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Events
Checkout Chat & Chew (All Ages)
Monday, July 1
9:30 am - 10:30 am
The Mark Twain Library's Family Checkout Chat & Chew is a relaxing way to start your summer week with breakfast, friends, toys and books. We'll start the morning with bagels and donuts. Then adults and children will hangout, play, and browse for their next great summer read. REGISTER BELOW Please register separately on each individual date you will attend Checkout Chat & Chew so we can plan how many bagels to buy. Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Build-It (All Ages)
Monday, July 1
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join us at the Mark Twain Library for Summer Build-It! It's an hour of building and free play with our amazing toys such as Legos, Marble runs, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Duplos, Playmobil 123 and more! We'll end each session gathered together for a read aloud. Registration required Photos and videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Red White and Blue Ice Cream Sundaes (K-4)
Monday, July 1
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Join us to make deliciously decadent red white and blue ice cream sundaes in honor of July 4th! We'll start out with some fun red white and blue crafts and stories. Then, we'll make red white and blue ooey gooey ice cream sundaes and watch a fun summery mini movie. Registration required Photos and videos from this event may be used on the library's social media sites.
MTL Youth Chess Club (Recommended for Grades 4-8) IN PERSON Program
Monday, July 1
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Registration recommended; drop-ins welcome. We invite young chess players and chess enthusiasts to participate in our newly launched Youth Chess Club. No prior chess knowledge is required; all levels of experience are welcome to participate! The library will provide chess boards and pieces for all to use. While this program is recommended for grade 5-8, older teen players are welcome too! About our facilitator: Matthew Shirvell (aka Coach Matt) is an avid chess player who has been teaching chess in Connecticut for over 6 years. He has competed in USCF tournaments across the country, worked as a tournament director to run some of the largest events in the state, and has helped his students reach their goals. Recently, in January 2023, one of his students earned sole 1st place in a USCF event with a perfect score! The club will meet every Monday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. except on holidays or as otherwise noted. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
Family Story Time (birth-5)
Wednesday, July 3
10:30 am - 11:10 am
Registration Required It's time for Family Story Time! We'll sing, dance, and read together. This event is designed for children birth - 5 but interested older siblings are welcome to attend. You only need to signup once for all the Family Story Time sessions. It is okay to miss sessions. Questions, please email Lisa at Lisa@marktwainlibrary.org Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
2024 Butterfly Walk (In-Person, Offsite Program, Parking at 105/107 Cross Highway)
Saturday, July 6
9:30 am
Please register below. This program will take place at 105/107 Cross Highway, Redding. Calling all kids and kids-at-heart! The 2024 butterfly count, and the preceding pollinator overview, featuring noted local expert Victor DeMasi and his team of experienced spotters, is a great family activity. An introduction to Redding’s typical butterfly species will start at 9:30 am and will feature spectacular museum displays of mounted specimens as well as children’s books on butterflies, insects and pollinator habitats. Participants will learn about the field method employed for the count which will begin at 10 AM. A walk through the meadow with the ‘counters’ follows. Alternately, visitors can easily access the entrance of the shady Little River trail across the River.
Every year close to the 4th of July, lepidopterists across the country hit the meadows, swamps and forests to count our beautiful butterflies. Sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), the July butterfly count has taken place and collected data (published and available for a fee at www.naba.org) for forty years. Previous count tallies indicate which butterflies are becoming more common, are declining in numbers or are showing up in places we didn’t expect to find them. In 2020, there were over 300 counts across the continent recording 432 species of Lepidoptera totaling 304,692 individual butterflies!
Please park at 105/107 Cross Highway. Refreshments will be served. RAIN DATE JULY 7th.
Proper field dress is REQUIRED: Long pants preferably light in color, tucked into socks and sturdy shoes. Tick spray is recommended around the ankles. Visitors wearing shorts or sandals should not partake in the field portion of the morning to avoid ticks and other biting insects.
Checkout Chat & Chew (All Ages)
Monday, July 8
9:30 am - 10:30 am
The Mark Twain Library's Family Checkout Chat & Chew is a relaxing way to start your summer week with breakfast, friends, toys and books. We'll start the morning with bagels and donuts. Then adults and children will hangout, play, and browse for their next great summer read. REGISTER BELOW Please register separately on each individual date you will attend Checkout Chat & Chew so we can plan how many bagels to buy. Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Build-It (All Ages)
Monday, July 8
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join us at the Mark Twain Library for Summer Build-It! It's an hour of building and free play with our amazing toys such as Legos, Marble runs, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Duplos, Playmobil 123 and more! We'll end each session gathered together for a read aloud. Registration required Photos and videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
MTL Youth Chess Club (Recommended for Grades 4-8) IN PERSON Program
Monday, July 8
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Registration recommended; drop-ins welcome. We invite young chess players and chess enthusiasts to participate in our newly launched Youth Chess Club. No prior chess knowledge is required; all levels of experience are welcome to participate! The library will provide chess boards and pieces for all to use. While this program is recommended for grade 5-8, older teen players are welcome too! About our facilitator: Matthew Shirvell (aka Coach Matt) is an avid chess player who has been teaching chess in Connecticut for over 6 years. He has competed in USCF tournaments across the country, worked as a tournament director to run some of the largest events in the state, and has helped his students reach their goals. Recently, in January 2023, one of his students earned sole 1st place in a USCF event with a perfect score! The club will meet every Monday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. except on holidays or as otherwise noted. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
Family Story Time (birth-5)
Wednesday, July 10
10:30 am - 11:10 am
Registration Required It's time for Family Story Time! We'll sing, dance, and read together. This event is designed for children birth - 5 but interested older siblings are welcome to attend. You only need to signup once for all the Family Story Time sessions. It is okay to miss sessions. Questions, please email Lisa at Lisa@marktwainlibrary.org Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Teen Flashlight Walk at Topstone Park (Grades 5-12)
Friday, July 12
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Registration required below. Let's make more s'mores at Topstone Park! Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a flashlight if you plan to join us for our walk around the pond. Co-sponsored by the Redding Department of Parks and Recreation.
