Events
The Acton Library provides educational programs for all ages. Our events are free and open to the public. Some programs have age recommendations. Please look at the event calendar to see if you need to register for a seat.
- OUTREACH: Tech Time_ Estuary
Monday, February 23, 2026 10:15 AM—1:30 PMEstuaryOff Site Tech Assistance with Brian at the Estuary of Old Saybrook. Book him at yourestuary.org
- Meet-up Mondays
Monday, February 23, 2026 1:00—2:30 PMGrady RoomThomas RoomMeet up with your friends or make new ones. Play one of our games (Rummikub, Mexican Train, Scrabble, Cribbage & more) or bring your own (Mahjong?). Coloring & puzzles too! Light refreshments will be served. Register online between 1/23/2026 10:00 AM and 2/23/2026 1:30 PM.
- HYBRID: Smithson’s Gamble: The Incredible History Behind the World’s Largest Museum
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 2:00—3:30 PMGrady RoomLaptopProjectorThomas RoomSmithsonian Curator Emeritus, Tom Crouch, will discuss his book Smithson’s Gamble: The Incredible History Behind the World’s Largest Museum. This virtual discussion may be viewed at the library on our 9-foot screen or at home. There will be a question and answer period. This presentation is through Library Speakers Consortium. This talk will be recorded and will be available to view 24 hours after the event. From Penguin Random House: Discover the incredible history of the Smithsonian as it grew to meet the needs of a nation. Follow the fascinating growth and development of the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years. The English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson never visited the United States, yet he bequeathed his estate to the country to establish the Smithsonian Institution. The rest is history, told in rich detail in Smithson's Gamble. This book reveals how, as it defined a role rooted in curiosity and exploration, the Smithsonian helped to shape the nation's developing identity. The Smithsonian evolved from a small, narrowly focused organization into an institution leading the way in fields from astrophysics to zoology. Smithsonian researchers, and the hundreds of citizen scientists who they recruited, created a collection that documented the natural and human history of a continent. The American conservation movement and a national weather service are rooted at the Smithsonian. Smithson's Gamble is filled with fascinating characters, twists and turns, and moments of triumph and tragedy, complete with political machinations, a bit of backstabbing, accusations of murder, and the occasional scandal. Tom D. Crouch, a Smithsonian veteran of almost 45 years, paints a robust picture of a unique American establishment and its lasting legacies. He chronicles the trials and errors of an increasingly complex institution and all the incredible joys and innovations resulting from Smithson's gamble. Register online between 1/24/2026 10:00 AM and 2/24/2026 6:00 PM.
- Cookbook Club
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 6:00—7:30 PMGrady RoomThomas RoomCheck out a copy of the chosen cookbook for the month, make a recipe within the cookbook & bring it to the meeting for members to sample. This is required to attend. This month's cookbook is Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share by Valerie Bertinelli. Register online between 1/24/2026 10:00 AM and 2/24/2026 6:00 PM.
- Indoor Walking Group
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 11:15 AM—12:00 PMAdult Off-SiteOld Saybrook Park & Rec308 Main St., Old Saybrook, CT, 06475Join Cindy for an indoor walk at the OS Park & Rec. upstairs track. Register online between 12/7/2025 10:00 AM and 3/25/2026 11:00 AM.
- YA: Dungeons and Dragons Club
Friday, February 20, 2026 2:45—4:45 PMThomas RoomD&D club returns! Dungeons and Dragons - Our campaign is back. (now twice a month) Our regular adventurers took some side quests. ...we need some new ones Come join us for all things D&D. Want to make a new character? Discuss Best Tips for DMing? Join or Run a One Shot? Learn about running your own homebrew campaign? Access our growing reference Library of texts and tomes? Drop ins of New/Returning players are always welcome. Ages 10 + Under 12 requires Adult supervision on site Registration now closed.
- YA : Drop-In Games Day
Thursday, February 26, 2026 3:00—4:30 PMTeen Space YA : Open Game Day 3:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. Join us this afternoon for some new and favorite tabletop or video games. Free and open to all, Ages 12-18.
