Russell Library - August Events

Contact:  Rolande Duprey      rduprey@russell.lioninc.org    860-347-2528, Ext 171

or Sue Honer shoner@russell.lioninc.org      860-347-2528, Ext. 135

Russell Library 123 Broad St., Middletown, CT

 

COMING EVENTS AT RUSSELL LIBRARY

For Release: Appropriate Dates in August 2016

Russell Library Hours for August 2016

Russell Library, 123 Broad St. in Middletown has new hours: Mondays 10am – 6pm; Tuesdays 10am – 8pm; Wednesdays 1pm – 8pm; Thursdays 10am – 8pm; Fridays 10am – 6pm; Saturdays 10am - 2pm.

All library programs are free of charge.

EXHIBITS

Middletown High School Mural Project

Throughout August, in the Lobby. Beginning in 2009, senior class art students have embarked each year on a long term group project: producing a mural for the new school’s corridors that would serve as a legacy to their graduating class. The Class of 2016 mural will be shown in the library’s main lobby through the end of August, when it will be installed permanently at MHS. Also on view will be the recently completed Class of 2014 mural. Both were completed under the guidance of art teacher Patrick Shugrue.

Backyard Bugs: photos by Sandra Bellock Listorti

Throughout August. The library’s walls will be crawling with the close-up photographs taken by Sandra Bellock Listorti. Everyday, Sandra  takes macrophotographs of insects, showcasing them in her blog, The Bugs in the Backyard (http://thebackyardbugs.blogspot.com/). Her mission is to
highlight the beauty of the tiny creatures that share our world, and convince people to look at insects and say, “Ooh!” instead of, “Ew!” Her backyard in Norwich is a Certified Wildlife Habitat. It provides her with endless inspiration and subjects for her camera’s lens. Ms. Listorti enjoys a variety of creative endeavors as a puppeteer, writer and illustrator. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Puppetry from the University of Connecticut, where she studied with Frank W. Ballard.

Metal, Fiber, and Clay: Four Artists

Throughout August, in the Lobby Case. Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Featured are works by four ceramics artists, two of whom also work in metal. Members of the Wesleyan Potters Guild, the artists exhibiting are: Marcia Eager, Marcy LaBella, Cheryl Tuttle, and Art Tuttle.

Missing U and Other Abstract Paintings by Catherine Filloramo Thrall 

Throughout August. Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Catherine Filloramo Thrall graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art. She creates paintings, drawings, collage and artists books, often using the strong influence of letter forms. Her featured piece, Missing U, is an abstract alphabet.  

Natural Inspiration: Paintings by Ellen Dougan 

Throughout August. Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Connecticut born artist Ellen Murphy Dougan grew up in a world of gardens. Surrounded by farmland and woods growing up, nature has remained a strong element of the artist's life and work. She has taught painting at the Litchfield County Art Association, and for the continuing education programs at both the local high school and community college. 

ONGOING PROGRAMS

The Russell Writers Online Forum.  Participate any day, any time, from the comfort of your own computer. Register and log in for this online writing group where you can post your work for critique, provide feedback for your fellow Russell Writers, exchange ideas and tips, and participate in the monthly writing prompts. Go to: http://russellwriters.freeforums.net. Beginning and experienced writers welcomed! For more information, contact Michele Rousseau at shellywriter@sbcglobal.net

PROGRAMS

Exercise Your Mind!

Summer Reading Program through August 19th! Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. It’s never too late to register for the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Circulation Desk with your library card! Downtown Middletown gift cards will be awarded weekly. All participants have a chance at the Grand Finale Prize of a Kindle Fire 6HD at the conclusion of the program in August. The rules are simple: write a brief book review (limit of 2 reviews per week) for our “Dive Into Reading” and to enter the drawing. Book reviews may be occasionally posted to our Facebook page. Check us out on Facebook and get clues as to what “Russell” –our library Flamingo—is reading!

Time for Twos

Mondays, August 1, 8, and 15, 10:00am, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. We’ll have open play, craft materials and a chance to share songs, music and a story together.  What a great way to start your week!

Ages: Two year olds and their caregivers.

Drop-in, no registration.

