Library Events

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

This program has been cancelled.

In this 4-part yoga series, yogis will learn valuable breathing and movement sequences that will connect their mind and body.  Each one-hour class will include deep stretching and just a hint of strength work to help keep bodies healthy and agile. Modifications will be provided for anyone who n...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.Come to knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, etc. 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

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

Join us for an empowering conversation with health expert Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel as he shares his vision for living well and aging with purpose. REGISTER HERE! In Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life, he explores how to embrace health, happiness, and longevity without f...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

In the mood to make something? Drop in on Tuesday afternoons this summer to create something new and get out of the heat. Our offerings will include: retro fortune tellers, tiny desk aquariums, Perler bead video game characters, sketching, stitching, junk journaling, machine sewing, button making, s...read more

Are you a writer? Do you struggle to find a quiet place to work? The library has set aside a block of time and a place just for you! No prompts. No critiques. Just write!  All levels and all genres welcome.This is a drop-in program that does not require registration. This group meets on the sec...read more

Program for kids ages birth-5.Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squis...read more

Location - Sunset Pond – Register through DEEP WebsiteProgram for anyone ages 6 – adult!Register through the DEEP Website: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/care/care-fishing-classesJoin us for a fun-filled fishing adventure with the DEEP’s "Fish with CARE" program!...read more

Join us at the Essex Library for a two-part Tai Chi and Qigong series led by certified instructor Sharon Didato. Each 45-minute session will provide an introduction to these ancient healing arts designed to nurture the body, mind and spirit. Register for each session separately.&...read more

Hold onto your heart-patterned boxers! Matt Dinniman, New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular (and just plain wild) Dungeon Crawler Carl series, joins us to chat about his latest book, A Parade of Horribles. REGISTER HERE!!As chaos and mass panic spread outsi...read more

Program for kids ages 2-5, siblings always welcome!Summer officially starts next week, but we can’t wait. Join Miss Nicole to celebrate the coming season with stories and songs that give off a total summer vibe!Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early lite...read more

Enjoy a movie in the Buel Room of Essex Library! Sinners (2025), an American supernatural horror film, centers on twin brothers trying to leave their troubled lives behind. They return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Direc...read more

Program for families with kids ages 5 and below, siblings always welcome!Join Miss Nicole for a purposeful story time session that promotes key early literacy skills and invites caregivers and young children to learn, play, and experience stories together, following the CT Ready to Read with Sp...read more

Program for kids ages 5-12Dust off your Reading Dragons folder and test your skills in our Reading Dragons tournament! You've got the cards, now play some games! After brief instruction, kids will be paired off to compete in tournament style Reading Dragons games. Don’t have cards? Borrow ...read more

Learn about the terrarium ecosystem and build your own living world. The library will provide moss, plants, rocks, soil, and a unique glass container. Bring your tiny world to life by including miniature animals and characters. Care instructions and water droppers will be included. Registration is e...read more

Saturday 6/13 (Pizza Party) 7/11, & 8/8 @ 3 p.m.Join our new Teen Advisory crew! We’re recruiting teens of all ages to help us make the library a better place for young adults. Help us choose books, plan programs, design the teen department and mentor young readers, all the while earning v...read more

In this 4-part yoga series, yogis will learn valuable breathing and movement sequences that will connect their mind and body.  Each one-hour class will include deep stretching and just a hint of strength work to help keep bodies healthy and agile. Modifications will be provided for anyone who n...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.Come to knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, etc. 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.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

In the mood to make something? Drop in on Tuesday afternoons this summer to create something new and get out of the heat. Our offerings will include: retro fortune tellers, tiny desk aquariums, Perler bead video game characters, sketching, stitching, junk journaling, machine sewing, button making, s...read more

March 24 - US - China Relations;April 7 - Today's Nuclear Age;April 21 - Ukraine and European Security;May 12 - Multilateral Institutions;June 2 - US Engagement of Africa;June 16 - The Future of Human Rights;

Program for kids ages birth-5.Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squis...read more

Join us at Essex Library for a basket twining class, led by Brenda Vynalek, a local artist and teacher.Twining is one of the oldest basket making techniques, historically used to create tightly woven vessels for food storage and carrying water. In this session, participants will create a modern rope...read more

Are you a writer? Do you struggle to find a quiet place to work? The library has set aside a block of time and a place just for you! No prompts. No critiques. Just write!  All levels and all genres welcome.This is a drop-in program that does not require registration. This group meets on the thi...read more

