Catalog
Below are some of our exciting upcoming programs.
Check out our full event calendar for a list of all our programs.
Drop-In Winter Crafts!
Saturdays in January from 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Drop in between 3:00pm and 4:30pm and create a fun, winter craft. Registration not required.
Free Concert: Red No. 5
Saturday, January 25 @ 5:00 PM
Join us for a free concert in the Spicer Reading Room with Red No. 5! The Connecticut-based vocal quartet captures a distinct and individual sound featuring self-arranged covers of folk and indie music.
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.
Featured Writer Storytime: Mo Willems Books!
Wednesday, January 22 @ 11:30am
Join us for a storytime featuring books from author Mo Willems!
Mystic & Noank Library Best Book Club
Monday, January 27 @ 5:30pm
The 100 Books Club is for all of us who have not (yet) read all of those titles on The NY Times list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. The club will give us a chance to not only read all (or most!) of them, but to kibbutz about their worthiness to be on such a list.
We will meet in the Ames Room the third Monday of every month at 5:30 PM. All are welcome to join!
January 27th: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Contact Chris Bradley at cbradley@mysticnoanklibrary.org for details.
Featured Writer Storytime: Kevin Henkes Books!
Wednesday, January 29 @ 11:30am
Join us for a storytime featuring books from author Kevin Henkes!
History, Memory & Representation: Narragansett History & Life Ways with Mystic River Historical Society
Wednesday, January 29 @ 7:00 PM
Join the Mystic River Historical Society for a talk by the Narragansett Tribe on its history entitled “History, Memory & Representation - Narragansett History & Life Ways.” The talk will be presented by Loren Spears, Executive Director of the Tomaquag Museum in Rhode Island.
Take Your Child to the Library Day Drop-In Winter Crafts!
Saturday, February 1 from 10 AM - 5 PM
Drop in between 10:00am and 5:00pm and create a fun, winter craft. Registration not required.
Xen's Critters Petting Zoo
Saturday, February 1 from 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Join us for Xen's Critters Petting Zoo!
Winter Crafts with Miss Connie
Mondays in February at 11:00 AM
Join us for a craft and story! Registration required. Best for ages 2-5! Please dress for painting!
Featured Writer Storytime: Todd Parr Books
Wednesday, February 5 @ 11:30 AM
Join us for a storytime featuring books from author Todd Parr!
Lianne's Healing Creations Family Yoga
Thursdays in February at 3:30 PM
Come and enjoy yoga and mindfulness together as a community! During this class, children and families will have fun learning various yoga poses and sequences. We will use music and rhythm throughout the class to accompany the postures. Mindfulness-based teachings and breathing techniques will be introduced. At the end of class, we will focus on relaxation and self-regulation techniques while listening to live music.
This class will meet on the library lawn, weather permitting.
Best for ages 4-8! Registration required.
Learn more about Lianne's Healing Creations at http://www.lianneshealingcreations.com/
This program is generously sponsored by Groton Utilities. Thank you!
Classical Story Time: Quest by Aaron Becker
Saturday, February 8 @ 11:00am
Join MNL for Classical Story Time: Quest by Aaron Becker. This event pairs live classical music with two illustrated books to create a beautiful multi-media storytime.
Each book takes the reader on a journey through a magical world, traveling and learning along the way.
Cellist Thomas Readett will bring the sound of the cello to MNL Ames’s room, where he will read two stories with cello accompaniment. Listeners will hear how music can shape a story and how music tells its own stories.
This event is brought to you by the Mystic Chamber Music Series.
Improv for Introverts, Extroverts, and Everyone-in-Between
Saturday, February 8 @ 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.
Genesis: A Poetry Group
Monday, February 10 @ 5:30pm
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 5:30 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.
Featured Writer Storytime! Eric Carle Books!
Wednesday, February 12 @ 11:30am
Join us for a storytime with books from Eric Carle!
Featured Writer Storytime! Bill Martin Books!
Wednesday, February 19 @ 11:30am
Join us for a storytime with books from Bill Martin
Food Explorers: Banana Cupcakes!
Thursday, February 20 @ 4:00pm
Join Food Explorers for a delicious cupcake program! You’ll be making homemade Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with a deliciously creamy chocolate frosting. You’ll be using the electric mixer and will also get to decorate your own cupcakes! Recipe is nut free but will contain dairy, eggs and gluten.
Mystic & Noank Library Best Book Club
Monday, February 24 @ 5:30pm
The 100 Books Club is for all of us who have not (yet) read all of those titles on The NY Times list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. The club will give us a chance to not only read all (or most!) of them, but to kibbutz about their worthiness to be on such a list.
We will meet in the Ames Room the third Monday of every month at 5:30 PM. All are welcome to join!
February 24th: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Contact Chris Bradley at cbradley@mysticnoanklibrary.org for details.
Featured Writer Storytime! Dr. Suess Books!
Wednesday, February 26 @ 11:30am
Join us for a storytime with books from Dr. Suess
