Events at the Portsmouth, Rye and Eliot libraries in May
PORTSMOUTH – If you’re visiting a museum, looking for free entertainment, learning to express yourself, starting your garden, facing difficult choices, thinking about books and films, riding your bike, or helping your community this month – visit your local library. We can’t say this enough! They have everything you need, and their friendly staff can’t wait to see you. Here’s everything happening at libraries in Portsmouth, Eliot and Rye this month.
Portsmouth
Did you know that Portsmouth Public Library offers discount passes for regional museums and other attractions, including the Children's Museum, Currier Museum, Isabella Stewart Gardner, MFA, Museum of Science, Ogunquit Museum of Art, Peabody Essex, Portland Art Museum, Seacoast Science Center and Strawbery Banke? Book your pass today for your next visit! You can find out more on the library’s website.
If you’re curious about gaming, sign up for “D&D: The Big Adventure,” a one-off Dungeons and Dragons adventure online, Thursday, May 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is required. Or, drop in any Saturday at 10 a.m. for Mah Jongg – instruction is available for beginners. No registration is required.
Curious about past residents in your home? The library’s next Local History talk will be on “Discovering the History of Your House.” Local resident and museum curator John Mayer will present on Tuesday, May 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Attend in person or online – registration is required.
The historically minded may also enjoy Shakespeare Discussion Group, which will meet twice this month to discuss “Henry IV,” Parts I and II. Attend online for the second session on May 31 from 4 to 5 p.m. Registration is required. And at this month’s genealogy workshop online, Jill Morelli will present “Write As You Go! A Methodology for Efficient Genealogical Report Writing,” Sunday, May 15 from 2 to 4 p.m.
In honor of National Bike Month, the library will show the film “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” on Wednesday, May 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the library’s Levenson Room. Members of the Seacoast Area Bicycle Riders (SABR) will give an overview of their upcoming rides and programs before the film. No registration is required.
If you enjoy writing letters, attend “The Planner Society Presents: Celebrating Snail Mail” online on Tuesday, May 17 from 7 to 8 p.m., with Courtney Cochran, founder of the Snail Mail Social Club. Learn how to level up your letter writing game and make someone’s day! Writers may also be interested in a Memoir Writing Workshop, online with local author Gina Troisi, on Monday May 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is required for both events.
From May 18 to 20, members of the Portsmouth Garden Club will exhibit arrangements in the library’s lobby, inspired by book covers. The exhibit is called “Literature in Bloom.” Drop by and prepare to be impressed!
The library is proud to present a series called “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You... And May Help You Live More Joyfully,” in partnership with the New Hampshire Alliance for End of Life Options and Brookhaven Hospice. The series will begin with “Part 1: How to Live Forever,” on Wednesdays, May 18 and May 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. These programs will focus on the profound to the practical, helping to demystify and normalize conversations about mortality and death, and what really matters in our lives. Attend in person at the library, or online. Registration is required.
Outdoor story times will continue under the tent for the next few weeks - and then the library staff will be taking a break to get ready for summer. Preschool Story Time is on Tuesdays, May 3 and 10 at 10 a.m. Lap Time is on Wednesdays, May 4 and 11 at 9:30 a.m. Toddler Story Time is on Wednesdays, May 4 and 11 at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required. Reading Dogs continue every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. All emerging readers are invited, and no registration is required.
For middle schoolers this month, the library’s Middle School Monday Meet-Up will include crafts and games every Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. No registration necessary. Or, come to Middle School Art Night on Wednesday, May 25 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the library garden. This month attendees will work with clay! Registration is required.
Teens are invited to join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), which meets monthly to plan library events and more. This month’s meeting is on Tuesday, May 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. No registration required. Or, attend Teen D&D, which meets every other Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. for a biweekly sword-swinging, magic missile-firing role play journey into the hearts of mystical worlds! Registration is required.
That’s not all – Portsmouth Public Library also offers three adult book clubs and five book clubs for youth and 'tweens, weekly meditation, World Affairs Discussion Group, language discussion groups. Looking ahead, the library’s Summer Reading Program will begin with a Kickoff on Friday, Jun. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. – save the date! Summer highlights include visits from the Blue Ocean Society, Seacoast
Questions? Call 603-427-1540, email libraryevents@cityofportsmouth.com, or visit cityofportsmouth.com/library. To register and connect to events, visit the Full Calendar on the website.
William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine
Coming up in the William Fogg Library’s Kent Room is “Around the World.” Come travel with library staff all month, as they visit beautiful faraway places through books, crafts, activities, and virtual reality. This month they will be traveling to Peru, and all ages are welcome. Join them for a Peruvian themed potluck on May 21, starting at 11:30 a.m. on the library lawn.
The library has a new Story Time schedule. Baby Storytime will be held on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m., Toddler Storytime on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., and School Aged Storytime on Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. Family Storytime is on the last Saturday of the month at 11:30 a.m.
The library is also starting a Teen Advisory Board. Join the TAB for a fun and exciting way to help plan programs, earn volunteer hours, and meet new people. Ages 13 and up welcome! Stop by the library or call for more information.
Lastly, museum passes are back at William Fogg Library! Passes are date sensitive so please plan ahead.
Questions? Contact Eliza Quillat 207-439-9437 or visit www.williamfogglibrary.org.
Rye Public Library
Rye Public Library will host a Pokemon Night on Thursday, May 5 from 5 to 6 p.m. All grades are welcome! Whether it’s Pokemon cards, Pokemon Legends, or tracing Pokemon out of a guidebook, bring down your favorite Pokemon pastime for an afternoon of fun. Nintendo Switches, Card binders and other gaming devices encouraged. Snacks provided. Do you have what it takes to catch them all? No registration necessary.
Come write poems with author Mimi White on Wednesday, May 11 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the library lawn. Attendees will look through the lens of this line, “A day so happy” and go from there. All levels of writers and non- writers welcome.
On Friday, May 20 from 3 to 4 p.m. the library will host “Outdoor Lawn Games & Snacks” for grades 3 and up. Games will include Giant Yahtzee and Jenga! No registration necessary.
Learn more about “Trellis Gardening” with Casey Doyle, owner of Sustainable Sanctuary, on Wednesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. Casey will discuss the history behind trellising and demonstrate how to construct a strong trellis for your garden using items from your yard or forest.
And on Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 PM, the library offers “Lifting Up LGBTQIA + Youth.” This presentation and discussion will include the basics of the LGBTQIA+ community, identity development, youth mental health, and the importance of cultivating affirming relationships with ample time for conversation, exploration, and community learning. Resources for upcoming Pride events, queer community, and further engagement will be provided. Adults and youth welcome. No registration required.
Questions? Contact Gwen Putnam-Bailey at 964-8401, or visit www.ryepubliclibrary.org to register for programs.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Events at the Portsmouth, Rye and Eliot libraries in May
