Richards Free Library

Engage, Enrich, Entertain

Youth Services

Teen Newsletter: March

Sign up for our new texting program Remind! Go to this link to sign up for reminders and information about programs https://www.remind.com/join/rflteens . This has been a great way to keep everyone updated!

On March 1st, BookTalk will meet at 3 PM to discuss These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. Our book for April will be Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. On March 15th Pages & Panels will meet to discuss Squire by Nadia Shammas. Our book for April will be Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe.

A Novel Idea meets March 8th at 3 PM. This is our teens writers’ group where we play writing games, share our writing, and practice writing skills. 

Our second meeting of the Teen Advisory Board will be March 22nd. Teens over 14 can get volunteer hours from TAB, but anyone 12 and up is welcome to join! We will meet at 3 PM on the fourth Wednesday of each month to plan future programs, talk about books that should be added to the collection, and more!

You can still grab a teen reading challenge sheet! Try to read 12 books this year! One in each of the categories listed on the sheet. You can’t double count books, so be strategic. If you read a book in each of the 12 categories, you can enter a raffle in December 2023 to win a prize. Each teen that completes the challenge will also win a 3D printed articulated lizard (stop by my desk or Mo’s to see what they look like!) The reading challenge will last until December 22, 2023, so you have plenty of time to get it done! You can email me at mdipadova@newport.lib.nh.us or stop by the library after school to learn more. 

January Teen Programs

New Year, new programs!

Happy New Year, folks! January is the beginning of our two new teen book groups! Say goodbye to Teen Book Club and hello the Pages & Panels and BookTalk! BookTalk meets the first Wednesday of each month at 3PM to discuss a young adult novel. This month we will be meeting on January 4th to discuss Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Pages & Panels meets the third Wednesday of each month at 3PM to discuss graphic novels. This month we will be meeting on January 18th to discuss Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall.

Mo and I will be starting a teen writers’ group called A Novel Idea. Our first meeting is January 11th and will meet the second Wednesday of each month at 3PM. We’ll practice writing, share our writing, and play fun writing games. 

Like always we will have board games at 2:30PM every Monday and video games at 2:30PM every Thursday. 

Molly

Pathfinder Tabletop Game at the RFL

If you liked D&D at the library this summer, you’ll love Pathfinder on Saturdays!

The Dragon Maze: Adventure Gaming Center, in association with Richards Free Library, invites you to join us on Saturday, January 14th from 10-2, for a thrilling fantasy adventure. We will be playing Dungeons & Dragons (Pathfinder Edition). Customizable premade characters will be provided. New players are always welcome, so bring your imagination and we’ll handle the rest…

Welcome to the age of heroes! In a land of myth and legend, you are a young adventurer who has traveled to the famed city of Ironhold, the site of one of the four Accursed Dungeons, ‘The Pit of Rovagug’. Here you can join the Adventurers Guild, and with a group of fellow aspiring heroes, seek your fortunes below…

After the Saturday the 14th kickoff, the party will reconvene on the 21st and the 28th, 10:00-2:00. See you then!

Richards Free Library Book Sale

Making their return this year are the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale and the annual Friends of the Library Cookie Walk!!! Here is the rundown of library-related events taking place Saturday, August 27th in conjunction with the Apple Pie Craft Festival:

  • The Friends of the Library Book Festival will take place under the tents on the side lawn of the library from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! Raffle tickets to win some special baskets of goodies will be on sale as well!
  • The Friends of the Library Cookie Walk will take place under the tent on the right side of the front lawn of the library starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending when the cookies are all gone! What is a cookie walk you ask? Basically, you purchase a bag for $5.00 and walk around the tables under the tent, filling your bag with bundles of cookies.
  • The Library Board of Trustees will be offering breakfast on the library porch starting at 9:00 a.m. Drop by and purchase a cup of coffee and a quick bite!
  • Mo, our wonderful children’s librarian, will be offering a kid’s craft under the tent on the left side of the front lawn of the library from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! In addition, Ali, one of our fabulous library assistants will be offering kid’s face painting from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon!
  • The library will also have a booth on the Common providing information on our fall programs. Show us your library card and you will be entered to win a “Basket of Books and Book Swag”!!!
  • Additionally, the library itself will be open extended hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.!

The library is NO LONGER accepting book donations for the book sale. If you have some that you want to drop off, PLEASE WAIT and drop off next week, after this years sale is over!

If the Cookie Walk caught your eye and you love to bake cookies, we are looking for cookie bakers to donate cookies for the Walk! If interested, please contact Janice Brehio at outreach@newport.lib.nh.us.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 27th. We look forward to seeing all of you!!!

Bookish Bakes

The Book Festival is fast approaching, August the 27th. We will have the Book Sale tent, Children’s tent, Friends of the Library tent, and the Cookie Walk!

The Cookie Walk is a win for everyone! For just $5, you can walk from tray to tray and fill a paper bag with cookies, bars, and other goodies. Your money goes to support Youth Programs at the library throughout the year.

The RFL needs your baked goods for our Cookie Walk! Consider donating your favorite bakes. Contact Janice Brehio at Outreach@newport.lib.nh.us to let us know you’re interested in bringing a bake!

Here are some of the baked goods that we librarians made for the Author Event this last Saturday:

Peanut Butter Fudge from Sally Bernier, Assistant Director

Coat a 9×13 pan with butter. Set aside 1 cup each of marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, flour. Boil 4 cups sugar, 1 cup whole milk, 6 tbsp butter for 20 minutes. Take off stove and quickly stir in marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, and flour. Pour into 9×13 pan and place pan on rack to cool. When cooled, cut into squares using a hot knife. (I boil water, pour it over the knife and wipe the knife dry.)

Rock Cakes from Justine Fafara, Library Director

Ingredients

  • 8 oz (1 1/2 cups) all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3 oz (3/4 of a stick) butter
  • 3 oz (1/3 cup) sugar
  • 2 oz (1/2 cup) currants or golden raisins
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/2 oz milk
  • (optional: pinch of mixed spice)

Preheat oven to 425°F (215°C)

Line cookie sheets with silicone baking sheets or parchment paper. Sift the flour, baking powder (and mixed spice, if using) and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth. Add the egg. Next, mix in the sifted flour and milk. As it comes together, add the dried fruit. Mix just until combined. Do not over mix. With two forks, make “rock-like” cookies on the tray about 2″ apart. They should not be smooth. Sprinkle with a little sugar and bake in the upper part of the oven for about 12 minutes. (It could range from 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your oven.)

original recipe from christina’s cucina

No Bake Bars from Ali Wood, Library Assistant

  • 1 cup SUGAR
  • 2 tablespoons COCOA, DRY POWDER, UNSWEETENED
  • 1/4 cup MILK
  • 1/4 cup MARGARINE
  • 1/4 cup PEANUT BUTTER
  • 1/2 teaspoon VANILLA EXTRACT
  • 1 1/2 cups OATS
  • 1 pinch SALT

Put sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine on medium heat and cook until mixture comes to a rolling boil Boil for one minute. Remove from heat and cool for one minute. Add the peanut butter, vanilla, oats or oatmeal and salt, stir well. Spread the mix onto a baking sheet, greased and lined. let mixture cool and set. Cut into bars and enjoy!