FAMILY PROGRAMS

Happening Today!

Author Storytime: Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun!

Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Harry Bennett Branch

Join local author Valerie Bolling at an outdoor reading of her latest picture book. Q & A, book sale and signing to follow. For ages two and older with accompanying caregiver. Weather permitting. Registration Required.

Happening Today!

Pumpkins on the Porch

Saturday, October 22 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Join us for a drop-in outdoor event featuring pumpkin crafts and fun yard games like pumpkin bowling and pumpkin bean bag toss. All ages welcome. Weather permitting.

Family Storytime

Wednesday, October 19 from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

A participatory storytime for the whole family that includes songs, fingerplays, stories and movement activities. For ages 18 months to four years with an accompanying caregiver. No walk-ins. Registration required. Registration opens six days before each storytime date.

Outdoor Family Storytime

Thursday, October 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch

Preschoolers and caregivers are welcome to these drop-in programs on the lawn. Please bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs. Weather permitting.

Halloween Family Celebration

Saturday, October 29 from noon to 1 p.m.

South End Branch

Wear a costume for this DIY adventure, where you can decorate your own balloon pumpkin head, trick-or-treat bag and show off your outfit during our parade. Prizes for the best-dressed. All ages welcome.

Haunted Libraries Near Us

Saturday, October 29 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Join investigators from the Eastern Connecticut Paranormal Society as they present their findings of a rigorous investigation of libraries in Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y.

Recommended for Grades 6 to Adult. Registration required.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

Sing & Stomp

Tuesday, October 25 from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Main Library, Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

A song and dance party for ages 18 months to 4 years accompanied by a caregiver. No walk-ins. Registration opens six days before the session.

Budding Bookworms

Tuesday, October 25 at 10:30 a.m.

via South End Branch Instagram

Bilingual storytime for ages 18 months to 4 years. New content every week. Connect via SE Branch Instagram.

Spooky Stuffed Animal Storytime & Sleep Over

Wednesday, October 26 from 3 to 4 p.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

Bring your favorite stuffed animals for a slightly spooky storytime, then leave them at the library for their own sleepover. For ages 3 to 8 with an accompanying caregiver. No walk-ins.

Registration required.

Babytime

Friday, October 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Main Library, DiMattia Building

Dudley N. Williams, Jr. Auditorium

A program geared for babies featuring traditional verses, bouncing rhymes, board books and more. For ages up to 18 months with an accompanying caregiver. No walk-ins.

Registration required.

TEENS

T-Mad Meeting

Thursday, October 27 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom

Teens Making a Difference (T-Mad) advisory program. Learn about upcoming events and make a difference in the community. Participation in T-Mad counts as volunteer work. Grades 6-12.

Registration Required.

ONGOING AT THE LIBRARY

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 3 through October 29

South End Branch

Find the ghosts, witches and other Halloween characters hidden in the shelves of the South End Branch to win a gift! Pick up a checklist at the branch to participate. All ages welcome during normal branch hours.

Kids! Help us Decorate for Diwali

All Branches

Create your own paper rangoli on one of our templates, which will be available starting Saturday, October 8 at the library's Youth Services desks. Make one for yourself and another one for us! We will use all the rangolis to decorate for our celebration, to be held Sunday, November 13.

Earn Volunteer Hours by Reviewing Books

The Ferguson Library is offering volunteer hours to teens in grades 6 to 12 to write book reviews. Reviews will be featured on the library's Youth Instagram page and displayed with reviewed books at the library.

Teens may submit up to two book reviews per week. For each review approved by a librarian, teens will receive one hour of volunteer credit.

Reviews may be edited for clarity and will list the reviewer's first name, last name initial, and grade, unless the reviewer specifies anonymity. Questions? Call 203-351-8242.