Teen Art Boot Camp- Updated Schedule

Wednesdays, August 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6:00pm - 7:30 pm, in Meeting Room 3, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Join Maddie Geores, a recent Middletown High graduate, to broaden your art horizons! Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of drawing from life and composition, and learn the basics of mixing from colors. During the course students will take a sketch to a finished painting. Maddie graduated Middletown High School, where she received the Connecticut Association of Schools Outstanding Arts award and a Middletown Commission on the Arts award.

Grades 5 to 12.

This is a four-part workshop, please plan to attend all sessions. Registration is required, in person or by phone, 860-347-2520.

Summer Stories

Tuesdays, August, 2, 9, & 16, 10:00am, Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Join us for new stories and old favorites, music and a craft! You & your caregiver are sure to have a great time & meet new friends too!

Ages: 3-6 with caregiver*

Drop-in, no registration

*Daycares/PreK providers, please call for dates for your group’s personal story time! 860-344-8479.

Origami

Tuesdays, August 2, 16 & 30, 6:30-7:30pm, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Are you an expert or do you want to learn simple origami?  Join us every other Tuesday night in August to explore the Japanese art of paper folding - Origami.  Ages: 7 & up

Drop in, no registration.

Baby Rhyme Time

Wednesdays, August 3, 10 & 17, 1:30pm, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Looking for something to do with your infant or toddler?  Come join us for Baby Rhyme Time, a program for babies one year old and under and their grown-up.  We’ll sing songs and learn rhymes, finger plays and more in this fun, interactive program.

Ages: Birth-12 months.

Drop-in, no registration.

The Russell Library regrets that this program has been canceled.
The Beautiful Girl Project with Shannon Marzella

Wednesdays, August 3 OR August 10 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. Meeting Room 3, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown.  Students entering grades 7 to 12. The Russell Library is hosting the Beautiful Girl Project, which teaches girls in grades 5-12 emotional literacy through expressive writing. Using a combination of mindfulness, poetry, and discussions, girls read poems and engage in writing that is self-reflective and allows them to reflect on issues such as self-esteem, body image, and peer relationships in order to cultivate self-compassion and respect for themselves and others. Come to EITHER meeting. Registration is required, in person or by phone, 860-347-2520.

We Were There: Writing Your Military Experiences

Thursdays August 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 6:30pm. Meeting Room 2 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Author Elisabeth Petry will continue to lead The Veterans' Writing Group. This series, in its third year, invites Veterans to share their stories and photos in their own voices. All Veterans, either active or retired, are encouraged to come and share their experiences for their own benefit or to share with family and friends. We encourage new members to visit us this summer to see what we are all about! Currently, we have servicemen from combat, and non-combat situations from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraqi Freedom. We hope to hear from other Iraq War Vets, and those who have served in Afghanistan. 

Old Saybrook native Elisabeth Petry is a writer and former journalist and lawyer. Her first book, a collection of letters that she edited, was Can Anything Beat White?:A Black Family's Letters. Her second is At Home Inside: A Daughter’s Tribute to Ann Petry.
The workshop facilitator is Christy Billings. She can be reached at (860) 347-2528 or cbilling@russell.lioninc.org.
This program is being sponsored with funds from The Friends of the Russell Library.

Open Art!

Fridays, August 5 and 12, 11:00am, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library,123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Color, paint, draw or whatever inspires you!  There will be a variety of materials on hand for you to use to create your own works of art.

Ages: grades K-3.

Drop-in, no registration.

First Saturday – Favorite Stories and Craft

Saturday, August 6, 10:00am, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  It’s Favorite Stories Saturday!  On the first Saturday of every month, a Children’s Librarian will share her favorite stories with you!  Drop by for stories and stay to make a craft together.  The stories are selected for the 3-5 year old audience and their caregivers, but siblings are welcome.  Get a great start on your 1st Saturday.  See you soon!

Ages: 3-5 year olds.

Drop-in, no registration.

Russell Readers

Tuesday, August 9, 6:30pm-7:50 pm. Meeting Room 2 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. We will discuss Displacement by David Wong Louie from the collection 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories. Discussions are based on the Great Books Foundation method in which readers talk in open gatherings, under a leader, about the great issues that have shaped civilization as reflected in the readings. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 - 7:50pm in Meeting Room 2 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. For more information about participating in the group or acquiring the text, contact Chantal Foster at (860)573-2946 or email Chantal.foster@comcast.net. The discussions are sponsored by The Friends of the Russell Library.