- YA : Drop-In Games Day
Thursday, March 5, 2026 3:00—4:30 PMTeen Space YA : Open Game Day 3:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. Join us this afternoon for some new and favorite tabletop or video games. Free and open to all, Ages 12-18.
- YA: Dungeons and Dragons Club
Friday, March 6, 2026 2:45—4:45 PMThomas RoomD&D club returns! Dungeons and Dragons - Our campaign is back. (now twice a month) Our regular adventurers took some side quests. ...we need some new ones Come join us for all things D&D. Want to make a new character? Discuss Best Tips for DMing? Join or Run a One Shot? Learn about running your own homebrew campaign? Access our growing reference Library of texts and tomes? Drop ins of New/Returning players are always welcome. Ages 10 + Under 12 requires Adult supervision on site Register online between 2/11/2026 9:00 AM and 3/6/2026 2:00 PM.
- YA : Library Advisory Board - Planning Meeting
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 3:30—4:30 PMFriend's Conference RoomDo you want to help at the library? Have a club you'd like to run ? help decide on games, displays, programs and collections Join us! Once a month- Service credit available for active participation Register online between 11/12/2025 10:00 AM and 3/10/2026 3:00 PM.
- Grab & Go Crafts
Friday, February 20, 2026 12:00 AM—11:59 PMChildren's RoomStop by the library each week to pick up one of Ms. Aliza’s Grab & Go craft kits. Available while supplies last.
- Sing & Stomp
Friday, February 20, 2026 10:30—11:30 AMGrady RoomThomas RoomJoin us for a song and dance party for children of all ages and their grown-ups! Sing & Stomp is a noisy half hour of songs, dances, and fingerplays. Cool down afterwards with toys and music. Free and open to all, no registration required. What to expect: *large, open room space, with windows *large playmat is centered in the room *use of musical props throughout the program, including bells, tambourines, shaker eggs, and rhythm sticks *occasional use of dancing scarves and a large parachute *loud music is played *participants sing and dance *free play begins after the cool down and includes blocks and toys *quiet music is played during free play Free and open to all. No Registration Required
- Create a Succulent Terrarium!
Saturday, February 21, 2026 10:30 AM—12:00 PMGrady RoomThomas RoomJoin the Old Saybrook Garden Club and create a succulent terrarium! Learn how to care for succulents while you craft a beautiful terrarium to take home. All supplies provided by the OS Garden Club. For Grades Kindergarten - Grade 4. Registration required. Registration now closed.
- Playgroup
Monday, February 23, 2026 10:30—11:30 AMGrady RoomThomas RoomThis drop-in, child-focused playgroup is for young children and their caregivers. Participants will be able to interact with others, make new friends, and learn by playing in a literacy-enriched environment. Each session will include activities, sensory materials, and toys. No Registration Required Free and open to children ages 0-5 and their caregivers What to expect: large, open room space, with windows room arranged with tables for craft and sensory play, mat spaces for playing with blocks and toys, a cart with a variety of books accessible to read quiet music played during the hour children moving freely from one activity to another Children's Room staff member available for questions, recommendations for books & activities, and general assistance Caregivers responsible for monitoring their children
- Tinker Lab
Monday, February 23, 2026 3:30—4:30 PMGrady RoomJoin us for Tinker Lab! We'll use problem-solving skills to imagine, explore, tinker, build, code, play, and design! Stop motion, green screen filming, music, and mindful art will be just a few of the areas we explore. No prior experience needed! January - Do you enjoy watching stop-motion movie shorts? Come make your own Lego Movie this month! February - Ever wonder how they film someone flying through the air? We'll explore using a green screen to film you in wild locations or flying through the air! March - Let's get mindful with art and explore shape and color theory through play! April - Ever composed your own music that paints a picture? We'll explore the Chrome Music Lab to create new music and art pieces. May - Ever wanted to make your own video game? Let's explore the Scratch Coding Platform to design and create your own digital game! For Grades 2-4. Registration required. Register online between 12/5/2025 10:00 AM and 5/16/2026 5:00 PM.
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