Check each program listing for details on whether it will be an online (Zoom) or in person event.

Here are some upcoming highlights:

Lawn-a-Palooza at the Blackstone Library!

Saturday, August 19 from 10am - 1pm

We're saying goodbye to summer with one last bash at the Blackstone Library! Join us for a day of games, live music, and fun for the whole family on the library lawn. Feel free to bring a picnic while you enjoy the great outdoors, and Italian Ices of Connecticut will be stopping by if you need to cool off.

No registration required. Just stop by and enjoy the fun!

Awakening to Change:
A Social Justice Discussion Group
Thursday, August 10 from 7 - 8pm

Awakening to Change is designed to help unify our community by developing a shared understanding of the history, policy, and experiences shaping contemporary discussions of race. We tackle a new topic each month, sometimes reading books, discussing films, or learning from articles. All are welcome to join!

Registration is required to receive a link to this Online event.

Register

Blackstone Library Tour
Saturday, August 12 from 10 - 11am

Take a tour of the Blackstone, learn historical tidbits, and get an insider’s look into a day in the life of a Blackstone Library employee. Tour meets in the Rotunda by the Reference Desk. Registration encouraged, but drop-ins welcome!

Register

Harm Reduction: A Response to the
Drug Overdose Crisis
Wednesday, August 16 from 6:30 - 7:30pm

Every day, on average, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. According to the CDC, drug overdoses killed more than 70,000 people in the United States in 2017, with 1,072 taking place in CT alone. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis.

Connecticut is among the top ten states with the highest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. Our state residents are more likely to die from an unintentional drug overdose than they are from a motor vehicle accident.

Join us for a discussion on the ongoing opioid crisis, the biology of addiction, and how our community can reduce the risks of dying from drug overdoses, help get people into treatment and improve quality of life. We will also discuss the use of Narcan and Medicated Assisted Treatments for Recovery.

Free Narcan and training will be available immediately following the discussion.

Presented by the East Shore District Health Department.

Registration is encouraged to attend this In Person event, but drop-ins welcome.

Register

Ongoing Events

Exploring Our Grief Journey:
A Grief Support Group
Every Monday from 6 - 7:30pm

An open peer support group led by AccentCare Bereavement Volunteer Cheryl Cole and centered around the legacy of your loved one. Connect with others who are grieving, and join a compassionate group of listeners dedicated to honoring fond memories and exploring the impact of loss and grief on their lives.

Cheryl Cole is an AccentCare Bereavement Volunteer and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. She has a passion for supporting individuals in their process of grief from a feelings based approach.

Registration is Not required to attend this in person event.

Blackstone Fiber Art Commuity
Every Wednesday from 6 - 8pm

Join us for a weekly fiber art group. All experience levels in knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, sewing, felting, embroidery, and all fiber art forms are welcome! Drop in any time between 6 and 8pm. Registration is not required to attend this in person event.

If You Missed It...

Were you unable to attend one of our library programs? Did you really enjoy one and wish you could share it with others? Now you can! Many of our Zoom programs are recorded and available on the Blackstone Library's official YouTube page. Click here to check it out!

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information on the library services and programs.

Many events are still being held virtually, and recordings of past events are often available. You can view the full calendar here on our website, and be sure to check back frequently as we will continue to update on a regular basis.

How to attend our virtual programs

All Blackstone Library virtual programs are conducted through the free video conferencing software Zoom. In order to receive the link to attend a program, you must register for the event. To learn more about Zoom click here. If you need help or have any questions, feel free to call the library at (203) 488-1441 ext. 318 or send an email to [email protected] and a librarian will do their best to assist you.