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt then fast forwarding to the current lighthouses on the eastern coast of the United States. The program highlights lifesaving stations and their crews, lightships, and the men and women who served as keepers of the light. Enjoy a haunting conclusion as we shed light on the paranormal activities surrounding some lighthouses. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT Space is limited, so registration is suggested. Register online HERE or call the Library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 5-12. Level up & play LIFE-SIZE, REAL-LIFE versions of some AWESOME board and video games! This session we will be playing life-size Hungry Hungry Hippos! Get ready to chomp, scoot, and laugh in this giant, action-packed version of the classic game! Kids will team up in groups to become “hippos," using scooters and baskets to gobble up as many colorful balls as they can from the center of the room. It’s fast, silly, and tons of fun! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

1776 and Hamilton: two American musicals telling the story of the founding of our nation. This lecture looks at these revolutionary musicals and their contrasting visions of an American society at a crossroads. Note: this lecture features video clips from the two musicals. This program is FREE and and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register HERE  or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 4-8 & mentors age 13-18.  Level up your reading skills, work on your summer reading goals & beat the Summer Slide with a Teen Buddy! Build social skills, reading fluency, and confidence! Each teen volunteer (ages 13-18) is paired with a younger reader (ages 4-8) for a relaxed hour of literacy fun. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required to ensure that each reader is matched with a mentor. Click here to register!

The talk “Who’s in your pollinator garden? Notes from a garden journal,” is focused on the results of three years of observations in a pollinator garden designed and managed by Master Gardeners at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT. Lessons learned, such as those related to native plants and which bees, butterflies, and moths are frequent visitors as well as when they come and their preferred flowers, can be applied to home gardens across the state. A general planting scheme developed by the University of Rhode Island will be discussed along with a handout of recommended flowers for pollinator gardens. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT 06426. Register HERE or by calling the library at 860-767-1560. About Pat Sabosik  Pat Sabosik is the owner of Silver Spade Garden Design, LLC, and an advanced Master Gardener. She manages the UConn Master Gardener Pollinator Garden at the Hill-Stead Museum and is active in the Garden Club of New Haven. She is a frequent speaker on garden design, pollinator gardens, and native plants for gardens.

Are you enrolled in Medicare and looking to reduce your premium and other expenses? Join us for an informative session where you can discover financial savings programs that you may qualify for, based on your income such as Medicare Savings Programs or Extra Help with Prescriptions programs. This program is presented by Laura Crews, director of benefits access, of the Senior Resources Agency of Aging. This program is free and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT26. To register, visit www.youressexlibrary.org or call the Library at 860-767-1560

Program for families with kids of all ages. See movie titles and descriptions for ratings. Celebrate the Summer Reading theme of “Level Up at Your Library” with family-friendly movies surrounding the theme based around puzzles, board games, and video games! Popcorn provided. Click here for movie title, description, and age rating. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Program for kids ages 4-8 & mentors age 13-18.  Level up your reading skills, work on your summer reading goals & beat the Summer Slide with a Teen Buddy! Build social skills, reading fluency, and confidence! Each teen volunteer (ages 13-18) is paired with a younger reader (ages 4-8) for a relaxed hour of literacy fun. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required to ensure that each reader is matched with a mentor. Click here to register.

Program for kids and teens ages 6-18! Join award-winning polymer clay artist Deb Jaffe to create one-of-a-kind dragons! Each dragon will be as unique as their creator. All tools and materials will be supplied. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Join us for a class of gentle movement, breath awareness and relaxation to calm and nourish your nervous system. Yoga is a great way to support inner and outer stability and ease. All levels welcome. Please bring a mat and a small cushion. Chairs will also be available. This program is FREE and available to ALL at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required. Register HERE or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560. About Ellen McNally Ellen McNally, E-RYT 500, has been teaching yoga since 2012. Since 2018, she has taught Restorative and Gentle yoga classes via Zoom for Smilow Cancer Hospital, as well as Slow & Steady Yoga classes in Hamden. She is also a certified meditation teacher. She welcomes everyone who wants to experience the benefits of yoga.

Program for kids entering Kindergarten – grade 6 in the Fall! School is (officially) out for summer! Kick off summer reading with Essex and Ivoryton Libraries at our Snow Cone Social and sign up for our awesome dragon-themed summer reading program! T his year, when you sign up for summer reading you will receive a commemorative Dragon Trading Card folder to track your summer reading progress, (while supplies last)! After you sign up, enjoy a snow cone from Kona Ice & play some games! This program will be held at Grove Street Park, 16 Grove St, Essex, CT. Rain location in Essex Town Hall Auditorium. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required to attend the summer kickoff event. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Gather 'round the (pretend) campfire for a cozy camping-themed story time filled with stories, songs, and outdoor adventure fun! 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!

Grab a friend and “rejoicify” with us during a special sing-along showing of a ‘popular’ 2024 PG movie musical. Come in costume (if you’d like), sing along (or just watch!), make friendship bracelets, and enjoy an afternoon to remember! Movie snacks will be provided. 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 0-3 and their caregivers, siblings welcome. Wiggle Worms is a play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required. www.youressexlibrary.org

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! No registration necessary, drop in! For the movie title, call the library at 860-767-1560 or check the library's events calendar at www.youressexlibrary.org