Catalog
Below are some of our exciting upcoming programs.
Check out our full event calendar for a list of all our programs.
James Benn Presents: The Phantom Patrol
Thursday, September 19 @ 6:00pm
Join us for a partnership event with Bank Square Books! James R. Benn, local author, will discuss the newest installment of his Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries.
About the Book:
An investigation into a gang of Nazi-affiliated art thieves leads Billy Boyle and his comrades directly into the line of fire at the catastrophic Battle of the Bulge.
Winter 1944: Months after the Liberation of France, ex-Boston cop Billy Boyle finds himself in a Paris reeling from the carnage it has endured but hopeful that an end to war is in sight. When Billy finds a rare piece of artwork after a tense shoot-out in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, he thinks it could be connected to the Syndicat du Renard, a shadowy network of Nazi sympathizers known to be smuggling stolen artwork out of France.
Trailing the Syndicat, Billy discovers that someone with a high level of communications clearance--someone in the Phantom regiment of the British Army--may be using his position to aid the thieves. Billy, determined to stop the abettor, heads up to the frontlines where he experiences a last-ditch battle against overwhelming odds. There, the ruinous Battle of the Bulge unfurls in the Ardennes Forest. Can Billy and his team survive the bracing onslaught and return the stolen artwork to its rightful protectors?
Author Bio:
James R. Benn is the author of the Billy Boyle World War II mysteries. The debut, Billy Boyle, was selected as a Top Five Book of the Year by Book Sense and was a Dilys Award nominee, A Blind Goddess was longlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, The Rest Is Silence was a Barry Award nominee, and The Devouring was a Macavity Award nominee. Benn, a former librarian, lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida with his wife, Deborah Mandel.
CT Author Trail: Finale with Martha Hall Kelly
Thursday, September 19 @ 6:00pm
In partnership with Connecticut Humanities, Eastern CT libraries host local authors over the course of the summer and early fall. If you are interested in learning about more events stop into the library for your Connecticut Author Trail passport. Then, join us for the finale, an evening with Martha Hall Kelly at the Garde Arts Center.
Registration is not required but RSVPs are appreciated! This event is not organized or sponsored by the Mystic & Noank Library. For more information please visit the CT Author Trail Facebook page.
Author Bio:
Martha’s debut novel Lilac Girls, became a New York Times bestseller the week it was published in 2016 and then went on to sell over two million copies and publish in 50 countries. The novel is based on the true story of 72 Polish women who were imprisoned and experimented on at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp and how Caroline Ferriday, an American philanthropist brought them to the U.S. for rehabilitation and the trip of a lifetime.
Martha followed Lilac Girls with Lost Roses about Caroline’s mother, and Sunflower Sisters about Caroline’s great grandmother, which also became Instant New York Times best sellers.
The Golden Doves, which returns to WWII is now available in paperback wherever books are sold and her upcoming novel The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club arrives spring 2025.
Martha grew up in Massachusetts and now splits her time between Litchfield, Connecticut, Hobe Sound, Florida, and New York City.
15 Minute Field Trips: Be a Tree for Preschoolers
Wednesday, September 25 @ 10:30am
Explore the parts of a tree in our pop up museum and outside, make leaf rubbings, and match common products to what part of the tree it comes from.
Generously funded by the Mystic Garden Club!
Shred-It Day
Saturday, September 28 from 10:00am - 1:00pm
All members of the community are invited to take advantage of our safe and secure shredding and recycling service. Bring up to three file size boxes of confidential, personal, and business documents for complimentary shredding. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank. Items in need are canned and dry goods, that are not in glass containers, in the following categories: tuna, meats, stew, vegetables, fruits, pasta, rice, instant potatoes, dried beans, peanut butter, and baby food.
Generously funded by the Chelsea Groton Foundation --- thank you!
15 Minute Field Trips: Looking Under Logs for Preschoolers
Wednesday, October 2 @ 10:30am
When a tree falls in the woods, what happens next? Listen to a story then make your own log with collage pill bugs and other decomposer friends!
Generously funded by the Mystic Garden Club --- thank you!
All Things Pumpkin Magic Show with Magic by Ed Pop!
Saturday, October 5 @ 3:30pm
Registration not required!
Join us for a family magic show with Ed Pop. This magic show is a comedy show that uses a lot of audience participation. Kids are the stars because they make the magic happen. Ed doesn't just “do a trick”. He tells a story that revolves around each trick. It may be a short story or a longer one, but each story helps to bring the trick together. Every child who comes on “stage” to be a helper receives a souvenir! The show is appropriate for ages three and up.
Treats will be served by the Friends of the Mystic & Noank Library.
This program will meet on the library lawn, weather permitting or held upstairs in the Ames Room in case of inclement weather.
Should the program move indoors seating will be first come, first served until capacity is met.
Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Mystic & Noank Library
Stories, Music (nursery rhymes) and Dancing!
Fridays @ 10:30 AM
The Mystic & Noank Library makes every effort to ensure our programs and services can be enjoyed by all members of the public. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the program organizer for an accommodations request form. Please make arrangements at least 2 weeks in advance.
Chess Club for Kids!
