Library Events

From Cosmos to Compost: Our Place in the Universe explores how science connects the vast history of the universe to the everyday processes that sustain life on Earth. Bringing together astronomy and biology, the talk traces the story from stars and galaxies to the biological processes that recycle m...read more

Drop-in group. Every monday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! During a human expedition to colonize space, Mickey 17, a so-called "expendable" employee, is sent to explore an ice planet. Mickey 17 (2025) stars Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun and Michael Monroe and was directed by Bong J...read more

Drop-in group. Every Monday.Knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and more are welcome! Come and do needlework with other craft enthusiasts. Bring your works in progress, your finished pieces, your patterns, and craft along with others while swapping tips, tricks, and conversation.

Drop-in group. Every Tuesday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Ciao! Buongiorno! Buonasera! Come to the Library on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. to converse with other beginner to intermediate Italian speakers in a supportive environment, led by a former Italian professor. No registration necessary! Drop-in!

The First Thursday Book Group typically meets on the first Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. Adult Services Librarian Elizabeth Reinhart moderates the discussion. For each month's selection, please visit the library's book groups page on its website, HERE.If you would like to join by Zoom, pl...read more

If you need time and a place to focus on your writing, the library has set aside a block of time just for you with an interest group for writers. Come meet fellow writers to socialize for half an hour, followed by an hour of writing time. No prompts. No critique. Just write! All levels and all genre...read more

A trained Naturalist and President of the Connecticut Horticultural Society, Jim Sirch will be at Essex Library to provide a lecture on how to create a healthy eco-system in the landscape that functions well for people and wildlife. Sirch will discuss how species interact in the landscape as well as...read more

The Saturday Book Group meets in the Library’s conference room at 9:30 a.m. This group reads the same book as the First Thursday book group. Adult Services Librarian Elizabeth Reinhart moderates the discussion. If you would like to join by Zoom, please email Elizabeth at ereinhart@es...read more

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the Essex Library will welcome former Connecticut State Troubadour Pierce Campbell and Banjoist Paul Neri for an unforgettable and lively performance filled with Irish and Celtic folk music. The repertoire is sure to get feet tapping and hands clapping, creatin...read more

Drop-in group. Every monday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Drop-in group. Every Monday.Knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and more are welcome! Come and do needlework with other craft enthusiasts. Bring your works in progress, your finished pieces, your patterns, and craft along with others while swapping tips, tricks, and conversation.

The Historical Fiction book group typically meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Library's conference room. Adult Services Librarian Elizabeth Reinhart moderates the discussion. Visit the library's book groups tab on its website for each month's selection, HERE....read more

Drop-in group. 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month.Meet up with other genealogy aficionados, talk about resources, share your own genealogy journey, ask questions, and more! Great group for beginners looking to get into the community and long-time enthusiasts looking to meet new friends and sh...read more

Drop-in group. Every Tuesday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Drop-in group. 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month.If you need time and a place to focus on your writing, the library has set aside a block of time just for you with a new interest group for writers. Come meet fellow writers to socialize for half an hour, followed by an hour of writing time. No p...read more

Are you looking for a casual way to meet new people and socialize in a fun way? Visit the Essex Library this month to play a low-stress, engaging adult board game! Participants can choose from a variety of games including Parcheesi, Scrabble or Checkers, among other options. This program is FREE and...read more

Learn how to harness your dreams to improve your sleep and health with dream engineer Dr. Michelle Carr. In Nightmare Obscura, Dr. Carr unlocks the science behind the sleeping body. Drawing on her expertise in nightmares, lucid dreaming, and the cutting-edge field of dream engineering, she reve...read more

Ciao! Buongiorno! Buonasera! Come to the Library on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. to converse with other beginner to intermediate Italian speakers in a supportive environment, led by a former Italian professor. No registration necessary! Drop-in!

