This Week at the Richmond Memorial Library June 08, 2026
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The Richmond Memorial Library will be closed on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. The Library will reopen on Saturday, June 20, at 10am.
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Richmond Memorial Library Assocation Annual Meeting |
The Richmond Memorial Library Association will be holding its Annual Meeting this Wednesday, June 10, at 7 pm in the Library's upstairs meeting room.*** All Association members (those who have donated at least $1 as part of our annual support campaign) are welcome to attend. Advance registration is not required. We hope to see you there!
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Vega, our library's new online catalog has arrived! You can now search for items and place holds but please keep in mind that there continues to be a few glitches with the system so if you are experiencing something unusual, please let us know. 
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Marlborough's Top Dog Contest |
Thank
you to everyone who showed up yesterday (Sunday) for Marlborough's America 250
Top Dog Contest! While we could only choose one winner in each category,
we thought all of your dogs were amazing. Stay tuned for information
about additional America 250 programming.
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Patriotic Displays on the Green |
Our Seed Library has been restocked! We will continue to add new seed packets over the weeks and months ahead. Please remember to make a note in the binder next to the Seed Library what seeds you are taking. Doing so helps us know what seeds are the most popular and will need to be replaced. We also maintain usage statistics to help us gauge community interest in our Seed Library.
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New Eaudiobook Platform for Adults: Blackstone Unlimited |
The Richmond Memorial Library is excited to be able to share the news that we have received a John E. Blair Fund Grant through the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving that will allow us to purchase a three-year subscription to Blackstone Unlimited, an eaudiobook platform. Blackstone Unlimited will be available to Richmond Memorial Library card holders beginning July 1st. You will need your library card number as well as your PIN number (the PIN number you use in Encore). If you do not have a PIN number set up through Encore, please set one up first or call the library and we can do this for you. Once you have registered, you will only need your email address to sign in. Please make sure you use an email address you have the password to and are able to log into because Blackstone Unlimited will prompt you for a secondary (two-factor) verification code that is sent to your email.
Blackstone Unlimited is a new eaudiobook platform that was developed partially in response to Hoopla and the issues libraries across the country have had with the company and their payment structure. Blackstone is a publishing company and most of the items you will find available through Blackstone Unlimited are ones their company publishes. There are currently over 7,000 titles and additional titles are added on a quarterly basis. Blackstone is currently reaching out to additional publishers and trying to work out deals so that they can offer items from other publishers through Blackstone Unlimited. At this point, you will not find every one of your favorite authors or every New York Times best seller available through this platform. Some authors you will find include Monica Murphy, M.C. Beaton, Mary Alice Monroe, Lisa Wingate, Anna Quinn, Archer Mayor, Bill Pronzini, Don Winslow, Meg Gardiner, Karin Slaughter, Donna Leon, among so many more. What is the real benefit of Blackstone Unlimited? You will always have immediate access to the eaudiobooks you would like to listen to through the platform and you will have access to an unlimited number of audiobooks each and every month. There are no monthly caps like there were in Hoopla. How do you access Blackstone Unlimited? You can either download the Blackstone Unlimited app on your phone/device or you can use the online player by going to the following website https://www.blackstoneunlimited.com/.
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May's Spice of the Month kit features Ras el Hanout. Your kit includes recipes for a Moroccan Grilled Chicken and Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas. Kits will be available on the morning of Tuesday, May 19, while supplies last.
*May's kits are gone but June's will be available soon!*
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Wire-Wrapped Sea Glass 101 |
Learn how to wire-wrap anything found on the
beach in this adult program held on Tuesday, June 9 at 6 pm! Two different designs are taught and you leave with one
completed sea glass pendant necklace with allergen free wire, waxed
cotton cord rope, sachet bag, use of all tools and instruction sheet. If
you use glasses/readers, it is recommended you bring them. There is a
maximum of 12 participants for this program. Registration is required and can be
done online or by calling 860-295-6210. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
Funding for this program was
provided by a Hartford Foundation's Marlborough Greater Together
Community Fund Grant.
**Program is now full and wait list only.**
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The Richmond Memorial Library's Morning Book Club will meet on Thursday, June 11, beginning at 10 am. The group has chosen to read The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Registration is not required and new members are always welcome.
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Truth Be Told: Nonfiction BooK Club |
Come join our new narrative nonfiction book club, led by our new Outreach and Technology Specialist, Leslie, on the third Thursday of the month at 6 pm. On June 18, the group will be reading The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Registration is not required. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
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Sweet and Spicy Book Club
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Our Sweet and Spicy Book Club moves to Monday evenings beginning in June! Adults (ages 18+) are invited to join our new Sweet and Spicy Book Club on Monday, June 22, from 6pm-7pm. June's book title is Adam and Eve's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen. Copies of the current month's book title are available at the circulation desk. Registration is not required. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
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Modern Reading, Simplified |
Is your library card the most powerful tool in your wallet? It’s time to find out. Join
our Community Outreach and Technology Specialist, Leslie, for a live demonstration
designed to help you master the Richmond Memorial Library’s digital world on Tuesday, June 23, at 6 pm. If you love
reading or listening to books but aren't sure how to navigate the apps,
this workshop is for you. We'll do a simple tour of our website and
show you how to use Libby, The Palace Project, and Blackstone Audio to
access digital ebooks, audiobooks, and how to use your library card to
access the New York Times for free! Bring your library card and your
favorite device so you can leave confident, connected, and ready to
read. Registration is required and can be done online or by calling
860-296-6210. Held in the Library's upstairs meeting room.***
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Medicare Updates, Changes, and Benefits for 2026 |
Confused about medicare? Come and learn the
ins and outs of Medicare (enrollment, drug stages, penalties, etc) and
the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage with
Mark Macrina, a local insurance agent with Senior Health and Retirement
Services (located in Colchester, CT). Held on Wednesday, July 1, from 2pm-3pm and 6pm-7pm. This is an informational seminar
and no individual health information will be discussed. For
accommodations of persons with special needs please call 860-338-1466
TTY 711. Registration is required and can be done online or by calling 860-295-6210. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
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Calling all home chefs! The Richmond
Memorial Library and Senior Center are trying out a new programming
series this year. If you love to cook or enjoy trying new recipes,
consider signing up for our new Cookbook Club. Select a recipe from the
next month's pre-selected cookbook, cook the recipe at home, and then
bring your creation to the Senior Center to share. We'll talk about what
went right, what went wrong, and tips and tricks that you learned while
tackling your recipe. The Library will have a copy of the next month's
cookbook available at their circulation desk a few weeks before the
program, giving you time to choose your next recipe. Tell the Library
which recipe you have chosen (only one person per recipe) and make a
free copy of the recipe to take with you. Advance registration is
required and must be done through the Senior Center so that participants can sign a waiver in advance. Program is open to
everyone ages 18 and older. Meets on the first Monday of the month from 6-8 pm.
The following cookbooks have been pre-selected for April through June:
July 6: Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
August 3: Salad Freak: Recipes to Feed a Healthy Obsession by Jess Damuck
September: September's meeting date falls on Labor Day and the group will not be meeting.
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UPDATE: The library is thrilled to be able to share that we have received a second Constellation Community Champions Grant so that we can continue our Books for Babies Initiative! Since the program rolled out, the library has given out 46 Books for Babies Boxes to families who had not previously been library users and another 14 to families with infants who were already using our library on a regular basis.
The
Richmond Memorial Library has launched a new Books for Babies
initiative to promote early literacy and learning while introducing
library services to families in town. Marlborough families with children
ages birth up to twelve months of age are invited to stop into the
library to pick up a Books for Babies Box and register for your baby's
first library card. Each Books for Babies Box includes two board books, a
set of My First Touch and Feel Picture Flash Cards, early
literacy and learning pamphlets and bookmarks, information about library
programs for babies and toddlers, and supplies to get your child
enrolled in our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program in addition to
your child's first library card. Advance registration is required and can be done by filling out the following form: https://forms.gle/QcLeJkNijHpkGFca9. This Books for Baby initiative has been
funded by a Constellation Community Champions Grant.
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Join Miss Nancy on the side lawn for stories and a simple craft! Stories and craft are geared towards ages 3-5 years but all are welcome to attend. Program series will meet at 10:30 am on the following Tuesdays: May 19, May 26, June 2, and June 9. One rain date is available on June 16. Registration is not required.
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Hey, Kids (ages 4 and up)! Join us every Wednesday beginning April 1 through June 10 at 4 pm for a variety of craft projects plus open crafting. We'll have two projects to choose from, plus assorted supplies on hand to spark creativity. Held in the Storytime Room. Registration is not required.
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Summer Reading Kick-Off Event |
Get ready for summer with a fun, interactive kick-off party on Thursday, June 18, beginning at 6 pm! Sign up for summer reading, design your own bookmark, decorate a planter, and make some music. Bob Bloom of Drumming for You will be joining us for an energetic, interactive percussion program sure to get you excited for summer. Our library will sparkle with a cargo of colorful drums and curious percussion instruments for kids to get their hearts and hands around. We’ll launch joyous songs known for great melodies and cool beats - with lots of instruments to go around. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Inclement weather will move the program indoors to the upstairs meeting room.*** Fun for all ages! Registration is not required.
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Young readers are invited to come in and read to a certified Reading Education Assistance Dog. Reading to a dog is a great low-pressure way to encourage beginning readers. Register for a 15-minute time slot to secure your child's spot. Limit 2 children per time window (one per dog). Our next Read to the Dogs programs is scheduled for Monday, June 22, from 6-7 pm.
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Animal Crossing in Real Life |
Join us on Wednesday, June 24, at 4 pm for a full hour of activities inspired by Animal Crossing. Design and decorate a house, go fishing, dig for fossils, create a museum, earn bells, buy stuff, and more! Ages 12 and up. Registration is required and can be done online or by calling 860-295-6210. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
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Family Mystery Escape Room |
The plant you were entering into a contest has been stolen! Can you solve the clues to find the plant and get it to the judges before the contest begins? Families pick a day (either Thursday, June 25 or Thursday, July 2) and sign up for a session - 4-5 pm, 5-6 pm, or 6-7 pm, with up to 2 families per session. Both days will be the same escape room. Our escape room will have challenges at a variety of levels, so even younger family members can participate. Recommended for families with children ages 5 and up. Registration required. Limited to 2 families per time slot. Held in the upstairs meeting room. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
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Teens, stop by the library on Mondays to hang out with your friends from 4pm to 5:30pm beginning Monday, April 20. We'll have crafts on hand that you can make, board games to play, and snacks. Please let us know about any food allergies you may have. Our Teen Scene program is for ages 12-17. Held in the upstairs meeting room.*** Registration is not required.
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The Richmond Memorial Library building is open:
Mondays through Thursdays from 10 AM to 7 PM
Fridays from 10 AM to 6 PM
Spring/Summer Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
Curbside pickup services are also available during these times.
A Note about Accessibility at the Richmond Memorial Library:
When any of the programs mentioned above in our weekly newsletter have *** it means that the program is held in our upstairs meeting room and to note the following disclaimer:
***Accessibility at RML: The library does not have an elevator. If
you need full accommodation, please contact Library Director Aubrey Muscaro
at 860-295-6210 or amuscaro@richmondlibrary.info prior to the event (one
week preferred) so we can find an alternate space. The meeting room is
located on the second floor.
Please call the library at 860-295-6210 or email us at richmondprograms@gmail.com. |
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