Submitted by Tammy Eustis, Killingworth Library Association
(September 28, 2025) — The following programs and events will take place at Killingworth Library during the month of October, 2025. Please remember that all library programs require pre-registration, so staff can prepare supplies and seating. Visit the Calendar on the library’s website – killingworthlibrary.org – or call 860-663-2000. If you sign up and are unable to attend, there is a link for easy cancellation in the confirmation email that you receive at the time of registration.
Halloween Costume Swap – Swap, not shop! Save the planet (and your wallet) by bringing your clean, gently used Halloween costumes to the library between October 1, 2025 and October 17, 2025, then visit on Saturday, October 18, 2025 to pick out a new costume for this year! All ages may participate, and you do not need to drop off to be eligible to take a new costume on the 18th! Finding a costume in your size will not be guaranteed; first-come, first-served. Please donate only costumes that are in good condition: no rips, tears, or stains (unless they’re part of the costume). Costumes that don’t meet these criteria will not be used.
Adult Movie Night – Wednesday, October 1, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Join us on the first Wednesday of every month for our free adult movie nights! We meet in the adult reading area after the library closes at 6:00. Feel free to bring your own snacks and (covered, non-alcoholic) drinks. Please contact the library or visit the Calendar on our website for this month’s title, and please register to reserve your seat.
Speaking Up: A “Banned Book” Discussion – Friday, October 3, 2025 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Banned Books Week will be held between October 5, 2025 and October 11, 2025. It highlights challenged books and encourages open access to information and ideas, even those that may be considered controversial or unpopular. Who supports book banning? What books are banned, and why? Teens are invited to attend this discussion and explore, discover, and express their ideas and answers to these questions. We will share excerpts from banned books (Harry Potter, The Hate U Give, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower) to reach our conclusions. You may register in advance, or just drop in. We will have plenty of room for those interested.
Halloween Masks – Saturday, October 4, 2025 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Witch. Bat. Dracula’s eyes. What scares you on Halloween night? Join us in making masks to celebrate (fun) fright! All “ghoulish” materials will be provided. This program is designed for tweens, ages 9-14. Supplies are limited, so please register in advance. (We will allow for walk-ins if the program isn’t full).
“Spooktacular” Graham Cracker Houses – Tuesday, October 7, 2025 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Come hear a Halloween story with Mrs. Fig, then decorate your own (pre-assembled) haunted graham cracker house! We’ll have all the supplies necessary: royal icing and a variety of fun candies. Suitable for grades pre-K through Grade 3. Please remember that adults must remain on the premises with children under the age of 12. Space and supplies are limited, so please register in advance. NOTE: if you sign up and are unable to attend, please use the “cancel” feature in your confirmation email, so the slot opens for someone else.
Bath Bomb Crafting Night – Wednesday, October 8, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Settle into the fall and relax with some homemade bath bombs. We will provide all of the supplies you need, with a selection of colors and fragrances. This program is free, but please register to save your seat, as materials will be limited.
Cookbook Club – Thursday, October 9, 2025 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Welcome to the inaugural session of the Killingworth Library Cookbook Club! On the second Thursday of each month, we will choose the cuisine of one country to explore. Each club member will cook a dish from that country to bring in and share. We will gather, try the various foods, and discuss. In October, we will be cooking food from Spain. If you’re interested in joining, please register on the library calendar, and please also email Ben at bsodergren@killingworthlibrary.org with your choice of dish.
With your Killingworth library card, you can access the A-Z World Food database. This is a great resource for learning about different countries’ food cultures and for finding recipes. If you prefer, the library can also help you find a cookbook, or you may use your own recipe. Dishes don’t need to be complicated or fancy. Anything from this month’s country is fair game. Please keep in mind that the library does not have the ability to reheat food or keep it warm. We will provide disposable dinnerware, but please bring your own serving utensils, and feel free to bring your own dishes or a mess kit, to combat waste. Note: This is a potluck event and recipes will be prepared in personal kitchens. Eat at your own discretion.
