Welcome to the Stratford Library Adult Department.
July Adult Programs
ADULT SUMMER READING 2026
June 1st – August 10th
Summer reading isn’t just for kids.
Join our Adult Reading challenge & enter to win our prize drawing for gift cards.Celebrate AMERICA 250 with the Stratford Library
SPICE UP YOUR SUMMER:
Monday, July 13 | Reference Department
Stop by the Reference Desk and pick up a “Spice Up Your Summer: NUTMEG”
In honor of America’s 250th, we are featuring spices commonly used in early American cooking. Stop by the Reference Desk on the date listed and pick up a grab & go kit while supplies last. Each kit contains a sample of the spice plus information and recipes. One kit per household.
Beginning Monday, July 13, you can stop at the Reference Desk to pick up a kit. There is no registration. Kits are first come, first served. Supplies are limited. One kit per household.
Build a LEGO National Monument
Tuesday, July 21 | 6:15pm | Board Room
Everyone is welcome to come build LEGO structures inspired by America’s landmarks and history!
Build as a team or individually. We will supply the LEGOs.
After program we will put your creations on display in the Lobby.
Register HEREWHAT A GLORIOUS CRASH THEY MADE:
Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution
Thursday, July 30 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
In a time when secular music was discouraged as an “extravagance and dissipation,” the fledgling composers of the American Colonies found fiery inspiration in the culture of Liberty. With songs published or performed in Connecticut during the American Revolution, historian and musician Richard Franklin Donohue will illuminate the colony’s often overlooked contribution in this spirited repertoire of musicFEATURED PROGRAMS
PLANT BINGO
Thursday, July 16 | 6:30pm | Library Amphitheatre
What could be better than a BINGO night? How about a Plant BINGO night! Enjoy a fun evening of BINGO with fellow plant lovers, and take home plant prizes!
Did we mention there will be plants?!
This is an adult program ages 18 and up. Registration is required.
Register HERE
TAI CHI Easy/Qigong
Saturday, July 18 & 25 | 10am | Lovell Room
Tai chi easy/qigong practice uses gentle movement, massage, meditation, and mindfulness to support overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Class will focus on integrating body, breath, and mind to promote relaxation and restore balanced energy. Each session encourages individuals to engage at their own pace and according to their personal needs. Registration is required
Register HERE for July 18
Register HERE for July 25WORKSHOPS:
GARDENING WORKSHOP: Succession Gardening
Saturday, July 11 | 11am | Perry House*
Join Giulia Gambale, UConn Extension Master Gardener, to learn how to think smarter about when to start your seeds and how to time succession sowings of vegetables for an extended harvest well into fall.
*This program will be held at the Perry House, located at 1128 W Broad St, Stratford, CT 06615. The Perry House is the Yellow House that shares the parking lot with Stratford Library and The Baldwin Center
Register HERE
Workshop: AARP SAFE DRIVER COURSE
Friday, July 24 | 10am | Board Room
The Stratford Library, in conjunction with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), will offer another session of the “AARP Safe Driver Course”, a classroom driver retraining program designed to help older persons improve their driving skills. The one-day class program is the first comprehensive driver retraining course geared to the specific needs of older motorists. Reservations is required
Register HERETHEATRE:
OTHELLO (Hudson Shakespeare Company)
Saturday, July 25 | 2pm | Library Courtyard
Hudson Shakespeare returns to Stratford Library with a gripping story of passion, deception, and devastating jealousy, Othello draws audiences into one of Shakespeare’s most powerful tragedies.
This free performance will be held outside in the Library Courtyard (weather permitting). Bring a chair or blanket. If the weather is bad, the event will be held in the Lovell Room.CAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: RESUMES & COVER LETTERS
Wednesday, July 15, 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm | Career Coach Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
Make your resume shine and position yourself to stand out in the crowd of job-seekers!
The same materials are covered in both sessions today.
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm session
BOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, July 6| 11am | Baldwin Center*
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others!
PLEASE NOTE: DISCUSSION AT BALDWIN SENIOR CENTER! SIGN IN AT BALDWIN CENTER GREETER’S DESK TO GET A ONE-DAY PASS
Register HERE
Don’t Know Much About (DKMA)
Wednesday, July 8 | 11am | Children’s Program Room
Join the adult book discussion of Hanna’s Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson. Explore Scandinavian history through this novel about three generations of Swedish women, their traumas, sacrifices, tender moments, compromises and joys.
