Join Reference Librarian Sam Lee for a discussion of Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

340 pages

Excuse Me While I Disappear by Lauri Notaro
255 pages
A laugh-out-loud spin on the realities, perks, opportunities, and inevitable courses of midlife.  An enlightening memoir about living life on the other side of fifty.
Please email asixt@enfield.org for more information

The Marvels
The extremely powerful hero finds her fate inexplicably intertwined with two younger women. The three headstrong and independent women must then learn to work together and overcome their personal shortcomings to protect the universe from harm.
1 hour, 45 minutes
PG-13

The 25 sights and places you should visit when you retire, or before!

In recent years there have been a multitude of books charting the thousands of places you must see, such as gardens, historic sights, churches or cemeteries, before you die. Let’s consider the thrill of visiting and exploring some of these unique places as you retire, or simply have the inclination to travel at any time.

Dr. Richard Benfield, visitor to over 137 countries, will outline his Top 25 list. He will eschew the obvious and popular (Sistine Chapel, Big Ben, Grand Canyon) and take you on what Robert Frost called the road less travelled; places for adventure and places rarely mentioned in “1000 places you must see.”

Thus, we will see the oldest human-made artifact in the world (800,000 years old), 40,000-year-old Paleolithic Art, the great cathedrals of Europe, majestic mountains, the Panama Canal, gorillas in the mist and much more. Join us for this visually inspiring one-hour journey and get valuable tips for your next big adventure.

Dr. Benfield is the former Chair and Professor of Geography at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut where he taught courses in Human Geography, Plants, Predators and Parks, Russia, The European Union and many of the courses in the department’s tourism track. His current research interests are in biogeography, particularly garden tourism, and the use of tourism as a conservation tool through the great botanic gardens of the world.

Captain America: Brave New World
After meeting with newly elected the new Captain America finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
1 hour, 58 minutes
PG-13

Join the Friends for their “One Read” meeting this year’s topic is True Crime.

Captain America: Brave New World
After meeting with newly elected the new Captain America finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
1 hour, 58 minutes
PG-13

From Liberty to Legacy—Exploring American Ideals in the Musicals 1776 and Hamilton

1776 and Hamilton: two American musicals telling the story of the founding of our nation. This lecture looks at these revolutionary musicals and their contrasting visions of an American society at a crossroads. Note: this lecture features video clips from the two musicals.

Michael Langlois is a performer, lecturer, and storyteller with decades of experience on stage and off. He has lectured from Connecticut to California on topics ranging from acting and directing, to using one’s passions to bridge divides and engage with others. Michael has worked with young and old alike, helping individuals find their voice and tell their own unique stories. He has directed across New England, including performances for the Hartford Children’s Theatre, Springfield’s Drama Studio, and the Ashford Youth Theatre, where he worked for nearly 20 years as Artistic Director. Additionally, Michael worked for over a decade with New London, Connecticut’s Flock Theatre serving as an Associate Artist. There he directed, acted, and taught classes. Michael’s directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Othello; Lysistrata; Godspell; A Piece of My Heart; The Imaginary Invalid; Macbeth; The Crucible; Antigone; The Taming of the Shrew; and The Tempest. Acting credits include the Stage Manager in Our Town; King Henry in Henry V; Brutus in Julius Caeser; and Tobias in Sweeny Todd.

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O’Keefe.

She's a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they're found and Naira Sharp thinks she knows the reason why. 

Clash of the Titans (1981)
Myth-adventures of a Greek hero as he undertakes a series of epic trials in his efforts to save his beloved from prison and a fateful encounter with a monstrous sea creature.
2 hours
PG

July is featuring Showtunes, Disney, Broadway, & Movie Songs! (but not required)

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring First Wednesdays Open Mic at the Enfield Public Library.

First Wednesdays are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Clash of the Titans (2010)
In this fantasy adventure based on Greek mythology, a courageous warrior vows to defeat the god of the underworld in order to prevent him from overthrowing the god of Olympus, thereby turning Earth into a living hell.
1 hour, 46 minutes
PG-13

Join Deputy Director Katie Werth for a discussion of The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way to the city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most requested henna artist to the wealthy women of the upper class. Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi avoids gossip that could ruin her reputation. As she pursues her dream, she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later.