Otakus - Anime / Manga Club

Tuesday, August 9, 7:00pm to 8:00 pm. Meeting Room 3 and the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Do you enjoy anime, manga, cosplay, or gaming? Then Otakus is for you! Otakus is Russell Library’s teen group for fans of Anime, Manga and all things Japanese. Meeting twice a month, we view anime shorts, discuss our favorite manga series and explore the culture that has produced such art forms. Food, music, costumes, arts and other expressions of Japan are all parts of Otakus. Ages 11 & up.  

This is a drop-in program, so come and enjoy the fun!

Introduction to Origami

Tuesday, August 9, 7:00pm – 8:00pm. The Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Exercise your mind by transforming a flat piece of paper into a three dimensional figure! Origami, the ancient art of paper folding, is a unique exercise in spatial reasoning.

Drop-in, no registration.

Family Game Night

Wednesday, August 10, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Come down to Russell Library for Family Game Night.  Try your hand at some oldie but goody games; test your skills at something new.  Backgammon, checkers, chess & foosball will be some of the games on hand for you to enjoy!  Sit back and enjoy a simple game of cards if that's your pleasure.

All ages.

No registration necessary, just a love of gaming the old fashioned way.

Adult Coloring

Tuesday, August 16, 2:00pm – 3:30pm. The Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Pick up a crayon or colored pencil and de-stress! The library will provide the materials, you just need to show up! Over the past two years, interest in adult coloring has and continues to spread as adults rediscover a childhood pastime and embrace adult coloring as a new norm. Some may enjoy the craft’s therapeutic benefits. Others see sitting down with a box of crayons and a coloring book as an alternative to watching a flickering screen.

Drop-in, no registration.

Teens Help With Tech – For All

Wednesday, August 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Meeting Room 3, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Do you need a teen to help show you how to use your iPad or Kindle? The Russell Library Teen Advisory Council is hosting a night of free technology help. Students will be available from 6:30 to 7:30 in Meeting Room 3 to assist in all forms of technology. Bring your own device.

Grades 7-12. Drop-in, no registration.

Cultural Connections Women’s Group

Wednesday, August 17, 5:30pm – 6:45pm. The Hubbard Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Women of all nationalities are invited to come and meet other immigrant women in order to help one another adapt to American culture. Get help with local resources and network. Share stories, tips and make new friends.
Children are welcome. Fluency in English is not necessary.
Drop-in, no registration.

Fairy and Gnome Houses for All Ages

Thursday August 18, 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The Hubbard Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Our popular children's program is now offered to folk of ALL AGES! Using three-dimensional design concepts, with a wide variety of materials, we will create model homes for wee folk and fairies! All you need is your imagination and a desire to make things! The presenter has a Masters of Fine Arts degree and is a Teaching Artist with the State of Connecticut.
Drop-in, no registration.

Builders Club

Friday, August 19, 4:00pm – 5:30pm, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Come build with your favorite interlocking blocks!  Each session we will have a challenge, and if you’re lucky, your creation will be chosen to be displayed in our glass case. We use very small builders pieces, so younger folks are encouraged to enjoy our toddler room during Builders Club.

Ages: 5 – 12. Drop-in, no registration.

Yoga in the Courtyard

Saturday, August 20^th, 11:00am. The Courtyard, Russell Library 123 Broad St, Middletown. No prior experience necessary, and no mats will be used. Our instructor for our outdoor class will be Jeff Hush, founder of Food and Movement Therapy and a local instructor of Family Yoga, Tai Chi and Chair Yoga. Come experience what Yoga flow can do to assist you in feeling calmer and also more energetic. Learn how it helps in having a stronger immune system and better sleep patterns. In case of rain, the class with be held in the Hubbard Room. This program is a part of Adult Summer Reading: Exercise Your Mind, and is sponsored by The Friends of the Russell Library.