“Bling’s the Thing” Earring Workshop (Teens and Adults)
Sunday, July 14
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Please register below. Enjoy making gorgeous jewelry in this program while supporting a worthy cause! In this workshop you will learn to make beautiful beaded earrings with Joan Lloyd, jewelry artist and founder of Bling's the Thing. For every pair you make, you will be asked to make a second pair that will be donated to domestic violence shelters across the country. All materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring old bead jewelry that can be cut up and re-purposed. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
Checkout Chat & Chew (All Ages)
Monday, July 15
9:30 am - 10:30 am
The Mark Twain Library's Family Checkout Chat & Chew is a relaxing way to start your summer week with breakfast, friends, toys and books. We'll start the morning with bagels and donuts. Then adults and children will hangout, play, and browse for their next great summer read. REGISTER BELOW Please register separately on each individual date you will attend Checkout Chat & Chew so we can plan how many bagels to buy. Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Build-It (All Ages)
Monday, July 15
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join us at the Mark Twain Library for Summer Build-It! It's an hour of building and free play with our amazing toys such as Legos, Marble runs, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Duplos, Playmobil 123 and more! We'll end each session gathered together for a read aloud. Registration required Photos and videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Learn Animation with the Joel Barlow Robotics Team! (Grades 6-8) IN PERSON Program
Monday, July 15
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Come learn programming basics with members of the award-winning Joel Barlow Robotics Team! During this series of 5 interactive workshops, participants will use Processing, a free, open-source integrated development environment to learn about topics such as: animation, shape and line drawing, text functions, conditional statements, and loops. No coding experience required to participate. This program is geared toward students in grades 6-8. Registration is limited to 12 participants to promote an interactive environment. The program will take place at the library, Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Participants should plan to attend all 5 sessions. You only need to register once to be registered for all 5 sessions. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
MTL Youth Chess Club (Recommended for Grades 4-8) IN PERSON Program
Monday, July 15
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Registration recommended; drop-ins welcome. We invite young chess players and chess enthusiasts to participate in our newly launched Youth Chess Club. No prior chess knowledge is required; all levels of experience are welcome to participate! The library will provide chess boards and pieces for all to use. While this program is recommended for grade 5-8, older teen players are welcome too! About our facilitator: Matthew Shirvell (aka Coach Matt) is an avid chess player who has been teaching chess in Connecticut for over 6 years. He has competed in USCF tournaments across the country, worked as a tournament director to run some of the largest events in the state, and has helped his students reach their goals. Recently, in January 2023, one of his students earned sole 1st place in a USCF event with a perfect score! The club will meet every Monday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. except on holidays or as otherwise noted. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
Learn Animation with the Joel Barlow Robotics Team! (Grades 6-8) IN PERSON Program
Tuesday, July 16
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Come learn programming basics with members of the award-winning Joel Barlow Robotics Team! During this series of 5 interactive workshops, participants will use Processing, a free, open-source integrated development environment to learn about topics such as: animation, shape and line drawing, text functions, conditional statements, and loops. No coding experience required to participate. This program is geared toward students in grades 6-8. Registration is limited to 12 participants to promote an interactive environment. The program will take place at the library, Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Participants should plan to attend all 5 sessions. You only need to register once to be registered for all 5 sessions. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
Family Story Time (birth-5)
Wednesday, July 17
10:30 am - 11:10 am
Registration Required It's time for Family Story Time! We'll sing, dance, and read together. This event is designed for children birth - 5 but interested older siblings are welcome to attend. You only need to signup once for all the Family Story Time sessions. It is okay to miss sessions. Questions, please email Lisa at Lisa@marktwainlibrary.org Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Learn Animation with the Joel Barlow Robotics Team! (Grades 6-8) IN PERSON Program
Wednesday, July 17
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Come learn programming basics with members of the award-winning Joel Barlow Robotics Team! During this series of 5 interactive workshops, participants will use Processing, a free, open-source integrated development environment to learn about topics such as: animation, shape and line drawing, text functions, conditional statements, and loops. No coding experience required to participate. This program is geared toward students in grades 6-8. Registration is limited to 12 participants to promote an interactive environment. The program will take place at the library, Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Participants should plan to attend all 5 sessions. You only need to register once to be registered for all 5 sessions. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian