This Week at the Richmond Memorial Library December 22, 2025
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Beginning Monday, November 3, through Saturday, March 7, our open hours will be:
Mondays-Thursdays: 10am-7pm
Fridays: 10am-6pm
Saturdays: 10am-4pm
This current fiscal year's budget included a 1 hour cut in our hours from Mondays through Thursday evenings. Our meeting room will still be available to anyone looking to use it and can remain open until 9pm.
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Marlborough Preservation Society Calendars |
Looking for a last minute holiday gift? Now available at the Library! Proceeds are going towards Marlborough's America 250 celebration. The Marlborough Preservation Society can accept PayPal and Venmo!
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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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This month's Spice of the Month kit features Ginger. Your kit includes 2 teaspoons of Ginger, more information about this spice, and two or three recipes. Kits will be available beginning Tuesday, December 16, while supplies last.
*December's kits have all been picked up.*
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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 January through March:
January 5: Family Circle All Time Favorites
February 2: Essential Pepin
March 2: Ottolenghi Simple
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Black Bears in Connecticut |
Local
Master Wildlife Conservationist Paul Colburn will talk about the
history of black bears in Connecticut, provide an overview of black bear
habitat, diet, behavior, and reproduction, and share current research
efforts in this timely presentation on Tuesday, January 6 at 6:30 pm. Participants will also learn
practical recommendations for optimum coexistence with our black bear
population. Black bear artifacts are shared with the audience.
Registration is required and can be done online or by calling
860-295-6210. Held in the upstairs meeting room.
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New Year Yoga: Reset and Restore |
Join Marlborough resident Rachel Kaczynski
for an adult yoga class to reset, restore and ring in the New Year on Wednesday, January 7 at 6 pm!
Expect a beginner-friendly class packed with gentle movements paired
with feel-good winter music to warm your soul. All levels welcome,
please bring your own yoga mat. Registration is required and can be done
online or by calling 860-295-6210. Held in the upstairs meeting room. This community class is free, with optional donations benefiting Richmond Memorial Library.
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Our partnership with the American Job Center continues in June! Are you (or is someone you know) looking for a new job, trying to restart or jumpstart your career, or in need of specific job skills training? Stop by the library on Tuesday, January 6 (or the first Tuesday of any month) any time between 5 pm and 7 pm to meet with a trained professional from the American Job Center. Registration is not required. Held on the first floor.
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The Richmond Memorial Library's Morning Book Club will meet on Thursday, January 8, beginning at 10 am. The group has chosen to read Time of the Child by Niall Williams. Registration is not required and new members are always welcome.
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String Theory: A Fiber Arts Club for Adults |
Our String Theory program series returns on Friday, January 9, at 1 pm. Knit, crochet, embroider, or stitch your way through the afternoon with others who share your passion for fiber arts. Bring your own project, ask for advice, make the project we have on hand, or get inspired for your next creation. This month, we will have supplies on hand to create a needle felted owl. Registration is recommended and can be done online or by calling 860-295-6210. Program meets in the upstairs meeting room but can easily be relocated if necessary.***
*Please note the new date ... January's program has been moved to January 9 from January 2.*
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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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Stay tuned for information about our next session, beginning in mid-January!
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Stay tuned for information about our next session, beginning in mid-January!
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Our Kids Crafting Club will return in mid-January!
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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, January 12, from 6-7 pm.
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Pajama Storytime with Yoga
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Our Pajama Storytime with Yoga program has returned! Children of all ages are invited to this cozy storytime on Thursday, December 18, at 6 pm. Hear a story or two and do some calming yoga with local resident Rachel Kaczynski. Wear comfy pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal or blankie. Registration is required and can be done online or by calling 860-295-6210. Held in the upstairs meeting room.***
*Please note that the series is not meeting in January and will resume in February.*
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Polly the Penguin has returned! Stopy by the Library over winter break and try to find where Polly is hiding.
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They're back! Our very popular Celebration Bags are ready for pick up, while supplies last. Each bag contains a hat, a beaded necklace, craft activities, and more ... all to ring in the new year. Happy 2026!
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Dungeons and Dragons One-Off Games |
Calling all Tweens and Teens (ages 10-16)! We will be doing some one-off Dungeons and Dragons gaming on Mondays, November 24, December 8, and December 22, at 5pm. Enjoy
a well-rounded single-session Dungeons & Dragons game with
storyline, problem solving, and challenges, plus battling monsters. All
supplies provided, but you will need a level 4 character (made using
2014 rules). If you do not have one, we will have some prepared for you
to choose from. Held in the
upstairs meeting room.*** Registration is required and can be done online or by calling 860-295-6210. This program often fills quickly so please register soon.
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Teens, stop by the library on Mondays to hang out with your friends from 4pm to 5:30pm beginning September 15 through December 15. 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
Fall/Winter Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 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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