Join us and play the "world’s greatest role-playing game." (Or other TTRPG's as requested!)Come create your own character and join the adventure where we will fight monsters and explore new lands. Both new and experienced players are welcome. These sessions are for teen players.R...read more

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Lyman Allyn Curator Tanya Pohrt will present an illustrated lecture at Essex Library focusing on America’s 250, with dynamic stories and highlights from the Lyman Allyn’s collection.Thi...read more

You’re invited to join us for a virtual conversation with acclaimed author Kate Quinn about her latest fantastical work, The Astral Library, which poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but do...read more

Have you ever wanted to learn Italian? Essex Library presents a 5-week Italian language class for adult beginners that will be led by Middletown Adult Education Instructor Mary Saraceno. Saraceno lived and studied in Sicily for 12 years and has taught Italian since 1994. Participants are encouraged ...read more

Drop-in group. Every monday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Drop-in group. Every Monday.Knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and more are welcome! Come and do needlework with other craft enthusiasts. Bring your works in progress, your finished pieces, your patterns, and craft along with others while swapping tips, tricks, and conversation.

Drop-in group. Every Tuesday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Ciao! Buongiorno! Buonasera! Come to the Library on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. to converse with other beginner to intermediate Italian speakers in a supportive environment, led by a former Italian professor. No registration necessary! Drop-in!

Don’t miss Award-winning Author James R. Benn as he discusses the latest installment in his Billy Boyle Mystery series, A Bitter Wind, in conversation with Audiobook Narrator Peter Berkrot, a 2018 winner of the Voice Arts Awards for Best Voice. A Bitter Wind (2025) is a suspenseful foray into ...read more

Are you looking for volunteer opportunities in the community? Join us at Essex Library from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for our second annual Essex Library Non-Profit Volunteer Expo to meet and connect with representatives from local non-profits. Discover what local organizations are doing for the commun...read more

Have you ever wanted to learn Italian? Essex Library presents a 5-week Italian language class for adult beginners that will be led by Middletown Adult Education Instructor Mary Saraceno. Saraceno lived and studied in Sicily for 12 years and has taught Italian since 1994. Participants are encouraged ...read more

Drop-in group. Every monday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Drop-in group. Every Monday.Knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and more are welcome! Come and do needlework with other craft enthusiasts. Bring your works in progress, your finished pieces, your patterns, and craft along with others while swapping tips, tricks, and conversation.

Join us for a special conversation between award-winning journalist Shoshana Walter and bestselling and award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver as they chat about Walter’s book Rehab: An American Scandal. In this work, Walter, a Pulitzer finalist, exposes the country’s failed respon...read more

Drop-in group. 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month.Meet up with other genealogy aficionados, talk about resources, share your own genealogy journey, ask questions, and more! Great group for beginners looking to get into the community and long-time enthusiasts looking to meet new friends and sh...read more

Drop-in group. Every Tuesday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Drop-in group. 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month.If you need time and a place to focus on your writing, the library has set aside a block of time just for you with a new interest group for writers. Come meet fellow writers to socialize for half an hour, followed by an hour of writing time. No p...read more

Ciao! Buongiorno! Buonasera! Come to the Library on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. to converse with other beginner to intermediate Italian speakers in a supportive environment, led by a former Italian professor. No registration necessary! Drop-in!

Join us and play the "world’s greatest role-playing game." (Or other TTRPG's as requested!)Come create your own character and join the adventure where we will fight monsters and explore new lands. Both new and experienced players are welcome. These sessions are for teen players.R...read more

Have you ever wanted to learn Italian? Essex Library presents a 5-week Italian language class for adult beginners that will be led by Middletown Adult Education Instructor Mary Saraceno. Saraceno lived and studied in Sicily for 12 years and has taught Italian since 1994. Participants are encouraged ...read more

Drop-in group. Every monday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Drop-in group. Every Monday.Knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and more are welcome! Come and do needlework with other craft enthusiasts. Bring your works in progress, your finished pieces, your patterns, and craft along with others while swapping tips, tricks, and conversation.

Drop-in group. Every Tuesday.Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.