From Vermont to Middletown: Sky Blue Boys Play Concert Tonight

Vermont's Dan and Willy Lindner perform their large repertoire of wonderful old ballads, parlor songs, heart songs and sacred numbers on Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm, in the Courtyard of Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Two fellows with a mandolin and a guitar and teamwork built of habit, their voices fuse in the special blend produced by kinship.  The duo has revived the predominant format in country music of the 1930s and '40s, when music was practiced by now-legendary teams of brothers on radio stations and stage shows throughout the countryside.  Heeding their own musical instincts, they have expanded the instrumentation to include a variety of acoustic instruments and added newer songs, including some of their own compositions.  If the weather is uncooperative, the concert will be held in the Library's Hubbard Room.  Learn more about the Sky Blue Boys at http://www.skyblueboys.com/.

We Were There: Writing Your Military Experiences

Author Elisabeth Petry will continue to lead The Veterans' Writing Group on Thursdays in June, at 7pm in Meeting Room 2 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Due to such positive responses to this "One Book, One Middletown" program, the writing program has been extended. This series invites veterans to share their own stories in their own voices. All veterans, either active or retired, are encouraged to come and write their experiences for their own benefit or to share with family and friends.

Old Saybrook native Elisabeth Petry is a writer, former journalist and lawyer. Her books include Can Anything Beat White? A Black Family’s Letters and At Home Inside: A Daughter’s Tribute to Ann Petry.  Liz has taught college English and conducted a playwriting workshop. She lives in Middletown with her husband, Lawrence Riley, who is a dog trainer and commander of the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Middletown Connecticut.

Friends of the Russell Library Book Sale

Each month, the hard-working members of The Friends of the Russell Library hold a book sale to help raise funds for a variety of library projects and services.  Come on in to find used books at great prices.  Stop by the sale on June 8, from noon to 6 pm or June 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. You're bound to find a title or two or more that you missed the first time around!

Russell Writers
The Russell Writers will meet on Saturday, June 9, from 9:30am to noon in Meeting Room 3 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. This month's challenge: Create a story about the child you once were. What did you think, feel, do, believe, enjoy, dislike, etc. Is that child, or any element of her/him, still within you? Have you cast off certain aspects of that child you once were? If so, which one, and with what, if anything, have you replaced them?

The Russell Writers meet at the same time on the second Saturday of the month. All writers, from beginners to the experienced, are welcome. Participants are reminded to try to keep their compositions to three double-spaced pages so that there is time to critique everyone's work.

Readers' Theater Performs Painting Churches

A group of local actors, under the direction of Myron Gubitz, will perform a reading of Painting Churches by Tina Howe on Monday, June 11, 7pm in the Hubbard Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Gardner and Fanny Church are moving from their Beacon Hill house to their cottage on Cape Cod.  Gardner, a retired poet, slips in and out of senility, as Fanny valiantly tries to keep them both afloat.  Daughter Mags returns home to help them move, paint their portrait, and help her parents come to terms with each other.

Summer Reading Programs:  Dream Big! & Own the Night!

The Friends of the Russell Library generously sponsors Reading Programs each summer.  Thanks to the Friends, the Children's Services Department offers two Summer Reading Programs this year:  Dream Big! and Own the Night!  Registration for both Programs begins on Thursday, June 11th in the Children's Department at 123 Broad Street, Middletown.

Dream Big – Read! This summer program is for children 3 years of age through third grade.  Come to the Children’s Department and get your “Dream Big Reading Star” book log.  For every five squares you fill in, you can visit the prize cart!  Once you’ve filled in all 25 squares, you’ll receive your final prize.  Don’t forget to join us for some great story and craft programs, too!  Game ends Friday, August 31st.

Own the Night! Children in grades 4 and up are welcome to participate in this summer program.

The theme "Own the Night" celebrates all things that go bump in the night!  Participants will join in a scavenger hunt that will take them far and wide throughout the library.  Each participant will be given a clue and a set of instructions that will lead them to more clues, activities and prizes.  "Own the Night" summer reading participants will complete activities, read books, write book reviews and take the final challenge for great prizes. 

Hooked on Llamas

Call 860-344-8479 or come to the Children's Information Desk starting at 9:00 am on June 14 to register for this fun and unique event.  Select either the 10:00 to 10:45 program or the 11:30 to 12:15 session on Saturday, June 23.

Join the fun with Debbie Elias of Country Quilt Llama Farm and one of her wonderful llamas in the Activity Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.   There is so much to learn about llamas; you’ll be Hooked on Llamas in no time!  Don’t forget your camera for a picture of you patting the llama!  Two programs for thirty children each will be presented.  The program is recommended for children ages 3-8.  To save your spot, register starting June 14th at 9:00 am!  

Summer Stories

Come and hear fun new stories and beloved favorites on Tuesdays at 10:00 am, starting June 12.  The stories are selected for the 3-5 year old audience and their caregivers, but siblings are welcome.  Stay a bit longer & make a craft together.   Story sessions will be held in the Hubbard Room on June 12 & 19 and in the Activity Room on June 26, at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.

Otakus of Russell Library Unite!

Otakus is Russell Library’s Teen Group for fans of Anime, Manga and all things Japanese.  The group will meet at 7 pm on Tuesday, June 12 in the Reading Room 3 and on Tuesday, June 26 in the Hubbard Room of Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Meeting twice a month, we view anime shorts, discuss our favorite manga series and explore the culture that has produced such art forms.  Food, music, costumes, and other expressions of Japan are all part of Otakus.  This group is for ages 11 and up.  Drop by and join in the fun; no registration is needed.

