Whether you already love to get your kids outdoors or you want to try more family outdoor adventures, this program will give you the information and ideas you need. We will start off with a pop quiz: “How many of the ranger's backpack essentials can you guess right away?” After we make our guesses, a TLGV Ranger will give advice on what to keep in your backpack for every outdoor adventure. They will also offer ideas for a “Go Kit” to keep in your car for unexpected opportunities for family outdoor fun.

Join members from The Last Green Valley to learn about what outdoorspeople keep in their packs. This is a multi-generational program.

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, magical 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!

Adventurers ages 12-18 must come prepared with completed character sheet, ready for fast-paced and focused game play. Some DND campaign experience required.
 
(Note to parents/guardians: Please pick up teens prior to the library's prompt closing time of 8:00 pm.)

Monthly on the fourth Tuesday, come do all things Pokémon with us at the library! 
Trade, battle, and play Pokémon-themed games. 
 
A limited number of packs will be available to purchase on site for anyone getting started.

Multi-generational Cribbage Club.

Experienced and novice players welcome (recommended for ages 9+). Bring your own cribbage sets or use ours.

No Uke with Luke today, 7/19/25

Join us for a special all ages family read aloud of a classic fairy tale, The Plain Princess. We will meet in the Story Room to read and discuss this beautiful book published in 1945 with long-lasting enjoyment for all.

FOR ALL AGES 6 and up. It is a story of the main character's transformational journey in many ways, not just on the surface, from selfishness to selflessness, from haughty to kind and generous, from "plain" or ordinary, to beautiful. Is it true magic that causes the 3 different powerful magical transformations once for each of three months that the formerly "plain" girl lives in the cottage with the good widow and her 5 beautiful accomplished daughters?  Is it Love? Is it humility? Is it about finding the true meaning in life that changes one inwardly and outwardly? If one becomes a truly good person does that change how they look or how they are perceived? 

This is an especially thought provoking story for ages 6 to 18. Parents welcome to listen too. The story is not too short. It takes a captivating 35 minutes for Gwen to to read aloud with discussion to follow. Three are some lovely color illustrations that enhance the powerful story.

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, magical 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!

Adventurers ages 12-18 must come prepared with completed character sheet, ready for fast-paced and focused game play. Some DND campaign experience required.
 
(Note to parents/guardians: Please pick up teens prior to the library's prompt closing time of 8:00 pm.)

Interested in using JTL's 3D printer? Join our resident team of 3D Printers, Mr. John Flegert and teen volunteers, Aiden & Tristan, for an introductory workshop. You'll learn about how to find a file to print from Thingiverse.com or Printables.com, receive a demo and training on how to set up the printer, and schedule a time to print your creation here at the library. Registration required; sign up at the Adult Circ Desk. Space is limited.

Summer workshop dates:

July 2

July 9

July 16

Aug 6

Aug 13

Drop in for LEGO time with your friends, family, and community of builders. We'll have various creative prompts and you can put your work on display downstairs in Children's. 

If you have clean and sorted LEGO bricks you'd like to donate to JTL, please bring them in clear ziplock bags and our LEGO Leader will add them to our stash.

All ages welcome, duplos will be available for the youngest builders in the Play Corner.

Our library is going to sparkle.

BOB BLOOM is returning with his colorful cargo of lovable drums for us to get our hands onto. Together with Bob at the helm, we’ll get playful with some of the world’s most joyous songs.

Bob’s 100% participatory music has enlivened entire audiences at: Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts; Wadsworth Museum; New Haven International Festival of Arts and Ideas; New Year’s Eve “First Night Celebrations” in Hartford, Westport, Worcester, Providence, Boston.

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, magical 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!

Adventurers ages 12-18 must come prepared with completed character sheet, ready for fast-paced and focused game play. Some DND campaign experience required.
 
(Note to parents/guardians: Please pick up teens prior to the library's prompt closing time of 8:00 pm.)

Interested in using JTL's 3D printer? Join our resident team of 3D Printers, Mr. John Flegert and teen volunteers, Aiden & Tristan, for an introductory workshop. You'll learn about how to find a file to print from Thingiverse.com or Printables.com, receive a demo and training on how to set up the printer, and schedule a time to print your creation here at the library. Registration required; sign up at the Adult Circ Desk. Space is limited.

