Engage, Enrich, Entertain
We are sorry to say we have to close the library today, November 2, 2021 due to COVID-19 exposure amongst the staff. We will reopen as soon as it is safe. Please keep an eye here or on our Facebook for updates.
-Justine Fafara, Library Director
This, unfortunately, means the Reading Pals program today will have to be cancelled. We will see you for Reading Pals next week on the 9th, at 2:30-4:30! Stay well! Ms. Mo
We’re starting a new weekly program on Friday evenings at 5:00! Little’s Wiggles Time is a movement-focused storytime for our wiggly littles who may not be so sure about sitting still for a traditional storytime. We’ll sing songs, dance, and move our bodies, read a book, and work on some early literacy skills while we’re having fun! This program is for anyone who has ever worried about their kiddo fussing through a book at storytime! It will be held inside the library so our littles can move around without being in danger of running into the road.
The parents we asked, requested an evening time and a Friday time, so we’ve done our best compromise and chosen Friday evenings at 5:00. If this time does not end up working for folks, we may end up moving the day and time.
Please note that since this program is held inside, grownups will be required to wear masks. Littles can of course try to wear their masks, but we won’t require our tiny friends to keep them on if they are struggling. See you on Friday!
We have SO MUCH happening on August 28th, even with a reduced Apple Pie Crafts Fair & Book Sale.
Join the Library Board of Trustees on our beautiful new porch for cookies, lemonade and coffee. They’ll start serving at 9am and continue until they run out of refreshments.
Ms. Mo will be on the library front lawn with bubbles and a paper bag puppet craft from 9am until supplies are gone.
The Friends of the Richards Free Library will also be on the front lawn. Rather than the usual, large book sale, the Friends will have 3 smaller tents full of free books. Swing by and grab a book, or two, or ten!
Beginning at 9am, you’ll find Justine on the common with author Melanie Kirkpatrick. We’ll have Melanie’s new biography of Sarah Hale for sale, and Melanie will be signing copies! There will also be a Hale impersonator, perfect for some photos.
At 2pm, join us on the Library side lawn under the white tent for a lecture and Q&A with Melanie Kirkpatrick. Learn about Sarah Hale, Melanie’s writing, this new biography, and much more!
The Richards Free Library is requiring masks to enter the library, no matter your age (if you’re over 2) or your vaccination level. The Board of Trustees and Library Director continue to monitor COVID information and local cases.
If you are unable or unwilling to wear a mask, you are welcome to use our Cubby Pickup service (a rebrand of curbside service). Just give us a call or send an email with the items you’d like to pick up and when. We’ll put them in the cubbies in the lobby for you to grab at your convenience.
On Saturday, August 7th, Sy Montgomery accepted the Hale Award for literary excellence across the 31 books she’s published during her career as an author so far. She’s written incredible nonfiction titles for adults, as well as many picture books and nonfiction books for children. Come into the library to find many of Montgomery’s books on display and see what all the hype is about!
In her talk, Montgomery spoke about looking for teachers beyond classrooms throughout our lives, and how fulfilling it can be to find non-human teachers in the animals around us. We have so much to learn when we are willing to open our eyes and ears. She shared with us the touching story of the octopus she made friends with at the New England Aquarium. You can read all about it in The Soul of an Octopus.
Thank you so much Sy Montgomery, the Hale Award judges, RFL Trustees, John Lunn, Pris and Jerry Hagebusch, and all our other wonderful volunteers!