Russell Readers

The Russell Readers will meet on Tuesday, June 19, 7:00 – 8:20pm in Meeting Room 3 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  We will discuss:  “The Doctor” by Ann Hood, “Blind Fish” by Melanie Rae Thon, “My Date with Neanderthal Woman” by David Galef, and “After Caravaggio’s Sacrifice of Isaac” by Rachel Cusk.

Discussions are based on the Great Books Foundation method in which readers talk in open gatherings, under a leader, about the great issues that have shaped civilization as reflected in the readings.  This year we are using a new anthology from the Great Books Foundation, Short Story Omnibus, which may be checked out at the Circulation Desk through 2012.  We are reading four types of stories: conventional short stories, “sudden or flash fiction,” novellas and graphic stories.   For more information, call (860) 347-0196 or email ameyers@russell.lioninc.org.  The discussions are sponsored by The Friends of the Russell Library.

Russell Library Job Group

Russell Library presents weekly opportunities to network with other job seekers, as well as receive the advice of professionals.  Expert guest speakers focus on the job market and provide industry information.  The Group meets Thursdays, 9:30am-noon with speakers presenting from 10 to 11:00am in the Hubbard Room, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Upcoming speakers for June are:

June 7 at 10:00-11:00am

Alicia Nunez (Alicia.Nunez@ct.gov)

CT Department of Administrative Services

“Applying for CT State Employment" 

June 14 at 10:00-11:00am

Brandie Doyle

Russell Library

"How to Navigate a Job Fair" 

June 21 at 10:00-11:00am

John Brubaker (johnb@proresplus.com)

Professional Resume Plus, LLC

“Keyword Optimization in Your Resume”

June 28 at 10:00-11:00am

Henning Seip (henning.seip@skillproof.com)

Krazoom.com

"Krazoom Demonstration" 

Teen Writers

Teen Writers returns this summer with an exciting project!  We will be creating plays and podcasting them for our teen blog.  No podcasting or playwriting experience needed, prompts provided.  So come join the fun and use your creative thinking.  Playwriting and podcasting sessions will be held Mondays at 3:30pm on June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 13, 20, 27 in Russell Library's Activity Room, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Registration is not required and the programs are open to grades 4 and up.       

Backyard Scientists

Join us for a brand new summer program that will have you digging in the dirt.  Curious about bugs?  Wiggly for worms?  Then come and join the Backyard Scientists, a group for kids in grades K-2.  We will learn about different bugs through stories, crafts and hands-on science experiments.  Make new friends of the human and bug variety!  Join us in the Activity Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, for a buggy good time on Mondays at 10 am on June 25, July 2, 16, 30, August 13 and 27.  Backyard scientists should be in grades K through 2.  Registration is not required.

Summer Fun for Wonderful Ones!

Wonderful Ones is an introduction to the library and all of its wonders for ages 12 months to 23 months. Little ones and their caregivers will enjoy books, puppets, songs, rhymes and making music in a warm, welcoming environment.  Wonderful Ones will meet on Thursdays at 1:00 pm, starting June 28 and continuing on July 5, 12, 19, 26 and August 2.  Programs are held in the Activity Room of Russell Library, 123 Broad Street and registration is not required.                                                                                

Resume Review and Critique

Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, offers confidential resume critiquing and in-depth interview coaching appointments two Saturdays each month with Jeff Thierfeld, Business Professional and Consultant.  Please call (860) 347-2520 to sign up for a 45 minute appointment.  If you need to cancel, please allow 48 hours notice.

Practice Job Interviews

Improve your interviewing skills and get the job you want.  Bob Carlson will assist you by conducting and evaluating your practice interview, either by phone or at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Videotaping the session is optional and confidential.  45 minute sessions are available.  Please call (860) 347-2520 for more information and to sign up.

Career Coaching

James Kubat, an Associate Director of the Wesleyan Career Center, gives private, confidential career coaching through appointments at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  Please bring a resume (if you have one) to the appointment.  You must register and/or cancel at the Information Desk or by calling (860) 347-2520.  You will receive a reminder call prior to the appointment.

Computer Classes

The Russell Library Information Department, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT, will offer a variety of computer-training sessions.  June Classes at Russell Library include:

Introduction to Computers, Thursday, June 7 at 9:30-11:30 am

Microsoft Word Basics, Wednesday, June 13 at 9:30-11:30 am

Microsoft Excel Basics, Tuesday, June 12 at 9:30-11:30 am

Introduction to the Internet, Thursday, June 21 at 9:30-11:30 am

Preparing a Resume for Online Applications, Tuesday, June 5 at 9:30-11:30 am

Introduction to Microsoft Publisher, Wednesday, June 20 at 9:30-11:30 am

Facebook for Beginners, Wednesday, June 27 at 9:30-11:30 am

Introduction to Grants Databases, Wednesday, June 6 at 6pm-8 pm

Classes introduce beginners to computers and provide a session on the Internet or Microsoft Word.  Advanced classes are offered on programs such as Microsoft Publisher and Excel.  There will be no prior signups for these classes. Classes are offered on a first come, first served basis.  If you are interested in attending, make sure you have the experience necessary for the class.   To attend, come to the Information Department on the date and time that the session is being offered.  In the event that a class fills up, most are repeated each month.  Please be on time.  If you have any questions, ask at the Information Desk or call (860) 347-2520.