Dear Community,

April showers have brought May flowers here at JTL and as we let the spring sun warm us, we warmly welcome you all to join us for spring happenings here at your local library. Spring is a time of changes, so maybe this is the time to try out a new genre or series (N.K. Jemisin’s Great Cities Duology, The City We Became and The World We Make is still on MG's TBR list), come see the magical mural blossoming in the Story Room downstairs, play with beautiful new toys (Thank you, dearest Friends of the Library!) or learn something new in our wide array of programs (do black bears or sewing machines interest you?)

We also mark Mental Health Awareness Month in May with book displays and various programs throughout the month. May is also a time of preparation, whether it be planting your gardens or getting ready to wrap up the school year and plan for summer. The youth services staff at JTL will be busy preparing a fun summer reading program for everyone with the theme of "Find Your Voice" and making sure we'll have all the books on your summer reading lists ready for you!

Adult Programs

Chicks with Sticks - Monday, May 1 & 15 at 5:30 pm
This knitting group meets in the community room on May 1st and out near the community center on the 15th.

First Tuesday Film - Tuesday, May 2 at 2:00 pm
Join us in the library's community room for a movie and popcorn. Showing this month: The Fabelmans (PG-13, 2022)

Tai Chi with Joe Pandolfo - Thursdays at 5:15 pm
Each week we explore rejuvenating movements, simple wellness techniques and tranquil meditations
from classical Chinese healing and living arts. Beginners and all levels welcome.

Friends of Jonathan Trumbull Library Meeting - Wednesday, May 10 at 5:00 pm
The Friends of Jonathan Trumbull Library will meet in the library's community room. Come join us!

SERAC Mental Health Series - Thursday, May 11, 18, 25, & June 1 at 6:30 pm
SERAC presents a four-part series on mental health and wellness. Each session focuses on two different dimensions of wellness and how to incorporate them into your daily life to promote overall wellness.  
Open to all adults ages 18+. Please sign up here.

Yoga with Tina - Saturday, May 13 & 20 at 9:30 am
Join Tina Rice of Yoga Me Happy CT for yoga outside on the Lebanon Green!
No yoga May 6th. No yoga May 27th (library closed for parade.)

Chair Yoga - Saturday, May 13 at 11:30 am
Join Tina for a chair yoga class designed for people of all ages and stages. Chair yoga is a gentle practice in which postures are performed while seated and/or with the aid of a chair. This is a great practice for those who find a typical yoga session too challenging but would still like to improve fitness, flexibility, balance and coordination.

Black Bears in Connecticut - Monday, May 15 at 6:30 pm
Master Wildlife Conservationist Paul Colburn will be giving a presentation focusing on the
natural history of black bears in Connecticut, an overview of black bear habitat, diet, behavior, reproduction, and current research efforts. You will learn practical recommendations for optimum coexistence with our black bear population. Black bear artifacts will be shared with the audience.

Multi-generational Programs

Plant People: Seedlings and Seeds
Friday, May 5 at 5:00 pm & Wednesday, May 10 at 12:00 pm
Did you start 67 tomato plants for your small backyard garden again?!
Quick, bring them to JTL before they go to waste!
We're collecting seedling donations for the Colchester Giving Garden. Please bring plant babies labeled with tape on the pots or written on popsicle sticks in the seedling planters. As a thank you, we'll have our seed library, Seeds on the Green, ready for you to take what you need. If you have seeds to donate, we'll accept those, too.

Machine Sewing Clinic with Schillers - Saturday, May 6, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm)
Bring your own sewing machine and meet with Nicole Benoit from Schiller's in Willimantic.
We will also learn how to use different functions on our in-house sewing machine as part
of our maker space. Register for a time slot by signing up here.

Classical Cafe - Tuesday, May 9 at 6:30 pm
Bring a book, knitting, notebook, or other silent activity, and join us for Classical Café.
You'll find the quiet company of fellow bibliophiles in the Community Room, featuring live classical piano ambiance provided by Sweet Acre Farm's Jonathan Janeway.
Pour yourself a cuppa coffee or tea. For independent, silent readers & creators of all ages; audiobook readers welcome with headphones. Please arrive before 6:30 to get settled.

Chess - Thursdays, May 11 & 25 at 4:00 pm
We meet in the community room for an hour and play chess or solve chess puzzles.
This is a program for those who already know how to play chess. Ages 8+

Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards
Friday, May 19 at 5:00 pm
Live music with Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards.
Accompanying themselves on guitar, harmonica, ukulele, penny whistle, electric bass, and most uniquely clarinet, Mark and Raianne's live performances are both musically captivating and spiritually uplifting as audiences are carefully balanced between serious songs and humorous commentary – concertgoers will leave feeling a bit more human, as if they have experienced something genuine.

Knit & Crochet in YA - Saturday, May 20 at 11:00 am
Meet in the Teen/YA Room (outside if it's warm) for an hour of knitting and crocheting
(other yarn-based crafts welcome.) Bring your yarn and prepare to get crafty. Ages 12 - adult.

Make & Mend - Thursday, May 25 at 4:00 pm
All makers and menders welcome to this monthly meet up! Bring your knitting, stitching, mending, or other crafty hand work. Young menders and makers welcome with parent/guardian. Meet by Marcel.