Summer workshop dates:

July 2

July 9

July 16

Aug 6

Aug 13

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, magical 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!

Adventurers ages 12-18 must come prepared with completed character sheet, ready for fast-paced and focused game play. Some DND campaign experience required.
 
(Note to parents/guardians: Please pick up teens prior to the library's prompt closing time of 8:00 pm.)

Interested in using JTL's 3D printer? Join our resident team of 3D Printers, Mr. John Flegert and teen volunteers, Aiden & Tristan, for an introductory workshop. You'll learn about how to find a file to print from Thingiverse.com or Printables.com, receive a demo and training on how to set up the printer, and schedule a time to print your creation here at the library.

Registration required; sign up at the Adult Circ Desk. Space is limited.

Summer workshop dates:

July 2

July 9

July 16

Aug 6

Aug 13

Ukulele is a fun beginner instrument.

In this exciting class with musical community member Luke, we will learn chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs, and practice what we've learned with ukulele karaoke!

Recommended for ages 10+; younger siblings may enjoy the play corner.

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, magical 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!

Adventurers ages 12-18 must come prepared with completed character sheet, ready for fast-paced and focused game play. Some DND campaign experience required.
 
(Note to parents/guardians: Please pick up teens prior to the library's prompt closing time of 8:00 pm.)

Monthly on the fourth Tuesday, come do all things Pokémon with us at the library! 
Trade, battle, and play Pokémon-themed games. 
 
A limited number of packs will be available to purchase on site for anyone getting started.

Multi-generational Cribbage Club.

Experienced and novice players welcome (recommended for ages 9+). Bring your own cribbage sets or use ours.

Welcome all families to jam together! Youth Services Librarian MG and her spouse, Jaron (guitar teacher at Waldron's Studio 88 in Mansfield), are excited to facilitate an all-ages singalong here at JTL! Bring your voices and instruments to make joyful noise.

Come make some art with us on big paper with markers!

Come build with big blue blocks!

Let’s celebrate the beginning of summer and summer reading at the library out on the Green.

Reptile Nook visits and hangs out in the Pollinator Garden with a few animals. Stop by and say hello!

Ukulele is a fun beginner instrument.

In this exciting class with musical community member Luke, we will learn chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs, and practice what we've learned with ukulele karaoke!

Recommended for ages 10+; younger siblings may enjoy the play corner.

Summer Reading activities begin today!

This year’s theme is “Level Up at Your Library,” so get ready for some fun and games.
We’ll have all kinds of fun programs, special summer reading books on display, and prizes youth can collect after completing different ways to read throughout the summer.

Youth Summer Reading: Sign up any day during the summer to pick up your Ways to Read tracker. Youth prizes will be available from June 21 until September 5, 2025 (last day to enter for a grand prize).

Adult Summer Reading: Participate by reading and reviewing books between June 21 & September 5. Each review will earn you an entry into a drawing for a grand prize.

Our programs kick-off on Saturday, June 21 with a variety of Welcome to Summer Reading Activities!

Join us outside on June 21 for:

10am-1pm: Building Resilient Community w/ Grain Milling; Big Collaborative Art Making; and Big Blue Blocks

10am-12pm: Reptile Nook & reptile friends will be here!

12pm-1pm: Fam Jam: Summer Solstice in the Pollinator Garden

Join us for a game of Magic the Gathering, a trading card game where players summon incredible creatures and cast powerful spells to defeat their foes. The official recommended age for the game is 13+ because it is complicated, but we can help you learn the game.

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, magical 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!

Adventurers ages 12-18 must come prepared with completed character sheet, ready for fast-paced and focused game play. Some DND campaign experience required.
 
(Note to parents/guardians: Please pick up teens prior to the library's prompt closing time of 8:00 pm.)

Come build a deck and play. Experience required, materials provided.

Ukulele is a fun beginner instrument.

In this exciting class with musical community member Luke, we will learn chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs, and practice what we've learned with ukulele karaoke!

Recommended for ages 10+; younger siblings may enjoy the play corner.