Essex Library

Program for kids ages 4-8 & teens ages 13-18. Spend an hour with a Teen Buddy! Build fluency, confidence, and social skills with a teen buddy here at the Essex Library. Each teen volunteer mentor (ages 13-18) is paired with a younger buddy (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 buddy is matched with a mentor. Note: Due to state statute, kids under the age of 12 must have a parent present inside the building for the duration of the program. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=546045&PK=

Program for kids ages 2-5. Step into a world of enchantment with our Fairy Tale Storytime, featuring magical stories, whimsical songs, and imaginative 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. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=546044&PK=

Join us at Essex Library for a talk with Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado on why cats play and how interactive play can give your cat an outlet for one of their instincts, hunting! She’ll address cats who might be more challenging to play with, including “lazy cats,” senior cats, and cats in multi-cat homes. Learn about some of her favorite toys and tools for playtime and get ready to have more fun with your cat! This virtual program is FREE and available to the public. Register at youressexlibrar.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Join us as we chat with the New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Montell about her newest book, “The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality.” In a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking, Amanda Montell now turns her erudite eye to the inner workings of the human mind and its biases in her most personal and electrifying work yet. Register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Visit the Essex Library this month to play a new adult board game and meet new people! Games will include Ticket to Ride, where players compete to claim railway routes and connect cities by playing matching train cards, or Wingspan, where players compete to score the most points by playing various bird cards, collecting eggs and gathering food, among other selections. All meetings will take place in the Library’s conference room. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. No registration is necessary, drop-in!

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! 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.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Join us for a frosty and fun-filled Snowman Storytime, featuring enchanting tales, songs, and crafts perfect for winter magic! 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. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=546042&PK=  

Author Betsy Lerner will delve into her debut novel, Shred Sisters, an intimate and bittersweet story exploring the fierce complexities of sisterhood, mental health, loss and love on January 16 at 6:30 PM. This online author talk is being co-hosted by the Essex Library, Darien Library and Hotchkiss Library of Sharon. It is FREE and open to the public. Register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.  

Come have a magical moment with New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune as he chats about his Cerulean Chronicles, with special emphasis on his newest in the series, “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” Registration is required for this virtual program. Register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.  

Registration required, begins Dec 11. A graduate of the New York Academy of Cake, Barbara Gaudio will be at the Essex Library to provide a cake piping demonstration. Various piping skills and the application to a cake will be demonstrated. Attendees will enjoy learning tips and tricks over the 1.5 hour class, and tasting the final result. This class is for beginners, and is not hands on. The program is FREE and open to the public. Supplies are limited, so registration is required. Register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.  

Program for kids ages 5-12. Join us for an exciting hands-on science adventure where kids will design, build, and race their very own balloon-powered cars! Young engineers will explore basic concepts of physics like motion, thrust, and friction while using recycled materials to create their vehicles. Participants will test their designs, make improvements, and learn through trial and error—all while having a blast! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Materials are limited, registration is required. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=546041&PK=

Program for kids ages 2-5. A groovy Pete the Cat-themed story time, filled with fun tales, sing-alongs, and colorful adventures that little ones will love! 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. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=546040&PK=

The Essex Library will welcome Dr. Olena Lennon of the University of New Haven on Thursday, January 9 at 6:30 PM to talk about the geopolitical climate in Europe. As Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues and regional wars in the Middle East have been escalating, Europe, among other global regions, has felt many destabilizing reverberations. Dr. Lennon will provide a 45-minute lecture on the topic followed by a 15-minute Q and A. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex Library. About Dr. Olena Lennon Olena Lennon, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor of National Security at the University of New Haven, where she teaches such courses as the U.S. Foreign & Defense Policy and International Relations. Formerly a Fulbright scholar from Ukraine, and most recently a scholar at Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., she has dedicated her research to the study of conflict management and identity politics in eastern Europe, focused on domestic and foreign policy of Ukraine. An eastern Ukraine native, Dr. Lennon has been a regular participant in scholarly and media forums related to issues in Ukraine, facilitating a more informed and objective analysis of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. She also […]

Program for families with kids ages 4 and up. Ring in the New Year early with a celebration just for kids! Join us for a fun-filled Noon Year’s Eve Party where we’ll countdown to 12:00…noon! Enjoy crafts, games, music, and plenty of festive fun to kick off the new year in style. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited.Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&EventID=544517&PK=