Richmond Free Library

For the month of August our walls will feature the paintings of Jericho artist Marcia Rosberg. Her work takes many forms, from traditional landscapes to still life to surreal forest scenes with symbolism and bright colors. She works in oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, pencil and collage and is a self-taught artist who has painted all her life.

 Friday, July 30, 12:00  – 1:00 

Join fellow summer readers in celebration of a job well done with pizza, popsicles and prizes. Participants should bring their reading records. Please register in advance so that there is plenty of pizza and prizes for all. (434-3036/rfl@mavt.net)

For the month of July stop by to see the work of Alexandra (Lexie) Reiss Haselton. Using water-based oil Lexie is drawn toward capturing the color and pattern she sees in the landscape and in daily life. She says, “I love the challenge of fighting my natural inclination to capture every detail in order to create work that is simpler, emphasizing pattern and color. My hope is for the end result to be work that is vibrant yet peaceful and of course constantly evolving.” This show will be up through July 30.

Like last year, we’ll have everything kids need to participate in the summer reading program set up downstairs just inside the door. There will be reading records, stickers, “charms,” guessing jars, prizes and more. Instructions, self-serve activities and information about in-person programs await. The first day to register for the summer reading program is Monday, June 14, which is also the day that we resume in-person browsing, so kids can come register and then head up to the second floor to choose their own books. Students at RES will be seeing a video explaining the program during their school library period and will be sent home with a flyer listing all summer programs at the library. The flyers are also available in the library foyer and the video appears below.

Library Reopens: Starting on June 14 the library will be open for in-person browsing from 10 am–5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; 10 am–8 pm on Wednesday; and 10 am–2 pm on Saturday. We request that you keep your visit to 30 minutes. For now, we are operating at limited capacity in the children’s area and room limits are posted. You may be asked to wait if the number of people inside the building exceeds our capacity. For those not yet comfortable returning to the library we will continue to fill online/phone requests and leave items for foyer pick-up. Visitors over the age of two will be asked to wear a mask while inside the building. The computer room will be open with a limit of one person/party per 30-minute session.

Outdoor Storytime: Starting on June 7 we will gather on the library lawn behind the building. Families should bring their own blanket or chairs and are welcome to bring snacks and/or a picnic lunch. Sun hats and bug spray might also be useful. No registration is necessary. Storytime includes books with big, bold pictures, rhymes, songs, and the opportunity to pick out some picture books to take home. Join us on Mondays at 11 am during the months of June and July (no Storytime on July 5). Call ahead on rainy Mondays to find out if the program will move indoors.

StoryWalk® A StoryWalk is an outdoor reading experience that reveals a story page by page as the reader follows the StoryWalk route. There will be a new StoryWalk set up around the library grounds each month this summer. For the month of June come enjoy a story with the happiest of endings, Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice.

VOX Audio/Picture Books for Young Children

VOX Books are slim audio devices that live in beautiful full-size picture  books. The permanently attached VOX Reader transforms an ordinary picture  book into an all-in-one read-along. There’s no need for computers, tablets, or CDs. Children simply push a button to listen and read. We are launching a collection of VOX Books in February and know that children will love them and parents will love occasionally letting someone else read the story. VOX books will circulate just like picture books and will be shelved in a special location in the picture book room. Some of the titles in our starter collection include: Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock! By James Dean; Lulu the One and Only by Lynnette Mawhinney; Going Places by Peter Reynolds; Horse Meets Dog by Elliot Kalan; Inky the Octopus by Erin Guendelsberger and Poor Louie by Tony Fucile.