Richards Free Library

Engage, Enrich, Entertain

Adult Programs

Award Season Movie Nights at Richards Free Library!

Join us for two enchanting evenings filled with cinematic magic at Richards Free Library’s Award Season Movie Nights! On February 14th at 5 pm, immerse yourself in the world of glamour and fun as we screen the iconic “Barbie.” Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a touch of nostalgia and a sprinkle of sparkle. Then, on February 28th at 5 pm, get ready for an extraordinary experience with “Elemental,” a captivating film that promises to take you on a journey beyond imagination.

This is a free event and you don’t need to have a library card to watch with us! Don’t miss these cinematic celebrations – it’s more than just movies; it’s an award-worthy experience! 🍿

Virtual – Holiday Romance Book Recommendations with Booklist Reviewer, John Charles

Monday, December 11, 2023

With the holidays right around the corner, take a minute (or an hour) to relax and find some good holiday romance reads! John Charles will give us his “best of” list of 2023 that will have your TBR pile tipping over and your holidays spent cozying up to a good book (bring your own hot toddy!). No need to bring papyrus and quill, we’ll send out a list after the session. We hope you can join us!

After working in public libraries for thirty years, John Charles retired and then immediately went to work for the Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale’s independent bookstore. In addition to reviewing for Booklist and Library Journal, John is the co-author of Romance Today An A to Z Guide to Contemporary American Romance Writers, The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Mystery, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Ultimate Reading List.

Please register for this event, you’ll receive the zoom link in the confirmation and reminder emails. 

We are pleased to be partnering with a multitude of MA Libraries for this event. 

The Story Station is coming!

On Saturday, December 2nd, the Story Station from OurStory NH will be visiting the Richards Free Library. Registration is now open!

OurStory NH seeks to create, share and collect stories across New Hampshire via multiple media and from multiple sectors of life, experience, feelings, hopes and thoughts of life during, before and in anticipation of a post-pandemic reality.  

The Story Station is a mobile unit that provides an opportunity to tell stories at discrete community locations.  Individuals sign up for short 15-20 minute appointments and, in response to a prompt, tell an audio story and have their voice recorded, or write their story in response to the prompt.  Individuals leave the appointment with a digital copy of their story and have the opportunity, if they so choose, to upload it to the Ourstorynh website.  Interpreters will be provided as needed.  Please email hello@ourstorynh.com to request an interpreter.  

You can reserve one of the following time slots:

  • 10:30-10:50
  • 10:50-11:10
  • 11:10-11:30
  • 11:30-11:50
  • 11:50-12:10
  • 12:10-12:30
  • 12:30 – 12:50
  • 12:50-1:10
  • 1:10 – 1:30
  • 1:30-1:50

In appreciation for sharing their time and story, all participants receive a $20 gift card for gas or groceries.

Register today!

Keep Newport Warm ’23

On October 24th we will celebrate Sarah Josepha Hale’s 235th birthday by starting the “Keep Newport Warm” project.

This year there are two ways to get involved: As we did last year, Community members can help to make a scarf for the SJH statue displayed in front of the library. Just bring a piece of work measuring 8 inches on one side to the front desk of the library. Contributions will be joined together by a volunteer. The scarf will go around the Sarah Josepha Hale statue on Wednesday, the 22nd of November, in time to honor her for Thanksgiving. A volunteer will place it up in the evening with a sign explaining the project. The scarf will stay up until snow flies, and be down before the new year.

New this year is an opportunity to honor Sarah by giving back. The Library will be collecting handmade woolens to be donated to the food pantry in Newport. So, calling all knitters, weavers, and crochet artists! If you have handmade hats, mittens, scarves, or other winter woolens that you would like to contribute, you can bring them to the library to make sure that they get into the hands of those in need.

Need some yarn to get started? Check at the library for a free skein, donated by a generous crafts-person.  

When community members contribute, they will be asked to fill out a card with their contact information, and given the option to sign up for the library newsletter, or to be contacted for more information about the knitting group. 

We hope to continue Sarah’s legacy of industriousness, charitable giving, caring for the young and needy, and coming together as a community on our national day of thanks.

Haunted Lighthouses of New England on Zoom

Join Author Jeremy D’Entremont as he shares stories of ghosts and sightings!

Register below for this event and we’ll email you the zoom link!

Lighthouses and ghost stories often seem to go hand in hand. Jeremy will be telling us about the mysterious Woman in White in the Isles of Shoals and the spirit of a drowned lighthouse keeper at Penfield Reef in Connecticut, as well as some of the paranormal investigations he’s been part of — and much more.
 

Jeremy D’Entremont is the president and historian of the American Lighthouse Foundation, historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society, and the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He’s the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s podcast, Light Hearted. He has appeared on the popular Ghost Hunters TV show, as well as Haunted Lighthouses of America on the Travel Channel. He has also appeared on the History Channel, Public Television, and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses.

Haunted Lighthouses of New England

Register to receive the zoom link for this virtual event.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)