The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

The Morris Public Library offers Story and Music Time for participants ages 9 mo. - 5 y.o every Tuesday at 10 am.

Please call to ask if a spot is available: 860-567-7440.

Sing songs, read a story, do a craft!

Teen Summer Reading Challenge Entering Grades 6-12

From July 1 - August 12

We challenge you to read 10 books this summer. We know you can do it! And for every book you read (whether that’s 1 or 100!) your name will be entered into a drawing to win a Kindle or a gift card to The Curious Cat Bookshop!

D&D Dice Set: Our Weekly Level Up @ Your Library Visit Incentive

Visit OWL each week during our Summer Reading Program to complete your own Dungeons & Dragons dice set!

All Honor to the Ladies: Litchfield County Women and the Civil War

with Peter Vermilyea

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

Basic Italian I, a 13-session beginner class, will be held on Thursdays, May 8 to July 31, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The class will cover pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture. The required text is Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way by Marcel Danesi, Barron's Publisher, any edition, available online at abebooks.com and other retailers. 

Join the Friends of the David M. Hunt Library for their monthly book sale on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am to 1 pm. New, used, cds, dvds, coffee table books, recent fiction and mystery, children's books- there is something for everyone! All proceeds benefit the library.

Step right up to our delightful BLT - Bagels. Lox. Tefillin. event! Join us on Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45 AM, running from July 4th to August 25th, for a heartwarming experience.

Wrap Tefillin, recite a prayer, and relish in the scrumptious bagels, lox cream cheese, paired perfectly with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. It's more than just a meal; it's a chance to truly connect, to embrace your Jewish traditions, and simply enjoy each other's company. Don't worry if you don't have your own Tefillin - we've got you covered with our guidance and equipment.

No prior knowledge required - just bring yourself and an open heart. This event is family-friendly, so bring along the little ones for a meaningful and delicious experience. Come hungry, leave happy - we'll take care of the rest!

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

Gunn Memorial Library invites young readers to join a new program designed to build confidence and a lifelong love of reading. Aligned with the library’s Level-Up summer reading theme, the Read Aloud Book Club will run from the week after July 4 through the first week of August 2025, and is specially tailored for children entering Kindergarten and 1st Grade.

The program features a rich blend of read-aloud sessions and fun crafts, all designed to make reading both enjoyable and educational. The books selected span multiple genres to encourage engagement, imagination, and conversation.

This week’s book is Mary Had a Little Lab by Sue Fliess!

Mary is an enterprising young inventor. She wants a pet, but it isn’t one she can easily buy, so she makes one with the Sheepinator! Mary’s pet sheep and her new invention make her popular with her classmates. But when she starts making sheep for her new friends, things go hilariously awry. Can Mary invent a way to fix this mess?

Registration Required.

Fulfill your summer reading goals and enjoy literary adventures with Gunn Junior Library’s Summer Reading Book Club, held every Monday afternoon in July!

Led by Ms. Ashley, this program is designed for rising 4th and 5th graders and will meet from 3:15 to 4:15 PM, July 7–28. Readers will explore Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr. A laugh-out-loud story about a boy who takes a fortune cookie’s advice a little too seriously, leading to silly yet meaningful adventures. A 2024 Nutmeg nominee, this book offers the perfect blend of humor and heart, exploring themes of choice, friendship, and what truly matters.

Each session features a discussion and creative activities inspired by surprise weekly “mystery envelopes.” Let’s make summer reading a whole lot of fun.

Registration Required.

Books will be available for pickup in the Jr. Library starting Monday, June 23.

Join us each month for one year as we explore 12 influential Presidents through selected biographies spanning from George Washington through John F. Kennedy.

About the Series:

When selecting biographies, we decided an author should only appear once on our list and that their work should be accessible. Each month, read the selected biography then join us as historian, author and teacher Peter Vermilyea leads the discussion exploring Presidential personalities, opportunities and failures, challenges, and legacies. Through lecture and discussion, we will delve deeper into our Presidential and shared history.

July Selection:

In July, we will be exploring Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow - A Pulitzer Prize winning book.