Otakus - Anime / Manga Club: Free Lunch Studios Comic and Manga Workshop

Tuesday, August 23, 6:00pm – 8:00 pm. The Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Do you enjoy anime, manga, cosplay, or gaming? Then Otakus is for you! Otakus is Russell Library’s teen group for fans of Anime, Manga and all things Japanese. Tonight Matt Ryan from Free Lunch Studios visits and shares some fun insight to the creation of great comic stories and interesting characters! This hands on, creative experience is perfect for comic storytellers of any age or ability level! Workshop will be followed by a book signing/meet and greet with Matt.

Ages 11 & up. Drop-in, no registration.

Tween Storytime

Wednesday, August 24, 3:00pm – 4:00pm and Thursday, August 25, 11:00am - Noon, Children’s Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. You are never too old or mature to listen to stories. Miss Melanie read stories for ages 8 and up. Light refreshments will be served.

Ages: 3^rd grade and up. Drop-in no registration required.

DIY Back to School Supplies for Teens

Wednesday and Thursday, August 24 and 25, 2:00pm – 4:00 pm. Teen Area, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Drop by the teen area to decorate notebooks, tote bags, and phone cases to use for school supplies. Scrapbooking material will also be available to preserve your summer memories, bring your own photos!

Students entering grades 7 to 12.

Drop-in no registration required.

  

Preschool Dance Party

Thursday, August 25, 6:30-7:30pm, The Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Do you love to dance? Miss Laura does too! Laura has danced since she was a child: everything from ballet to tap to Hawaiian. Come share the fun, dress cool, wear comfy shoes and be ready to boogie!

Ages: 3-6, no registration required.

End of Summer Teen Party

Friday, August 26, 3:00pm – 4:00pm, Teen Area, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Students entering grades 7 to 12.   

Explore unknown parts of the library in the End-of-Summer Scavenger Hunt, filled with puzzles, challenges, and games. Prizes for the Teen Summer Reading Game will be drawn at the party. Pizza will be served!

Registration is required, in person or by phone, 860-347-2520.

JOB & CAREER PROGRAMS

Job Group

Thursdays, August 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 10:00am – noon, The Hubbard Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Each Thursday a different topic related to careers is discussed. Presenters range from local business people to nationally renowned authors and career counselors. A one-hour networking session follows the presentation.

Job Search Boot Camp – Version 4.0 – A comprehensive three-part program to whip your job search into shape  – with Jan Melnik. Are you ready to whip your resume into shape? Want to learn how social media like Twitter and LinkedIn can give you the boost you need to score that interview? Want to know the five “must do” things after every interview?  Please join us for the Russell Library’s Fourth Annual Summer Job Search Boot Camp, Version 4.0, featuring Jan Melnik, job search strategist and certified resume writer. Jan will present a series of 3 evening workshops for all job seekers designed to revamp all aspects of your job search and bring you up to speed to land that job.

Workshop 3

Job Search Boot Camp – Version 4.0 - Workshop 3 – “The Game Plan: Insiders’ Tips for Effective Job Search & Interviewing” – with Jan Melnik

Tuesday, August 2, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Hubbard room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  What’s the best way to find a job today and avoid the “black hole” of endlessly submitting resumes that never receive a response?  What are the secrets to interviewing effectively?  What are the top must-dos following every interview (including one killer, standout strategy)? 

Adult. Registration is requested but not required.

Sponsored by The Russell Library Job and Career Group.

Practice Job Interviews

Improve your interviewing skills and get the job you want. Bob Carlson will assist you by conducting and evaluating your practice interview. Videotaping the session is optional and confidential. 1-hour sessions are available. Register by calling 860-347-2520.

Resume Review

Russell Library offers confidential resume review and critiquing two Saturdays each month from 9:30am – 1:30pm with Tracy Nixon Moore, business professional and consultant. 1-hour appointments are available.. Remember to bring your resume. Register by calling 860-347-2520.

Career Coaching

James Kubat, an associate director of the Wesleyan Career Center, gives private, confidential career coaching through 1-hour appointments Wednesday evenings from 6 – 8 p.m. Remember to bring your resume. Register by calling 860-347-2520.

Contact:  Rolande Duprey      rduprey@russell.lioninc.org    860-347-2528, Ext 171

or Sue Honer shoner@russell.lioninc.org      860-347-2528, Ext. 135