Register HERE
Extra copies of the book are available at the Checkout Desk.Books on Tap (BOT)
Books, Brews, and Bantor
Tuesday, July 14 | 7pm to settle, 7:30pm to talk
Join us for a casual, and unique book discussion at Riverview Bistro, 946 Ferry Blvd, Stratford, CT 06614.
We will meet at 7:00pm and then start our discussion at 7:30pm. Please tell all your friends this is so exciting. We will be discussing A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern. From the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world’s youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office, comes a deeply personal memoir chronicling her extraordinary rise and offering inspiration to a new generation of leaders.
Extra copies of the book are available at the Checkout Desk.
CREATE:
KNIT WITS
Wednesday, July 8 & 22 | 6pm | Children’s Department Café
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.PROPAGATION STATION – Houseplant Swap and Community Seed Share
Thursday, July 30 | 6pm | Lobby
Exciting news this month! In addition to our Propagation Station Houseplant Cutting Swap, we are thrilled to introduce the Community Seed Share with our partner Divinity Adivina®️!
For the Community Seed Share – Whether sowing your first seed indoors or outdoors, tending a flourishing garden, or nurturing a small farm or homestead, all are welcome.
Register HERE
MOVIES:
Continue reading →
SONG SUNG BLUE
Monday, July 27 | 12pm | Lovell Room
Highlighted by magnetic performances from Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, this moving and offbeat music biodrama-based on a 2008 documentary-tells the true story of Lightning & Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute band formed by Mike and Claire Sardina. The somewhat unexpected success they achieved in the 1990s is surpassed only by Mike and Claire’s amazing love story, which saw them stick together though good times and bad.
132 mins / rated PG-13June Adult Programs
The library may be under construction, with limited services for adults, but we still have an array of book discussion groups, crafting, and job search programs available to join!FEATURED EVENTS
ADULT SUMMER READING 2026
June 1st – August 10th
Summer reading isn’t just for kids.
Join our Adult Reading challenge & enter to win our prize drawing for gift cards.
GARDENING WORKSHOP: Core Growing-Season Vegetable Maintenance
Saturday, June 20 | 11am | PERRY HOUSE*
Join Giulia Gambale, UConn Extension Master Gardener, for a fast, practical 2-hour Core Growing-Season Vegetable Maintenance Workshop designed to help home gardeners keep their gardens thriving all summer long. You’ll leave with a custom 1-page checklist and an easy “harvest day” workflow you can use right away—so your plants stay healthier, more productive, and more manageable.
*The Perry House 1128 W Broad St, Stratford, CT 06615. Perry House is the Yellow House that share the parking lot with Stratford Library and The Baldwin Center.
Register HERE
SPRING 2026 – Seed Giveaway
May | Children’s Department
All ages. Take home some seeds to plant inside or out! Register to be reminded for pick ups – drops in are welcome.
Seeds will be available starting on the date listed. Pick up in the Children’s Department on the 2nd floor.
Seeds are non-GMO from True Leaf Market.
6/1 Basil- Ornamental Mixture – Register HERE
6/8 – Pinto Bush – Register HERE
6/15 Nasturtiums – Register HEREPROPAGATION STATION – Houseplant Swap and Community Seed Share
Thursday, June 18 | 6pm | Lobby
Exciting news this month! In addition to our Propagation Station Houseplant Cutting Swap, we are thrilled to introduce the Community Seed Share with our partner Divinity Adivina®️!
For the Community Seed Share – Whether sowing your first seed indoors or outdoors, tending a flourishing garden, or nurturing a small farm or homestead, all are welcome. Community members at every stage of their gardening journey are invited to learn, receive, donate and exchange seeds.
CAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: Job Search Help
Tuesday, June 9 | 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm | Career Coach Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career but feel lost in the world of job searching? Stop in to the “Job Search” session and equip yourself with the knowledge, skills, and resources you need to land your dream job!
Our experienced job search coach will guide you throughout the workshop, providing one-on-one assistance tailored to your unique needs and goals.The same material is covered in both classes:
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm session
BOOK DISCUSSIONS:Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, June 1 | 11am | Lovell Room
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others!
Books on Tap (BOT) – Books, Brews, and Bantor
Tuesday, June 2 | 7pm to settle, 7:30pm to talk
Join us at Riverview Bistro, 946 Ferry Blvd, Stratford, CT 06614 . We will meet at 7:00pm and then start our discussion at 7:30pm.