Author and Musician Alexander Nichols will be doing a reading from his book Standing On The Edge Of The End. It is a science fiction story chronicling the evolution of the human race from the beginning. It explores how humanity came to be and details our origins and what is our purpose for being.

He will also perform a mini-concert with R&B, Funk, and Motown selections.

Alexander Nichols was born in the town of Clarksdale, Mississippi, he was eight years old when his family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. He went to college there and majored in Electronic Technology. He is a musician who has performed professionally with well-known artists as well as his many siblings. 

Sign up at Reference Desk, bring your dish to share.

This month’s selection is Good Lookin’ Cookin’ by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George

To minimize waste please bring your own dishes, flatware and serve ware for your dishes

Death at a Funeral (2007)
Various crises occur as family and friends gather to attend a man's funeral at his country estate in this dry farce.
1 hour, 30 minutes
R

Mickey 17
The unlikely hero has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
2 hours, 19 minutes
R

Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan
352 pages
Set against a high-society Shanghai wedding, a reluctant bride and her two best friends, each with their own motives and fed up with the way society treats women, who forge a plan to steal all the gift money on the big day.

Mickey 17
The unlikely hero has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.
2 hours, 19 minutes
R

Join M.J. Schwartz of Studio 138 for an introduction to mindfulness. In this workshop, you will be given a brief overview of the concept of mindfulness. and we will discuss the scientifically backed benefits of having a regular mindfulness practice, such as better sleep and improved concentration. M.J. will then guide you through a few seated exercises and meditations. You will leave with a handout, simple ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily lives. There will be a Q and A period at the end of the session. No previous mindfulness experience is necessary!

M.J. Schwartz is the owner of Studio 138: A Healing for Perfectionists, based in Longmeadow, MA. She has a B.A. in psychology from Smith College, where she studied perfectionism with one of the field's leading researchers. M.J. holds certifications in mindfulness, yoga, Intuitive Eating, and life coaching. M.J. started practicing yoga and mindfulness when she was twelve years old, and she loves sharing the gifts of these modalities with others. As someone who has experienced chronic illness and disability, she has firsthand experience of how these practices can improve both physical and emotional health, contributing to a higher quality of life.

When not working with clients, M.J. enjoys spending time in nature, especially by the ocean, any chance she gets. She is also an essayist and independent journalist, and experiences writing as a powerful way to incorporate mindfulness into daily life.

Death at a Funeral (2010)
A man attempts to bury his recently deceased father while dealing with his eccentric family and a number of newly exposed family secrets, including his dad's relationship with a blackmailing dwarf.
1 hour, 32 minutes
R

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin.

Outside Los Angeles, a driver pulls up to find a young woman sitting on a large black box. She offers him $200,000 cash to transport her and that box across the country, to Washington, DC. But there are rules...

Using the medium of your choice create a work of art. Pick up a blank canvas beginning on 7/23 and return by 8/3. Art work will be displayed at the library. Punch and light refreshments will be served at the reception. Sponsored by Enfield Culture and Arts Commission. Drop-in

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring an Open Mic Night at the Enfield Public Library.

Open Mic Nights are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Join Deputy Director Katie Werth for a discussion of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney.

Embarking on a walk across Manhattan on New Year's Eve in 1984, eighty-five-year-old Lillian Boxfish recalls her long and eventful life, which included a brief reign as the highest-paid advertising woman in America, whose career was cut short by marriage and loss.

How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
368 pages
Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy wants to leave her fortune to penguins being studied in Antarctica. Her grandson comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know her. Together, they learn what family, love, and connection are all about.

​In this one-hour interactive performance, actor and storyteller George Capaccio invites you to enter the boundary-breaking universe that is the mind of Albert Einstein. You will discover that time and space are inseparable, that time actually slows down the faster you go, and that if you could travel at the speed of light, time would actually stop!

 But there's a lot more to the story than Einstein's insights into the nature of reality. George focuses on the great scientist's very human qualities, including his sense of humor, his fondness for Jewish jokes, and his trials and tribulations as a family man.

