Update to Library Hours

Both buildings are open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays this summer.

Bill Library is closed on Sundays until autumn.

Bill Library is closing at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 2 for professional development.

Both buildings are closed on Tuesday, July 4 for Independence Day.

We are so excited to announce the Ledyard Public Library has been selected to receive the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant in the highest amount of $20,000!

This exceptional opportunity is focused on improving library services for those with disabilities. We will be hosting community conversations in the coming months to better understand Ledyard's needs so we can begin to enhance library services. Stay tuned for further details as we get started on this important work!

June is Rainbow Book Month, a nationwide celebration of the authors and books that reflect the lives and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. Stop by the library to learn more and ask your librarians for reading recommendations.

June is also Audiobook Month. Whether you prefer to download your audiobooks digitally or check out a CD audiobook, we have great recommendations to share.

Children's Summer Adventure Program

Find Your Voice: Read! Make! Explore!

June 17 – August 19

Ages birth - 18

Ledyard Public Library is proud to offer a Summer Adventure Program where we encourage participants to log their adventures during the summer! Anything participants Read, Make, or Explore can be logged. When participants log adventures, they pick which prize they would like to enter to win. Prizes this year include, but are not limited to, karaoke machines, remote control cars, flybar robot pogo balls, and a jumbo Pokémon Pikachu building set.

Drop In Lego Club

Saturday, June 3

10:00 a.m.

Gales Ferry Community Center

Ages 5 - 11

Lego lovers unite! Our popular Lego Club is being offered as a drop-in event! Stop by the Gales Ferry Community Room to build with friends or accept the challenge of the day. The goals of this program are to have fun and be creative.

Regatta Day Boat Building Workshop

Saturday, June 10

9:30 a.m.

Gales Ferry Library

Ages 4 - 11

It’s Regatta Day in Gales Ferry! We are excited to offer a boat building workshop to help celebrate this amazing annual event. Participants will color a design on a wooden boat and then assemble the boat using rubber bands to fix the propellers to the tail of the deck. Weather permitting, we will be outside on the lawn of Gales Ferry Library. Registration is suggested, but drop-ins are also welcome. This program is made possible with help from the Ledyard Public Library Commission.

Slime Time

Friday, June 23

10:30 a.m.

Bill Library

All ages

Drop in to Bill Library to make some slime! This program is made possible with help from the Friends of Ledyard Public Library.

Robotics Workshop

Saturday, June 24

10:00 a.m.

Bill Library

Ages 10 and up

We are so excited to have the CT chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers back for a second year to lead this wonderful workshop! Participants will use the mbot2 (mbot neo) platform and learn some basics about programming the robot using block-based software. This program is made possible by a grant from the NASA CT Space Consortium.

Reading with Chase and Dune

Tuesday, June 27

10:30 a.m.

Gales Ferry Library

All ages

Drop in at Gales Ferry Library to read to and spend some time with Chase and Dune. Chase is a 3-year-old facility dog who has been trained to offer support and comfort to first responders and others who need help. Chase and his handler, Officer Heather McClelland, are from the Town of Groton Police Department and travel all around the state offering comfort and help where it's needed. Dune is a therapy dog who frequently visits libraries and schools in the area. Dune's handler, Lauren Rugh, is a veterinary technician; she and Dune are Ledyard residents. Stop by to say hi to them!

Open Art Studio

Wednesday, June 28

10:00 a.m.

Bill Library

Ages 5 and up

We've got the supplies – you've got the creativity! This open studio time is for those who love to create with what is at hand. There will be paint, brushes, easels, collage materials, markers, extra craft kits, and more. Mrs. Burt will be there to help as needed, but the best part about this program is being creative and having fun! This program is made possible with help from the Friends of Ledyard Library. 

We are excited to announce the winners of our 2023 Teen Photography Contest! We are very proud of our talented teens and send congratulations to:

Teen Summer Adventure Program

Find Your Voice: Read! Make! Explore!