We will be discussing Tilt by Emma Pattee. Set over the course of a single day, an electrifying debut novel from “a powerful new literary voice” (Vogue) following one woman’s journey across a transformed city, carrying the weight of her past and a fervent hope for the future.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Little Gems Book Discussion
Wednesday, June 10 | 11am | Lovell Room
Join our next “Little Gems” book discussion of Red Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian Miller. Orri is a young man living on his family’s small farm in Iceland, trying to figure out his way in the world, his family and other relationships. This novel excels at revealing small day-to-day moments, as well as bigger shifts that alter a life.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Register HERE
Books Over Coffee
Wednesday, June 24 | 12 noon | Lovell Room
This month BOC will be discussing Culpability by Bruce Holsinger, an Oprah’s Book Club Pick and a New Yorker Best Book of 2025. Set at a summer rental on the Chesapeake Bay, a riveting family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence. Culpability explores a world newly shaped by chatbots, autonomous cars, drones, and other nonhuman forces in ways that are thrilling, challenging, and unimaginably provocative.
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
CREATE:
Knit Wits
Wednesday, June 3 & 17 | 6pm | Children’s Dept. Café Area
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.Crocheting
Continue reading →
Wednesday, June 3 & 24 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome).
Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills. Materials provided.
Registration requiredMay Adult Programs
The library may be under construction, with limited services for adults, but we still have an array of book discussion groups, crafting, and job search programs available to join!FEATURED EVENTS
SPRING 2026 – Seed Giveaway
May | Children’s Department
All ages. Take home some seeds to plant inside or out! Register to be reminded for pick ups – drops in are welcome.
Seeds will be available starting on the date listed. Pick up in the Children’s Department on the 2nd floor.
Seeds are non-GMO from True Leaf Market.
5/4 Mustard – Southern Giant Curled – Register HERE
5/11 Ornamental Flowering Cabbage – Register HERE
5/18 Oregano – Common Italian – Register HERE
5/26 Dill – Bouquet – Register HEREPROPAGATION STATION – Houseplant Swap and Community Seed Share
Thursday, May 28 | 6pm | Lobby
Exciting news this month! In addition to our Propagation Station Houseplant Cutting Swap, we are thrilled to introduce the Community Seed Share with our partner Divinity Adivina®️!
For the Community Seed Share – Whether sowing your first seed indoors or outdoors, tending a flourishing garden, or nurturing a small farm or homestead, all are welcome. Community members at every stage of their gardening journey are invited to learn, receive, donate and exchange seeds.
CAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: Resumes & Cover Letters
Tuesday, May 12 | 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm | Career Coach Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
Make your resume shine and position yourself to stand out in the crowd of job-seekers!- Why should you attend the Resume & Cover Letter Workshop?
- Find out about the best free resources to help with formatting a resume
- Update the language on your resume with action verbs; say goodbye to over-used phrases and fluffy verbiage that takes up valuable space without a payoff
- Understand the importance of cover letters
- Learn about the Applicant Tracking System. What is it? How do companies use it to sift through piles of resumes and screen candidates? How can you beat it using keywords and formatting?
Don’t forget to bring a copy of your current resume so you can get tips to create a powerful, up-to-date document to land your dream job interview!
The same material is covered in both classes:
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm sessionBOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, May 4 | 11am | Lovell Room
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others!
Don’t Know Much About Book Discussion
Wednesday, May 13 | 11am | Lovell Room
Join our next “Don’t Know Much About” book discussion of The Women with the Cure by Lynn Cullen, a novel based on the true story of Dorothy Horstmann, a key player in the development of the polio vaccine. Despite humble beginnings, challenges to obtaining her education, underfunding for her research, and great personal sacrifice, Horstmann dedicated her life to the discovery that (contrary to the science of the time) polio travels through the blood to the nervous system. Horstmann was the first woman appointed as a professor at Yale School of Medicine.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Registration required
Books Over Coffee
Wednesday, May 27 | 12 noon | Lovell Room
This month BOC will be discussing Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. This stunning debut short story collection was an international best seller and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Navigating between the Indian traditions they’ve inherited and the baffling new world, the characters in Jhumpa Lahiri’s elegant, touching stories seek love beyond the barriers of culture and generations.
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
CREATE:
Knit Wits
Wednesday, May 6 & 20 | 6pm | Children’s Dept. Café Area
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.Crocheting
Continue reading →
Wednesday, May 13 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome).
Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills. Materials provided.
Registration required
