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IFL LIBRARY NEWS & UPDATES
September 2026 | Issue 32
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September on Block Island is a special time of year. The mornings become a little crisper as monarchs still flutter among milkweed and goldenrod. As summer winds down, school is back in session, and the island gradually settles into its quieter fall rhythm.
At the Island Free Library, September is still busy! This month’s calendar includes after-school activities, Spanish classes, book events and talks, a live embroidery workshop, memoir writing, Mah Jongg, Pride Family Bingo, and music and storytelling for our youngest visitors.
We’re delighted to welcome back Rhode Island folk duo Atwater-Donnelly for a special musical performance.
As September settles in and the pace of the island begins to ease, most find there is a little more room in the day. Stop by, grab a new book, join a program, make something, or just check in. The library is a place to gather, learn, and spend time together. We hope you’ll join us this month.
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All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
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"Oh honey, nobody knows what's around the corner, but I know one thing...if you keep yourself outta the game for fear of losing, there is no way on this earth you're going to win."
-Dolly Parton
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Dolly Parton Day
Friday, September 25 | 2:30–4:30 PM
Celebrating Books, Dolly, and Block Island!
We love Dolly Parton for so many reasons: her music, songwriting, humor, and, of course, her sparkle—but also for the extraordinary generosity she has shown throughout her life. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, millions of books have found their way into the hands of young children, helping to make books and reading part of family life from the very beginning.
Here on Block Island, we’re especially proud of our own connection to Dolly’s work.
The Island Free Library’s Imagination Library, launched in 2018, was the first program of its kind in Rhode Island and continues to serve Block Island’s year-round community. Since then, 1,968 books have been mailed directly to our island children. We currently have 24 children enrolled, with another 39 graduates who received books from the program until they turned five.
Join us on September 25th as we celebrate Dolly, the joy she has brought to so many, and a program that has put nearly 2,000 books into the hands of Block Island kids. Everyone is welcome!
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SEPTEMBER 1ST,
Tuesday, September 1 | 5:00–6:00 PM
Myth Medicine with Jen Lighty
Join us under the canopy to hear about Vasilisa the Wise, a Russian Folk Tale, with Jen Lighty—a writer, storyteller and mentor from Hawai'i Island who spent many years on Block Island. Jen is the author of the mythopoetic memoir, "Piko: A Return to the Dreaming," and the founder of The Coracle, a mentorship focused on mythic rites of passage. She is passionate about revitalizing culture by bringing the mythic dimension into modern life.
This is a free event, and everyone is welcome!
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Embroidery at the Library!
Thursday, September 10 | 2:00–4:00 PM
Stop by the Island Free Library and watch embroidery happen right before your eyes as thread, needle, and fabric come together to create something uniquely IFL.
This special event will feature a limited-edition Island Free Library design, embroidered live by General Wear. Pick up a free Library hat, or bring an item of your own to have embroidered.
Come watch the process, meet the artists, and celebrate handmade work, local creativity, and your library.
Everyone is welcome to stop by, watch the embroidery in action, and get a FREE HAT! Sizes for kids through adults will be available.
General Wear is an embroidery team based in Brooklyn, New York. To learn more about them and their work, visit: General Wear Inc.
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Pictured above is the great-grandmother of Rev. Duncan Burns, Susanne Barnett.
Susanne was born Tayetske Hayecuce in Indian Territory on May 5, 1879, to Petoche and Nancy Barnett, both Mvskoke.
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Tuesday, September 8 | 5:30–6:30 PM
Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery,
a talk by Reverend Duncan Burns
Join us at the Island Free Library for a talk and discussion on the Doctrine of Discovery—the religious and legal framework European Christian powers used to justify taking Indigenous lands.
The program will look at its history, its impact on Indigenous Peoples across North America, and its particular relevance here on Block Island. We’ll also consider the lasting effects of policies that separated Indigenous children from their families, communities, and cultures.
The conversation will explore what it means to listen to Indigenous voices today, support Indigenous communities, and better understand this history and its continuing legacy. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
This is a free event, and all are welcome!
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Let's talk about LIBBY
Libby is a free book app where you can enjoy e-books, digital audiobooks and magazines from your public library. You can stream titles with Wi-Fi or mobile data as well as download them for offline reading. All you need to get started is a library card. Come by the library if you need some help setting up your very own Libby account! Libby is also available to pair with e-readers and other devices, including your smartphone, iPad and Kindle.
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September 11th, Friday-1pm-2pm
Discover the Art of Weaving
with Elwood Donnelly
Friday, September 11 | 1:00–2:00 PM
Discover the Art of Weaving with Elwood Donnelly
Join us at the Island Free Library for a hands-on weaving workshop with Elwood Donnelly, a basket weaver with more than 25 years of experience.
Participants will learn about the basics and history of weaving while creating their own handwoven reindeer to take home.
Ages 14 and up. All materials will be provided.
Seats are limited.
Call the library to RSVP: 401-466-3233
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All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
| | UNICORN BOOK BINGO
Friday, September 11 | 4:00–5:00 PM
Block Island is turning up the rainbow this September as we celebrate Pride, and the Library is joining the fun!
It’s a feel-good afternoon of books, bingo, and community spirit, with a little extra sparkle for Block Island Pride.
This is a family friendly event, kids are welcome accompanied by their adult!
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Saturday, September 12 | 11:00 am We will have kid crafts, games, snacks and fun on our front lawn! Temporary tattoos, magical fairy wand creations, Mod Podge shell creations!
Meet you there and we can watch the parade together!
This is a family friendly event, kids are welcome accompanied by their adult!
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September 15th, Tuesday
5 pm - 6:30 pm
Judy Tierney reads from her new book
Join us at the Island Free Library for a reading with Judy Tierney, a former Block Island resident whose fiction continues to be set on the island.
Judy will read from her newest book, Murder and Margaritas, followed by a Q&A.
Summer has arrived on Block Island, bringing beach bonfires, surfer send-offs, Fourth of July fireworks, romance—and murder.
When someone begins terrorizing the island, reporter Dita Redmond and nurse Addie Morton join forces to uncover the truth, while navigating old relationships, new connections, and a mystery much closer to home than they expected.
All Welcome! (Downstairs in meeting room B)
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Happiness can exist only in acceptance.
-George Orwell
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Need a Notary Public?
The Island Free Library has a notary on staff. For walk-in services, please call before you arrive (401) 466-3233.
* The notary at the Island Free Library is not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. They are not licensed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration.
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To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.
-Pearl S. Buck
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Stay Informed with NewsBank — Free with Your Library Card!
Want reliable news without paywalls breathing down your neck? Your Island Free Library card gives you full, free access to NewsBank, a powerhouse database featuring thousands of newspapers, magazines, and trusted news sources from around the world. Search local, national, and international coverage, dive into historical archives, or follow breaking stories across every topic you care about — all in one place.
Curious to dive deeper? Watch a short training video and explore more information to get the most out of it.
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Whether you’re tracking current events, researching a project, or just trying to sort signal from noise, NewsBank puts quality journalism at your fingertips. It’s easy to use, accessible from anywhere, and totally free to our patrons.
Stop wrestling with subscriptions you don’t need. Explore NewsBank through the library website, or ask staff to get you started. Your next great article is already waiting.
https://islandfreelibrary.org/free-e-resources/
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ISLAND FREE LIBRARY CALENDAR
We do our best to include upcoming programs here, but additional events are added throughout the month.
For the most up-to-date schedule, visit our online calendar:
islandfreelibrary.org/events
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WEEKLY ADULT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 2026
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WEEKLY CHILDREN'S
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 2026
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