Wednesdays at 4:30 PM
Welcome to Mystic Noank Library’s Chess Club! The club welcomes children grade 3 and up! We will be meeting on Wednesdays after school from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Children should know how the chess pieces move before their first visit. We teach chess strategy, chess sportsmanship, and organize games.
Sportsman-like conduct is always a goal. Members must be respectful of each other's play, and at the end of each game, win or lose, members must be cordial with one another.
Instructor:
Michael Grater, library associate and chess enthusiast, leads our Chess Club. He grew up playing chess and continues to play for fun. Chess is a great game that builds concentration, patience, planning, sportsmanship, and problem-solving skills in children, teens and adults.
Writers' Group
Mondays @ 4:00 PM
We welcome local writers for free-write sessions at 4 p.m., Mondays, in the Ames Room. The sessions are open to anyone who feels like writing.
Loosely based on the notion of stream-of-consciousness writing described by Natalie Goldberg in "Writing Down the Bones," the sessions are broken into three parts of 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes. A writer selects a topic from subjects previously placed in a box. For the first 5 minutes, write whatever comes to mind. Don't stop to correct, just record whatever pops into your head, even if it's something like, "I have no idea what to write..." Each person shares what they've written, free of commentary or criticism.
Then, for 10 minutes, writers write what comes to mind, perhaps an idea or a subject someone had just read aloud or something you wrote in the first 5 minutes will lead to a focus. The group shares again. Writers write for another 5 minutes and then share.
You'll be surprised at the places you'll go with the topics in these sessions. They give you an opportunity to express yourself, they're therapeutic, and they often lead to a lot to talk about after putting your pens down.
Experience Calm With Guided Meditation Sessions
Tuesdays @ 3:00 PM on Zoom
Enjoy being guided in a 30 minute body centered meditation practice to help increase your skills in focusing, rest, self-compassion and gratitude. Self-acceptance, deep relaxation, tranquility, peace and lightness are how participants feel after a session.
Pamala Lewis has been studying Eastern and Western approaches to meditation and enjoys the benefits of a dedicated daily sitting practice for more than 25 years. She co-leads the New London Community of Mindfulness, guides 2 weekly Zoom groups, and offers individual coaching sessions in Somatic Mindfulness Meditation. Pamala also offers Somatic Mindfulness Meditation along with Back Yoga outdoors through the summer months.
This class is for beginners, those who might be struggling with mindfulness meditation and those who may enjoy a friendly, relaxed and body-centered approach to practice.
15 Minute Field Trips: Moth Mimicry for Preschoolers
Wednesday, October 9 @ 10:30am
Is that a leaf, bark, and owl? No! It's a moth in disguise! Make a moth with camouflage or other biomimicry with simple origami and oil pastels, then test them outside!
Generously funded by the Mystic Garden Club
Food Explorers: Pumpkin Donuts!
Thursday, October 10 @ 4:00pm
Join Food Explorers for a delicious baking program! You’ll be making Pumpkin Donuts from scratch, including your own glaze! Learn how to make the batter, mix your glaze and decorate your donuts. Recipe is nut free but will contain dairy, eggs and gluten.
Generously sponsored by the Kitchings Family Foundation --- thank you!
Improv for Introverts, Extroverts, and Everyone-in-Between
Saturday, October 12 @ 2:00pm
Learn principles of and practice improvisational storytelling in a supported, encouraging way. Improv teaches so much: listening, taking risks, being present, connecting with others, tapping into deeper creativity, storytelling, and more! Join this workshop to play improv games, have fun, and learn new skills to impact your personal and professional lives. The workshop is intended for teens and adults, and no previous improv experience is required.There will be new activities introduced since the last workshop, so this workshop won't be redundant for past participants.
Instructor: Sarah Page completed her improv training with Bay Area Theatre Sports (BATS Improv) in San Francisco. She enjoys playing improv games with people of all ages as an ongoing practice and a means of helping others to be spontaneous, connect with others, tap into their imaginations and get over fear of failure.
15 Minute Field Trips: Superb Owls for Preschoolers
Wednesday, October 16 @ 10:30am
Learn about local owls through sight and sound and draw your owl step-by-step. Dissect an owl pellet and use your detective skills to see what it ate and in our owl detective game.
Generously funded by the Mystic Garden Club --- thank you!
15 Minute Field Trips: Spooky and Silly Spiders for Preschoolers
Wednesday, October 23 @ 10:30am
Learn about our eight-legged friends while making a giant silly spider to take home! Did you know there are crab spiders, jumping spiders, and orb weavers? Some look like peacocks or even have smiley faces on their bodies! Try to move like them in the fun spider dance!
Generously funded by the Mystic Garden Club
Genesis: A Poetry Group
Monday, October 28 @ 6:00pm
Genesis: the origin or coming into being of something
Calling all poets, poets-to-be, contemporaries & contemplatives, and admirers of the written word. Join us for a new poetry writing group that will meet (generally) on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6 PM in the Library's Ames Room. Each meeting we will explore a new poem to read deeply together and parse out its images, references, poetic devices, and possible meanings to cultivate a deeper appreciation for poetry. Then we will take the opportunity to generate our own writing in response to a prompt rooted in the poem we just read. Your responses do not need to be in meter or rhyme (or even have line breaks!) and sharing what you've written is not required. You are welcome to simply come listen and enjoy the musicality of language as well.