June 17 – August 19

Ledyard Public Library is proud to run a Summer Adventure Program where we encourage teens to log their adventures during the summer! Anything that participants Read, Make, or Explore can be logged. When participants log adventures, they pick which prize they would like to enter to win. Prizes this year include, but are not limited to, karaoke machines, vinyl record players, Star Projector Galaxy Lights, and Amazon gift cards. 

Scribl Art Workshops

Monday, June 12: Story Shoes

5:30 p.m.

Bill Library

Teen and Adult Program

Story Shoes – express your unique story and life journey using a three-dimensional collage and story.

PeaceLove began when cousins Matt Kaplan and Jeff Sparr wanted to change the way they saw people approaching mental health. They wanted to create a space that encouraged creativity, self-expression, and storytelling. With the goal of making expressive arts programming as accessible as possible in a changing world, PeaceLove created Scribl. This is an in-person experience that uses simple creative activities to help participants let go, reflect, and connect. This program is for teens and adults, but children as young as 10 can participate if they have an adult present and participating in the workshop.

Creation Station

Thursday, June 22

10:30 a.m.

Gales Ferry Community Center

Ages 10 and up

Join us to make cyanotype prints. Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces blue prints using coated paper and light. This is the first in our Creation Station series for the summer. This program is made possible with help from the Ledyard Public Library Commission. 

Teen Trivia

Friday, June 30: Guardians of the Galaxy

2:00 p.m.

Bill Library

Ages 12 -18

Are there any trivia fans out there? Test your skills and you may be the winner of a $10.00 gift card. Sign up individually or in teams to participate. This program is made possible with help from the Friends of Ledyard Library.

Adult Summer Reading Program

Find Your Voice

June 17 – August 27

We invite adults to take part in Summer Reading at Ledyard Library! The theme this year is "Find Your Voice." Our voices include not only the sounds we make but the words we write, the art we create, the movements we perform, and the actions we take each day to impact our world. We will have activities with prizes. Come on in and see what waits!

Ledyard Cookbook Club

Tuesday, June 6

12:30 p.m.

Gales Ferry Community Center

Come to the Cookbook Club this month as we sample and review the recipes from two Sarah Forte cookbooks: The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods and The Sprouted Kitchen Bowl and Spoon: Simple and Inspired Whole Food Recipes to Savor and Share. Contact Andrea at 860-464-6943 or aholbrook@ledyardlibrary.org for more information.

3-D Printing Workshop

Tuesday, June 6

6:00 p.m.

Bill Library

Have you heard about 3-D printing but don’t know where to begin? Come to the Bill Library to learn about the basics of 3-D printing and our 3-D printing service. This program will also cover what types of objects and tools can be created with a

3-D printer and how to choose the right designs.

Monday Crafternoon: DIY Terrarium

Monday, June 12

1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Gales Ferry Library

Drop in and create an adorable little plant terrarium to brighten your home! All supplies provided.

Presidential Hopefuls Book Discussion

Tuesday, June 13

7:00 p.m.

Bill Library and Zoom

Join the Ledyard Library for a discussion about those who tried, and failed, to become president. We will examine their careers and electoral losses and ask ourselves what could have been different. Our discussions will cover figures such as Henry Clay, Victoria Woodhull, and William Jennings Bryan.

In June, we will discuss George McClellan. Books are available for pickup at both the Ledyard Bill and Gales Ferry locations.

Adult Board Game and Book Club

Saturday, June 17

2:00 p.m.

Bill Library

Come to the Bill Library every month to try out different board games and talk about a related book.

This month, we will be playing Decrypto: Communicate Safely.

We encourage patrons to read any computer or spy-related book to discuss with the club. The choices are nearly limitless! However, this is not a requirement to play, and beginners are always welcome!

Tech Days

Tuesday, June 19

By appointment between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Bill Library

Thursday, June 22

By appointment between 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Gales Ferry Library

Do you need help with a computer, tablet, e-reader, or some software? Are you unsure of how to utilize the library's digital resources? Assistant Librarian Matt Novosad will be able to assist you with your technological questions and concerns. There will be appointment slots every month.