Location: Grove Street ParkProgram for kids entering kindergarten-6th grade in the fall.School’s out for summer, which means Summer Reading is starting! Join RI Pirate Guy Luca Rebussini to kick off summer in an unforgettable fashion, and sign up for summer reading while you’re at i...read more

In this 4-part yoga series, yogis will learn valuable breathing and movement sequences that will connect their mind and body.  Each one-hour class will include deep stretching and just a hint of strength work to help keep bodies healthy and agile. Modifications will be provided for anyone who n...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.Come to knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, etc. 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.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

Join us as we chat with Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy about The Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook, which celebrates beautiful, simple, and seasonal cooking with 85 recipes adapted from India and Sri Lanka’s best family spice farms. REGISTER HERE!Diaspora Spice Co. sources the most flavorful,...read more

Program for kids ages 3-8. The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Each week, join us for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore a different hobby, skill, or craft.Our first session is all about dance! Join Julianne Guarnieri from Little Leaps Dance Adventures ...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

In the mood to make something? Drop in on Tuesday afternoons this summer to create something new and get out of the heat. Our offerings will include: retro fortune tellers, tiny desk aquariums, Perler bead video game characters, sketching, stitching, junk journaling, machine sewing, button making, s...read more

Are you a writer? Do you struggle to find a quiet place to work? The library has set aside a block of time and a place just for you! No prompts. No critiques. Just write!  All levels and all genres welcome.This is a drop-in program that does not require registration. This group meets on the sec...read more

Program for kids ages birth-5.Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squis...read more

The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Beat the afternoon heat, soak up the air conditioning, and join us for family-friendly movies that connect us with food, farms, & nature. Popcorn provided.June 24: Charlotte’s Web (1973) [G] Based on the beloved childr...read more

Location: Grove Street ParkProgram open to children of all ages and their caregivers.Bring a blanket to sit on, and a snack to enjoy, while we read books, dance around, and sing songs in the park! This program will be held at Grove Street Park, 16 Grove St, Essex, CT. In the event of rain, stor...read more

We asked and Baker Creek delivered! Thanks to a generous contribution by the rare seed company, you can join us to plant your choice of white strawberries, six inch tomato plants, purple carrots, rainbow corn, pink dandelions and more. All planting materials for this event will be provided by the Es...read more

Join us at the Essex Library for the last of a two-part Tai Chi and Qigong series led by certified instructor Sharon Didato. Each 45-minute session will provide an introduction to these ancient healing arts designed to nurture the body, mind and spirit. An introduction to&nb...read more

Program designed around The Food Group book series by Jory John, written for an audience age 4-8. Kids ages 4-12 are welcome to join!Kids age 4-8 must have an adult participate alongside.Today we will be reading The Sour Grape! The Sour Grape tells the story of a grape who holds grudges against ever...read more

Join us on Friday night after we close the library doors. Teens only! We’ll have a retro video game competition on the big screen and will vote for our next book to film title.  Find some games in the teen area or just hang with your friends. The library is yours! Snacks and refreshments ...read more

Location: Essex Island LawnProgram open to children of all ages and their caregivers.Join the Essex Library Children’s Librarian for a fun story time at Essex Island! Bring a blanket to sit on, and a snack to enjoy, while we read books, dance around, and sing songs! Story time will take p...read more

Program for kids ages 8-12.The first session will mainly focus on character creation; our campaign will begin in April.The community asked, and we listened! Tweens are now invited to the library to dive into the world’s greatest role-playing game and set off on an epic adventure together. Play...read more

In this 4-part yoga series, yogis will learn valuable breathing and movement sequences that will connect their mind and body.  Each one-hour class will include deep stretching and just a hint of strength work to help keep bodies healthy and agile. Modifications will be provided for anyone who n...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.Come to knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, etc. 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.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3)This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!No registration required.Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.

Program for kids and teens ages 10-18. The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Each week, join us for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore a different hobby, skill, or craft.Our second session is all about sewing! Join Andrea from Glimmering Girl Studio for a...read more

Have you ever wanted to create your own sewn clothing or supplies? Join us to learn the basics of machine sewing with an emphasis on sustainability. Participants will leave this beginner’s course with a completed project. All supplies and tools will be provided, including the use of sewing mac...read more

In the mood to make something? Drop in on Tuesday afternoons this summer to create something new and get out of the heat. Our offerings will include: retro fortune tellers, tiny desk aquariums, Perler bead video game characters, sketching, stitching, junk journaling, machine sewing, button making, s...read more