About the Presenter:

Peter Vermilyea teaches history at Housastonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, CT and at Western Connecticut State University. A graduate of Gettysburg College, he serves as the scholarship director of his alma mater’s Civil War Institute. He is the author or editor of five books and fifteen articles, most on aspects of Civil War history.

Physical books are available at OWL to borrow, and e-books and e-audio books are instantly available for OWL card holders.

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

The Morris Public Library offers Story and Music Time for participants ages 9 mo. - 5 y.o every Tuesday at 10 am.

Please call to ask if a spot is available: 860-567-7440.

Sing songs, read a story, do a craft!

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

  On Wednesday July 9th at 1 pm the David M. Hunt Library and the Falls Village Equity Project will host a Banned Book Club. This month we will be discussing the book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie. Copies of the book are available at the library. This group is open to anyone high school aged and older.  

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

Basic Italian I, a 13-session beginner class, will be held on Thursdays, May 8 to July 31, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The class will cover pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture. The required text is Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way by Marcel Danesi, Barron's Publisher, any edition, available online at abebooks.com and other retailers. 

The Gunn Junior Library partners with Literacy Volunteers on the Green (LVG) to present a series of fun and interactive bilingual storytimes in English and Spanish this July!

Held every Thursday in July, these sessions will feature engaging stories, a literacy-focused book, and hands-on craft activities that inspire creativity and learning. Children and families are invited to join us for this celebration of language, culture, and community connection.

Based in New Milford, LVG provides free English language and literacy tutoring to adult learners across northwestern Connecticut. With a mission rooted in empowerment through education, trained volunteer tutors meet weekly with students to help build essential communication skills for work, home, and civic life. As part of their Family Literacy initiative, LVG uses bilingual children’s books and storytelling to support language learning and help families honor their native languages and cultural heritage.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore stories, language, and creativity together!

To learn more about LVG, visit www.lvg-ct.org.

Registration Required.

Conversational Italian, 13-sessions, is not a beginner class. It will be held on Fridays, April 25 to August 1, 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., with no class on May 30 or July 4. It is designed for those with a knowledge of basic Italian grammar and good vocabulary.  The required text is Conversational Italian: In 20 Lessons (Cortina Method) by Michael Cagno,  available online at abebooks.com.  

LARP @ Your Library! Fridays at 1pm 

Registration Required.

LARP /lärp/ noun

• a type of interactive role-playing game in which the participants portray characters through physical action, often in costume and with props.

Play LARP with us! 

7/11 Character Creation: Make an original hero to play LARP and discover your own personal legend.

7/18 DIY Projects: Build your own LARP gear and learn to think creatively and make solutions.

7/25 Playing your Character: Time to celebrate all your hard work and apply the skills you have learned!

Step right up to our delightful BLT - Bagels. Lox. Tefillin. event! Join us on Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45 AM, running from July 4th to August 25th, for a heartwarming experience.

Wrap Tefillin, recite a prayer, and relish in the scrumptious bagels, lox cream cheese, paired perfectly with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. It's more than just a meal; it's a chance to truly connect, to embrace your Jewish traditions, and simply enjoy each other's company. Don't worry if you don't have your own Tefillin - we've got you covered with our guidance and equipment.

No prior knowledge required - just bring yourself and an open heart. This event is family-friendly, so bring along the little ones for a meaningful and delicious experience. Come hungry, leave happy - we'll take care of the rest!

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

Mondays at 10:30 AM - June 23 - August 18*

For ages 4 - 8

*No class July 7

Using Letters are Characters® Parents and caregivers are children’s first and most important teachers. Ensuring that your child learns to read to their highest potential is one of the greatest gifts that you can give them. Using Letters are Characters and Letters are Builders trademarked play-based methods, we will laugh and play our way to literacy and deep reading and empower you to be a confident and competent literacy guide for your child!

This program is funded by the generous support of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. Register and receive a Letters are Characters or Letters are Builders kit while supplies last. In addition to the in-person program, you will also receive weekly guidance delivered right to your inbox.

Does your child need to learn to recognize the letters and know the sounds that they make?

Visit the Oliver Wolcott Library Website for more details and links to receive Letters are Characters Kits.