Summer is officially here and the library is hopping! If you haven’t signed up for Summer Reading, stop by the library and pick up a game sheet. We have reading challenges and fun activities for all ages. You can use our reading tracker and BINGO sheets for reading inspiration to take you through the whole summer! Finished a few reading activities? Stop by the library to pick up a prize for all your hard work!

As the summer days heat up, stop by the library to cool off with some great reads! We have new books and dvds arriving every week. Grab one of our puzzles for a fun family activity inside when the skies are stormy. Our pollinator garden is currently in full bloom - come see how many bees and other beneficial insects you can spot.

Don’t forget to check out our lineup of awesome summer programs coming to the library! We have Puppet Pals, Swim and Gym at the pool, and a Sewing Clinic with Schillers Sewing Circle and more, all happening in July.

Adult Programs

Yoga with Tina
Saturdays in July at 9:30 am
Join Tina Rice of Yoga Me Happy CT for yoga outside on the Lebanon Green! Rain will bring us inside.

Patriotic Mini Quilt Workshop
Saturday, July 1 from 11:00 - 2:00
Learn to make a mini quilt - start to finish - at Jonathan Trumbull Library with the help of Dawn Zillich, The Stitching Coach. Registration, sewing machine, and knowledge of sewing machine use required. Ages 18+

Chicks with Sticks
Monday, July 3 & 17 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Like to knit? All knitters are welcome to join this group. Crochet is welcome too.
Meet out in the public parking lot or in the library if it's raining.

Tai Chi with Joe Pandolfo
Thursdays at 5:15 pm
Each week we explore rejuvenating movements, simple wellness techniques and tranquil meditations from classical Chinese healing and living arts. Beginners and all levels welcome.

First Tuesday Film - Tuesday, July 11 at 2:00 pm
Join us in the library's community room for the movie, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022, PG), and popcorn.

Sewing Machine Clinic
Saturday, July 15 from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Bring your own sewing machine and meet with Nicole Benoit from Schiller's in Willimantic.
We will also learn how to use different functions on our in-house sewing machine as part of our maker space. Please register for a time slot.

Chair Yoga
Saturday, July 22 at 11:00 am
Join Tina for a chair yoga class for all ages and stages.
Chair yoga is a gentle practice in which postures are performed while seated and/or with the aid of a chair. This is a great practice for those who find a typical yoga session too challenging but would still like to improve fitness, flexibility, balance and coordination.

Life Initiated: Leadership Personality & Performance Capacity
Saturday, July 22 at 12:30 pm
Join Anna Scott LPC for a workshop to develop self awareness and insight for professional leadership across all industries. This program is in partnership with SERAC. Please register. Visit seracct.org to learn more.

Multi-generational Programs

Build a Bouquet
Thursday, July 6 at 4:00 pm
Participants will learn the five elements in creating a stunning market bouquet, then build their own arrangements. This workshop is appropriate for adults, teens, and school-age youth. We will meet in the Community Room.
Limit to 12 participants. Please register here.

Classical Cafe
Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30 pm
Bring a book, knitting, notebook, or other quiet activity, and join us for Classical Café.
You'll find the quiet company of fellow bibliophiles in the Community Room, featuring live classical piano ambiance provided by Sweet Acre Farm's Jonathan Janeway, and coffee, tea, and snacks. Independent, silent readers/creators of all ages welcome; audiobook readers welcome with headphones. If you arrive after 6:30, enter quietly and help yourself to refreshments.

Yoga Nidra
Tuesday, July 18 at 6:30 pm
Join Willimantic YONO's Angie Jacques for a relaxing yoga workshop.Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep as it is commonly known, is an immensely powerful meditation technique, While the practitioner rests comfortably in savasana (corpse pose), this systematic meditation takes you through the pancha maya kosha (five layers of self), leaving you with a sense of wholeness. Bring your own mat and dress for comfort.

Family Tai Chi
Thursday, July 20 at 6:30 pm
Join Joe Pandolfo for all ages Family Tai Chi. Explore the ancient art of Tai Chi, especially animal movements. For children of all ages and their caregivers.

Make & Mend
Thursday, July 27 at 4:00 pm
All makers and menders are welcome to this monthly meet up! Bring your knitting, stitching, mending, or other crafty hand work. Young menders and makers welcome with parent/guardian. Meet by Marcel.

Fabric Donations Accepted for JTL Quilt
Saturday, July 8 from 10:00 am -12:00 pm
Do you have old clothes or fabric that isn't being worn/used? Bring them to the story room.
Lady Wendy aka the bag-and-quilt maker, is making a community quilt to hang in the Children's area. It's entitled "All Are Welcome On The Green." It's the "all" part where your fabric comes in. While Lady Wendy could make the blocks from her stash, she felt it wouldn't be a true community quilt without pieces of fabric from JTL patrons. Fabric must be 100% cotton (no knits). Ideal fabric would be button down shirts, skirts, dresses, quilt fabric scraps or stash pieces, etc. Fabric not used in the quilt may wind up in a bag or another quilt. Thank you for your help with this project.