Writers Writing – Fridays, October 10, 2025 and October 24, 2025 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Our popular Writers Writing series continues in October. The group process includes free writes, short lectures and handouts, and revision. NOTE: sharing of work is not required – shyness and uncertainty are always welcome. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Author Talk: Pearls from Carol – Friday, October 10, 2025 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please join us to hear Albert Ruggiero discuss this collection of writing by his late wife, Carol. From the author: “This little volume has been both written by and is dedicated to my late wife, Carol Ann Ruggiero For twenty years she lovingly attended and wrote for a writing group known as “Writers Unlimited.” These are her words, her thoughts, her humorous outlooks on life. This book can be read cover to cover, but it also can be read and savored in small doses over a long period of time. Each story centers on one brief moment. Each story is a tiny world of its own. It is my firm hope that you the reader will both enjoy and pass on these pages for the enjoyment of many. This is a timeless gem. In our troubled, complex and anxiety ridden society this book will provide many a smile and no small amount of comfort.” There will be a presentation, opportunities to ask questions, and copies of the book available for sale. Please register if you plan on attending.
Art for All: Falling Leaves – Monday, October 13, 2025 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn how to use fossilized leaves to create decorative cards! Enjoy the season and learn fascinating facts about recycling items to use in your artwork. Supplies will be provided. Suitable for adults and seniors. Please register in advance.
American Girl Doll Club – Tuesday, October 14, 2025 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Join us with your favorite doll (it doesn’t have to be an American Girl doll) and make new friends! Enjoy a story or discussion, activities, and a craft from a different history time period. This month, we will focus on Chrissa and life in 2009. Suitable for elementary Grades 1 through 4. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Relationship Abuse: Life without Fear – Wednesday, October 15, 2025 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Presenters from the Women and Families Center in Meriden will provide information and resources for those in abusive relationships, their family members, partners and friends. All are invited to attend. This program is co-sponsored by the Killingworth Women’s Organization and Killingworth Library.
Pajama Storytime – Thursday, October 16, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Come dressed in your pj’s, bring your favorite stuffed animal and blanket, and get ready to cuddle! Mrs. Fig will share seasonal stories, engaging readers with sound effects, movement, and puppets. Family members of all ages are welcome. Please register in advance.
Monster Heads – Tuesday, October 21, 2025 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Looking for a wacky, “spooktacular” craft to do this season? Bring along a friend, and create a monster head! We’ll have all the supplies you need, plus paint and various decorations, to create the monster of your dreams. Suitable for tweens and teens. Space and supplies are limited, so please register in advance.
LEGO STEM Club – Tuesday, October 21, 2025 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Future engineers! Learn to use the STEM steps to success, as you solve a problem, plan and create a design, and then test your project. This month’s project is a pulley with a gondola. It’s even more fun when you collaborate with another engineer. Suitable for elementary Grades 1 through 4. Please register in advance.
Tips & Tricks with Tammy – Learn how to access and use various online resources provided by the library. Wednesday, October 22, 2025 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Access Your Library Account Online. Did you know that you can access your library account from home or on the road? Renew items, search the catalog, request interlibrary loans, view your checkout history, and create to-read lists, all at your fingertips.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Searching the Online Catalog. Ever feel like you can’t quite find what you’re looking for in the catalog? We’ll provide you with handy hints and sure-fire shortcuts, to turn you into a searching pro! We’ll also review how to place interlibrary loans through our system. We’ll have four laptops available for hands-on practice, but you’re welcome to bring your own (or a mobile device). Space is limited to six attendees. We’ll be in touch once you register, to make sure you have a library card to use for placing reserves. Please register in advance.
“Drive-In” Movie Night – Tuesday, October 28, 2025 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Decorate a cardboard box with paper plate wheels and some fancy designs, then bring your “car” to the children’s room for a “drive-in” movie! Sit in your car, enjoy a bag of Smartfood popcorn, and enjoy a storybook film. Please contact the library or visit the Calendar on our website for this month’s title, and please register to reserve your “parking space” (floor seating is available, too).
Fractured Fairytales Play – Wednesday, October 29, 2025 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Our friends from the Grove School Children’s Theater Troupe are returning with another fractured fairytale performance. See some familiar characters come to life, and meet the young actors after the performance. Fun for the whole family! Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Holiday Announcement:
The library will be open on Columbus Day, October 13, 2025.
Killingworth Library is located at 301 Route 81 in Killingworth.
