Submitted by Tammy Eustis, Killingworth Library Association
(December 24, 2025) — The following programs and events will take place at Killingworth Library during the month of January, 2026. Our regular programs – Tales for Tots, Love2Sign, Minecraft, Music with Margie, and Surprise Saturday – continue as well! Pre-registration is required for all of these programs. Please visit the Calendar at killingworthlibrary.org or call 860-663-2000 to reserve your spot.
Winter Reading Bingo – Starts Monday, January 5, 2026. Adults and seniors: need some reading inspiration for the short, cold months of winter? Stop by the library and pick up a Winter Bingo challenge sheet. Complete five challenges in a row to be entered into a prize drawing! Winter Bingo runs through Saturday, March 14, 2026. The winner will be contacted during the week of March 16, 2026.
Qigong for the Aging – Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Begin the New Year with a revitalizing movement practice led by Stephen Watson of Clinton’s Someday Farm. This profoundly powerful program emphasizes Stretching, Strength, Stability, and Stamina – supporting mobility and flexibility for everyday life and beyond. Qìgōng draws from a foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Poetry, Philosophy, and Tai Chi. In a Qìgōng session, people of all ages and abilities are invited to cultivate breath and balance as we grow toward resilience through gentle, mindful movement. Participants can practice seated or standing or stepping. All levels welcome. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Tinker and Take It Apart – Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Are you the next Rosie Revere, Engineer or just fascinated with taking apart everyday items? Come and disassemble donated items and foster a sense of curiosity and problem solving with other tinkerers. Please bring safety goggles from home. Suitable for ages 5 to 11. Space and supplies are limited, so please register in advance.
Adult Movie Night – Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Join us for a free movie viewing! We meet in the adult reading area after the library closes at 6:00 p.m. 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 be sure to register to reserve your seat.
Tweens Writing – Friday, January 9, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Here’s a chance for tweens (ages 9-12) to write and share their stories with their peers. We will explore different writing genres, including fantasy, family stories, essays, and research. NOTE: this group is based on a workshop model. A writing prompt is completed and shared at each meet-up. The shared prompt is then developed into a piece to share at the next meeting. If you are new to the group or miss a meeting, please call the library at 860-663-2000 and arrange to pick up the prompt. Sharing is not required, only if you’re ready! Space is limited, so please register in advance.
LEGO STEM Club – Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 5:45 p.m.-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 Foosball! It’s even more fun when you collaborate with another engineer. Suitable for elementary grades 1 through 4. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
American Girl Doll Club – Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-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 Mia St. Clair. Suitable for elementary grades 1 through 4. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Writers Writing – Fridays, January 16, 2026 and January 30, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Writers Writing is an ongoing program for adults that explores different genres of writing. We start with free writes, followed by revision assignments, with weekly opportunities to share work with others. Note: sharing is not required – shyness and uncertainty are always welcome. This is a very popular program, so please register in advance
Sip and Paint Polar Bears – Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Little painters and interested artists are invited to this special kids’ sip and paint session! We’ll follow step-by-step directions to paint a cute polar bear, learning some new art techniques while sipping on healthy juice boxes (which will be provided). Take your polar bear portrait home to enjoy all winter long! Suitable for Grades 2 through 4. Space and supplies are limited, so please register in advance.
Pajama Storytime – Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-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 stories from our favorite authors. This month, she’s reading Karma Wilson. Readers will be engaged with sound effects, movements, and puppets. Family members of all ages are welcome! Please register in advance, so we know how many friends to expect.
Colorful Paper Weaving – Thursday, January 22, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. It’s a new year! Try your hand at a different craft! Join other interested weavers and learn how to weave colorful patterns out of paper. All materials will be provided. Suitable for Grades 1 through 3. Space and supplies are limited, so please register in advance.
Drive-In Movie Night – Thursday, January 22, 2026 6:00 p.m.-6:45 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).
Put the Phone Away! Let the Marbles Play! – Saturday, January 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Unplug, learn, and have fun through STEM play! Kids can enjoy an “unplugged” story time and activity with Mrs. Fig, while adults join a relaxed discussion with experts from the Shoreline Therapy Center. The topic is “Unplugging our Kids Without Losing Ourselves.” Get practical tips, tricks, and strategies to help your family step away from screens, reclaim your time, and break the device habit. Afterward, gather back together as a family for a group STEM activity! Parents and kids will work together to design a creative marble maze. This event is sponsored by Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services, HK Unplugged, Shoreline Therapy Center, and the Killingworth Library. Please register in advance.
Math Mania – Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. There are so many fun games you can play while reinforcing your math skills at the same time. Join Mrs. Fig and other math mania enthusiasts, as this month we practice our facts with addition games! Suitable for elementary school-age children. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Migrate, Hibernate, and Adapt – Thursday, January 29, 2026, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. What do animals do when the weather gets cold? Together, we will investigate how animals survive during the winter season. Join Steward Outdoor Day School in the children’s room, for a hands-on STEAM experience that blends science, nature, and art! Suitable for children ages 5 through 10. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Antique Map Collecting 101 – Friday, January 30, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Are you intrigued by old maps, and perhaps collect them, too? Are you confused and tongue-tied by jargon such as “foxing” or “neat line,” or simply not sure where to start or how to develop your collection? Come join us as Brian Tims of the Connecticut Map Society enlightens us about collecting (and, most important, enjoying) antique and vintage maps of all types. Brian will be your sherpa as he walks you through the land of collecting, including how to define your collection, where to search for and acquire maps, along with evaluating them, negotiating, and preserving your collection. Please register in advance.