If you are unable to attend one of these appointment blocks, please give the library a call and special arrangements can be made. Appointments are in 30-minute blocks.

After registration, the library will contact you to confirm your appointment and the details of your issue. Please bring any relevant devices and passwords for your email or other accounts with you.

Posh Plant and Planters: The Fundamentals of Fabulousness with Doug Moffat

Saturday, June 24

2:00 p.m.

Gales Ferry Community Center

We all aspire to showcase creative and colorful posh pots and flower planters on our porches and in our gardens. Join Doug Moffat as he demonstrates how to create colorful and functional planters for the coming season. This is a Seed Library Program.

Senior Center Book Club

Wednesday, June 28

10:30 a.m.

Ledyard Senior Center

12 Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry

For the month of June, we will discuss The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. This book is bound to warm your heart and introduce you to characters whose stories will likely move you.

This group typically meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Contact Andrea at 860-464-6943 or aholbrook@ledyardlibrary.org with any questions.

Genealogy Club

Wednesday, June 28

1:30 p.m.

Bill Library and Zoom

Are you interested in delving into your family history but don’t know where to begin? Join the Ledyard Library’s Genealogy Club! Each month, we will have a reading selection that utilizes and discusses pertinent methodologies for genealogists.

For the June meeting, we will read about historical facts and historiography. A book chapter on this subject will be available for pickup at the Ledyard Bill Library.

Please bring your own research, notes, and questions to talk about with the group.

It's patio season! The Bill Library has new patio umbrellas and is also set up with electricity so you can plug in your device while using free library Wi-Fi. The umbrellas were made possible by the Ledyard Public Library Commission.

We are very grateful to our dedicated group of volunteers who diligently strive to keep the Bill Library rain garden looking beautiful. Pictured are Roberta and Gayle. Thank you!

Stop by the Bill Library to enjoy an accessible and connected outdoor space at your library.

Erin

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David Larochelle

Jen

Always Never by Jordi Lafebre

Laura

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Matt

When the Tiger Came Down The Mountain by Nghi Vo

Click on the above book titles to place a hold online, or give us a call and we can place the hold for you.

Mother Nature has thrown us a few surprises this spring, but we hope your plants and gardens have weathered the storm! Just a reminder it is not too late to pick up free seeds from the Ledyard Seed Library (at both library locations) and get them in the ground, particularly beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, and summer squash. We’ve restocked our seed boxes and hope you will find what you need. If you’ve already gotten your tomato seedlings in the garden, June is a good time to stake or cage, remove any signs of early blight, and mulch. If you’ve already used some of our seeds, share photos of your seedlings and garden with us throughout the season by sending them to Laura at lnorcia@ledyardlibrary.org. Happy growing!

Friends Meeting

Thursday, July 10

Executive meeting – 6:00 p.m.

General meeting – 7:00 p.m.

Gales Ferry Library

We still need a treasurer and a vice president for our board. The commitment is 4 hours per month based on your schedule. You'll be a part of a team that significantly impacts our library and community. Please consider joining us for a two-year term. 

Our Annual Book Sale at Bill will be held Friday, August 18 through Sunday, August 27. We are in need of book donations in good or better condition for the annual book sale. We are in particular need of recent adult fiction.

Calling all crafters! Now is the time to start that project to donate to our fall fundraiser in November. All gift-quality crafts are appreciated. Stay tuned as we will also ask for donations of themed baskets.

Remember to visit the ongoing book sales at both library locations – in the meeting room at Bill Library and the Book Cellar at Gales Ferry Library, each of which is open during normal library hours. All sales go toward supporting the library.

Sarah Desormier, President

860 464-9538, friends@ledyardlibrary.org

The Ledyard Farmer's Market season runs every Wednesday starting June 7 through September 20 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. There are fantastic vendors, delicious food trucks, family entertainment, and live music. Also, look for the new market bags this season.

For weekly updates, check out the Ledyard Farmer's Market on Facebook or click here to sign up for the newsletter.

Look for Mrs. Burt at the June 21 market!