Summer hours
Please note that on Saturdays in July and August, Kent Memorial Library will be open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will be open our regular hours during the week. Regular Saturday hours will resume in September. We will be closed Friday July 4 and Saturday July 5.
Kent Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Program – Summer Reading officially kicked off at KML on Monday June 16, but it’s not too late to join the fun! Suffield residents, stop by to register, participate in one of our fabulous programs, and take a look at a fabulous array of raffle prizes. Thank you to the Friends of Kent Memorial Library for making it all possible. Adult Summer Reading ends July 31 and Kids Summer Reading ends August 2.
Programs for Adults
Movies at the Library – KML is showing movies again! Visit our website at www.suffield-library.org/ for more information, including this month’s movie showtimes.
Rise to the Challenge Book Group – Monday July 14 and Monday August 11, both at 6:30 p.m. A book group for adults to read and discuss books that have been challenged and/or banned. Facilitated by Librarian Anna Cierocki. Registration is not required. Please be aware that this group discusses books which may include sensitive topics. In July, the group will read and discuss a variety of picture books that have been challenged and/or banned. Books will be available at the meeting. The August title is Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. Copies of the books will be available at the library.
Thursday Readers Book Discussion Group – Thursday July 31 and August 28 at 1 p.m. Get together on the last Thursday of the month with other readers to discuss a book. Books are available at the library. Registration is not required. The July title is Anxious People by Frederick Bachman. The August title is still to be determined.
Mahjong Every Thursday morning from 10 a.m. – noon. Join us for a morning of American Mahjong! Make new friends as you play one of the world’s oldest tile-based games. For Adults – Basic knowledge of the game required. Please bring your 2025 NMJL (National Mahjong Junior League) card.
Mason Jar Crafts – Wednesday July 9th at 6:30 p.m. Get ready for a blooming good time with pressed flower mason jar crafts! Karen, from Karenough Crafts, will guide you in creating your own beautiful mason jar, decorated with vibrant pressed flowers. Registration required.
Qigong for Summer – Saturday July 12 at 10:15 a.m. With Summer’s long days, activity, and heat, this qigong practice is meant to balance the body’s inner fire and restore lightness and joy to the heart. Join us in learning movements to stay energized, cool, and calm. Suitable for all levels. Registration required.
Kombucha Presentation – Wednesday July 16 at 6:30 p.m. Get ready to raise a glass to the art of fermentation. In this class, our expert instructor, Mark, will guide you through the process of making delicious, homemade, fermented drinks. We’ll focus on the core ferment of Kombucha as it can be used as the mother for many ferments, such as traditional drinks from around the world. Registration required.
Meditation with Julie – Weds., July 23 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for an evening of peace and quiet. Julie Montinieri, Energy Medicine Practitioner and owner of Blue Herron Healing in Suffield, provides soothing, hands-on (optional) energy healing. Enjoy easy breathwork to calm the mind, progressive relaxation to relieve tension, and energy awareness to restore balance. Registration required.
Adult Summer Reading Wrap Up Party – Thursday July 31st at 2:00 p.m. Wrap up the Adult Summer Reading Program with games, snacks, and prizes! We’ll be picking the raffle winners live. No registration is required.
Kids and Teen Programs
Teen Nutmeg Book Club – Nutmeg Book Club, Thursday, July 17 at 3:30 p.m. Grades 5-12. Join us for the next meeting of the KML Nutmeg Book Club! We’ll be discussing Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan. Books will be available to check out at the library. Registration is not required.
Rhyme Time, Fridays at 10:30 a.m. July 11, 18, and 25. August 1, 15, 22 and 29. Ages: Infant to age 5. Description: Bring your singing voice on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. We sing, dance, blow bubbles and have fun! Dropin.
Sticker Mosaic – Come to the library to help us put together our mystery sticker mosaic. Stickers will be available at the children’s desk. Just ask us! All ages can participate.
Guest Librarian: Learn how to do a book display with Ms. Sandy. Mondays, July 7, 21, 28. Grades K and up – Be a guest librarian. Learn how to pick a theme, find the books and make a display with Ms. Sandy. Registration is required.