Adult/Teen Craft: Upcycled Vases - Tuesday, May 30 at 6:30 pm
We'll be repurposing sauce jars to make beautiful decoupaged vases. Use our jars or bring your own. Ages 12 - adult.

Teen and Young Adult Programs

Teen Artwork: 'Zines & More - Wednesday, May 3 at 4:00 pm
Join us in the teen room for various forms of artistic expression, including but not limited to:
clay, drawing, paint markers, collage, and more. Bring materials from home and/or use what we offer.
This month we'll feature making 'Zines, small-batch, DIY, “magazine-like” self-published works. Ages 13 - young adult.

Magic the Gathering - Thursdays, May 4 & 18 at 4:00 pm
We meet in the community room for an hour and play Magic the Gathering. The recommended age for the game is 13+ because it is complicated, but we can help you learn the game.

D&D - Thursdays from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
The world needs heroes! What courageous souls would dare to fight horrific monsters, evade traps, solve puzzles, and quest for treasure? Who among you shall free realms from the tyrannical rule of a dragon? To fight for peoples of a fantastical world, and become their champions? Do you hear the call to be an adventurer? In the amazing worlds of Dungeons and Dragons, your imagination is your greatest weapon! Ages 12+

Warhammer 40k - Weekly on Fridays at 4:00 pm
Gather to play and discuss the lore of Warhammer 40,000 and other table games. Ages 12-18.

Warhammer 40k Build and Paint Day - Saturday, May 20 from 10:00 - 1:00
There are several fantastic elements of the Warhammer 40,000 hobby. Some may argue the most rewarding of which are building and painting your finely detailed Citadel miniatures. Join us to construct and add character to your army.  Bring your figurines and a friend.

Teen Yoga - Wednesday, May 24 at 4:00 pm
Join us in the Community Room for all levels yoga for teens. Bring a mat if you have one, we'll have the music and the calming vibes.

*Teens: Multi-generational Programs are for you as well!

Children's Programs

Mischief Managers Clothing Swap - Wednesday, May 3rd, 4:30 - 5:45pm
Bring clothes of any size/gender (baby, kids, adult) and any baby or kids toys/accessories that you don’t need or want anymore and swap them out for things/clothes you do want! Mischief Managers welcome anyone. (Come alone, bring your kiddos, bring your friend, anyone is welcome to join!) Community Room

First Friday Fam Jam! - Friday, May 5 at 5:00 pm
Youth Services Librarian MG and her spouse, Jaron (guitarist in local band, Room to Move), are excited to facilitate an all-ages sing along here at JTL! Bring your voices, instruments, and dancin' feet on the first Friday of each month. We'll be in the Community Room, ready to sing everything from Raffi, to classic rounds, to songs we make up on the fly. Email your song requests, ideas, and dedications to [email protected].

Bryson Lang's "The Cure for the Common Show" - Friday, May 12 at 2:00 pm
Bryson’s audiences will see a likable, energetic personality performing inventive and clever routines that mix comedy, audience participation, ball spinning, ball bouncing, fire-juggling, well-crafted timing, sharp sickles, huge spinning bouncing rings, giant Beach Balls, improv, glo-in-the-dark objects and always a few surprises.

Spring Craft - Monday, May 15 at 10:30 am
Join the teachers from Lebanon Co-op Nursery School, JTL's neighbors at the Congregational Church, for a spring craft in the Community Room. Geared towards 3-5-year-olds, siblings welcome.

Zoom Cartooning - Mondays at 4:00 pm
Learn to draw cartoon characters with local artist Bill Dougal. Designed for ages 7-12.
Register online at www.lebanonctlibrary.org/online-program-registration, and join on Zoom.

Homeschool Fridays at 2:00 pm
Homeschoolers, unschoolers, & self-directed learners! Meet in the Community Room to play, explore, and exchange learning ideas and pathways. For kids & caregivers of all ages.
May 12: Bryson Lang's “The Cure for the Common Show”
May 19: Pollinator Garden activity
May 26: Outdoor play, last Homeschool Friday before summer!

Mischief Managers - Tuesdays, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Parents/ caregivers of young children group. Email [email protected] to RSVP.

Story Times

Story Hour with Shaleen
Mondays at 11:00 am
Morning story time with Shaleen Barrett, Occupational Therapist and Signing Time Certified Teacher.
Join us for stories, felt board, songs, and best of all, PLAY! Target audience is ages 3-6, siblings welcome.

Read, Rock & Rhyme
Wednesdays at 11:00 am
Our story time program for the tiniest of library people!
Join us to share songs, rhymes, musical instruments, movement, finger plays and more.
Open play is available at the end of the program out in the Pollinator Garden.
RR&R is for children ages 0 - 2 years & their caregivers (siblings welcome).

Story Time
Wednesdays at 3:30 pm
Join us in the Story Room Wednesday afternoons.
This program is for children ages 3-5.

The library will be closed May 27 for the parade and May 29 for Memorial Day.

Reserve and use passes with a smartphone or print them from your computer.

Receive discounted or free admission to a variety of museums!

Borrow museum passes at lebanonctlibrary.org/about-us/museum-passes.

You will need your JTL library card number.

Visit the events calendar to see our list of programs.
Check the calendar often and follow our social media pages for pop-up activities.