Teen and Young Adult Programs

D&D with Ryan
Thursdays from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
The world needs heroes! What courageous souls would dare to fight horrific monsters, evade traps, solve puzzles, and quest for treasure? Who among you shall free realms from the tyrannical rule of a dragon? To fight for peoples of a fantastical world, and become their champions? Do you hear the call to be an adventurer? In the amazing worlds of Dungeons and Dragons, your imagination is your greatest weapon!

*For experienced players. If you're interested in learning to play, look for our D&D Camp.

Warhammer 40k
Fridays at 4:00 pm
Gather to play and discuss the lore of Warhammer 40,000. Bring miniatures, rulebooks, and a friend. Ages 12-18.

Warhammer Build & Paint (with Ryan)
Saturday, July 22 from 9:00 - 11:00 am
There are several fantastic elements of the Warhammer 40,000 hobby. Some may argue the most rewarding of which are building and painting your finely detailed Citadel miniatures. Join us on Saturday, July 22nd from 9am-11am to construct and add characters to your army.

Preteen and Early Teen Programs

Zoom Cartooning
Mondays at 4:00 pm
Learn to draw cartoon characters with local artist Bill Dougal. Designed for ages 7-12.
Register online at www.lebanonctlibrary.org/online-program-registration, and join on Zoom

Sketch Club
Tuesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Join local patron and artist, Allison Peterson, for Sketch Club, a weekly opportunity for 10-14 year olds to create their own art while socializing with friends. Bring your traditional or digital art supplies to the Community Room, where we will provide additional art supplies and books to pique the interest of budding artists. Ages 10-14.

D&D Camp
Monday through Friday, July 17 - July 28 from 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Learn to play Dungeons and Dragons, the world’s greatest role playing game!
This camp is perfect for adventurers ages 10-14 who are new to or looking to get into D&D. We’ll explore world building and role playing, from creating the backstory and traits of a character or setting to playing your character in-game and seeing the adventure through their eyes.

Week one, July 17-21, is geared towards character creation and the core elements of D&D for newer players.
In week two, July 24-28, you’ll use your character to apply and expand your role playing skills and knowledge of the game rules.
The end of week two will see those skills put together in an epic adventure to discover the ancient mystery of a local port town.

Registration required for either or both weeks. We have room for up to 10 adventurers.

*Multi-generational Programs are for you as well!

Children's Programs

The Magical World of Theater
Mon. July 3, Weds. July 5, & Sat. July 8 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Theater comes naturally to young children. In this three session workshop series, actors will experience the joy of acting out scenes from classic stories. In addition, they will be involved in theater games each day and exercises designed to bring forth the natural performer.
For our young actors, ages 5-7. Directed by Carol Macy.
The children will give a performance at noon on Saturday July 8th for friends and families. Register at https://forms.gle/AvLHJkqMKWB6JbMm9

Friday Play!
Fridays in July at 4:00 pm
Play is essential to the way we learn. Join us weekly on Friday afternoons for child-led, multi-generational play. We'll engage with a variety of materials that will spark imagination, collaboration, and fun. Dress for outdoor/messy play and meet up with friends in the Pollinator Garden and the Green; severe weather takes us into the Community Room.

The Special Needs Playgroup is at Lauter Park Splash Pad in Willimantic on Saturday, July 8 at 11:00am. (Rain location: Willimantic Public Library)

Swim & Gym
Tues. 7/11 & 7/25 at 12:00 pm
Weds. 7/12 & 7/26 at 12:00 pm
Thurs. 7/13 & 7/27 at 12:00 pm
Join Miss Carol and Miss Shaleen to enjoy fun summer activities with friends in the water and around the pool! This program is for children who can swim independently (with or without a bubble provided by the town pool). Parents may join them in the pool when open swim begins at 1pm.

Puppet Pals with 4-H of New London County
Wednesday, July 12 at 4:00 pm
Participants will learn about self-worth and positive self-esteem by watching the original puppet production of “King Razzle’s Dazzle.” They will then have time to design and construct their very own puppet creation.

Protecting our Pollinators with DPNC
Tuesday, July 18 at 5:00 pm
Pollinators need our help! Learn all about pollination and how animals like birds, bees and butterflies are essential to our planet, plus make your very own pollinator craft.

Lebanon Fair Scavenger Hunt
Available July 10 - July 29
What can you find at the Lebanon Fair? Come pick up a fair scavenger hunt at the library before you go!

Family Tai Chi
Thursday, July 20 at 6:30 pm
Join Joe Pandolfo for all ages Family Tai Chi. Explore the ancient art of Tai Chi, especially animal movements. For children of all ages and their caregivers.

Wellness Fair
Saturday, July 29 from 10:00am – 3:00pm
MG, the Youth Services Librarian, will be at Blue Iris Farm's Wellness Fair to do a read aloud and family activity. Blue Iris Farm is located at 1339 Trumbull Hwy, Lebanon, CT

Click here to View More Information About Jonathan Trumbull Library Newsletter - July 2023