Tie Dye – Tuesday, July 1 at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, July 2 at 10:30 a.m. Keep your groovy summer going and tie dye something with us. Bring a 100% white cotton shirt, bandana, pillowcase, hat or pair of socks. Just be sure they are pre-washed and 100% cotton for best results. Sponsored by the Friends of the Kent Memorial Library. Grades K and Up. Space is limited; registration is required.
Adventure Story Time – Wednesday, July 2 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 2-5. We’re going on an adventure! Join us while we take a pretend trip through the National Parks. We will enjoy a craft, along with science experiments and music.
Space is limited; registration is required.
Shark & Shade: Drawing with Bite. Monday, July 7 at 3-5 p.m. Ages 8-13. Art class with author/artist/ owner of Free Lunch Studio Matt Ryan. Learn how to bring your art to the next level by defining light, shadow & shape. And since it’s Shark Week, we’ll be using the apex predator of the sea as our subject. Registration is required.
Sensory Time: Sharks – Tuesday, July 8 and Wednesday, July 9, 10 a.m. to noon Ages: 2-5. It’s shark themed sensory time. “Swim” in the water with sharks, play on the “beach”, sing with the sharks and find out what shark skin feels like. Sponsored by Friends of Kent Memorial Library.
Drop-In Shark Slime – Wednesday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to11 a.m. & 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Ages 6 plus: Join us for a JAWS-ome slime session. Let’s get KRAKEN on two different types of sea themed, FIN-tastic slimes! Dress for mess and a SAND-sational time. Registration is required.
Shark and Sea Life Origami – Thursday, July 10, at 3 p.m. Grades 4 and Up. Join us for a great time folding origami sharks and other sea life. Registration is required.
Forensics with Karen Contorno – Friday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. 3 p.m. Ages: 9-13. Curious about the science behind your favorite crime shows? Join Karen Contorno at the Kent Memorial Library for an exciting, hands-on exploration of forensic science.Discover how real investigators use fingerprints, DNA, shoe impressions, chromatography, and fiber analysis to uncover the truth and solve crimes. Learn what really happens behind the scenes—and see if you have what it takes to crack the case! Registration is required.
Make a Polymer Clay Sculpture with Katherine Nicholson – Monday, July 14, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join printmaker and sculptor Katherine Nicholson for a creative workshop where you will build fun characters out of old paintbrushes and polymer clay. Choose your character and learn to build its facial features and details in clay. To finish your piece, go wild by adding accessories and clothes out of recycled or scrap items.
Grades 5-8. Registration is required
Paint an Explosion Book with Katherine Nicholson – Tuesday, July 22, at 1:30 pm Grades 5-8. First, you’ll create a large painting. While it’s drying, you’ll make an origami book that explodes when you open it! You’ll fill your pages with doodles, anime, cartoons, visual stories, collages — and your painting — to make your book original. You will complete the book with a tie and a hardcover. Registration is required.
Solve the KML Kids’ Room Mystery: Monday, July 21, through Saturday, July 26, during regular library hours. There’s a mystery in the KML Kids’ room, and it’s up to you to solve it. Visit the library any time during regular hours, investigate the clues, and solve the mystery! Participants who submit a solution will be entered into a raffle for a copy of Clue Junior: Case of the Missing Toy board game. Recommended: ages 5+.
Drop-in Craft Day – Saturday, July 26, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. There will be a number of crafts available in the children’s room. Make one or try them all! Ages 5 and up: Lego Building: Tallest Tower Challenge. Tuesday, July 29, at 3 p.m.
Do you have what it takes to build the tallest Lego tower? Join us for a LEGO building competition. Whoever builds the tallest (yet sturdiest) building with the supplied Legos wins a prize.Baseplates and LEGOS will be provided. Please do not bring pieces from home. Building partners are allowed but there’s only one prize, so winners will have to share. Ages 7-14. Space is limited; registration is required.