As part of the show, you'll time travel with George on the trajectory of Einstein's life — from lowly patent clerk in a Swiss office to world-class physicist.

Once Upon a Blue Moon: Stories to Enrapture the Mind, Delight the Senses, and Chill the Soul

A blood-drinker offers protection to the daughter of a drug lord. A guardian is more than he seems. A girl is taken on the ride of her life. The inner beast takes control. Obsession is made into art. Blood is thicker than water. Some things just aren’t worth coming home for. Stuck between fire and water. The end of the world really isn’t. Anything is better than marriage. When you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back. Jessica Barone, author of The Shadowlands series, offers this collection of short stories to enrapture the mind, delight the senses, and chill the soul.

Jessica Barone is an educator, an avid reader and writer, and the mother of a warrior princess. She credits her Sicilian grandmother's stories of the old country as her earliest source of inspiration. Today Jessica is a mother who tells stories to her own child, and has kept her love of the supernatural alive by watching scary movies, melodramatic Netflix shows, and reading slightly disturbing novels in her spare time.

Books by Jessica Barone include The Shadowlands series; Eternal Night, Shadow Cast, Dark Ascension, Dragon Slayer. Short story collection; Once Upon a Blue Moon.

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei.

Maya Hoshimoto was once the best art thief in the galaxy. For ten years, she returned stolen artifacts to alien civilizations—until a disastrous job forced her into hiding. Now she just wants to enjoy a quiet life as a graduate student of anthropology, but she’s haunted by persistent and disturbing visions of the future.

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring First Wednesdays Open Mic at the Enfield Public Library.

First Wednesdays are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Join Deputy Director Katie Werth for a discussion of Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh.

One dark evening on New York City’s Upper West Side, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realize they have much in common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against the men who destroyed their families. As they talk into the night, they come up with the perfect if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you.

Officer Clemmons by Dr. Francois Clemmons
277 pages
Memoir by Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons, who made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program.

Asnuntuck Community College Professor Carol LaLiberte will lead an all-ages Drum Circle. Drums will be provided or bring your own. The library has many musical instruments available to be checked out including bongos, djembe, bodhran, and steelpan drums. Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary.

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring First Wednesdays Open Mic at the Enfield Public Library.

First Wednesdays are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Join Deputy Director Katie Werth for a discussion of To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey.

In the winter of 1885, Lieutenant Colonel Allen Forrester sets out with his men on an expedition into the newly acquired territory of Alaska. Their objective: to travel up the ferocious Wolverine River, mapping the interior and gathering information on the region's potentially dangerous native tribes. With a young and newly pregnant wife at home, Forrester is anxious to complete the journey with all possible speed and return to her. But once the crew passes beyond the edge of the known world, there's no telling what awaits them.

Linda will share her newest book Paint the Wind.

Maya Sircos, the daughter of a Greek shipping entrepreneur and an Austrian aristocrat, has never quite fit into the upper class world of Vienna in 1900.
Caught up in the crucible of intellectual, artistic, and scientific transformation that defined the city as the cultural capital of Europe, she defies her upbringing and scandalizes both her family and Viennese society by becoming the muse and model for a brilliant young Expressionist artist.
When challenged to create art herself rather than continue as the object of someone else’s vision, she is driven to reinvent herself as an artist in her own right.
A story of art, passion, and the will to create.

Linda Cardillo is an award-winning author of historical fiction and historical romance. She writes about the old country and the new, the tangle and embrace of family, and finding courage in the midst of loss.

Sign Here by Claudia Lux
404 pages
A guy who works in Hell (literally) is on the cusp of a big promotion if only he can get one more member of the wealthy Harrison family to sell their soul...

Mention the word Medicare and you’re likely to get a confused look in return. The Father/Daughter Team of Lou and Jessica Pelletier will help you navigate the complexities of Medicare in 2026, including the Parts (A – Hospital; B – Physician and Outpatient Coverage; D – Drug Coverage) and the important new changes to Medicare drug plans rolling out in 2026. They’ll walk you through the pros and cons of Medicare Supplement Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans, and help you understand IRMAA (Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amount), Medicare Savings Programs, and the importance of having a Medical Power of Attorney. This workshop is perfect for seniors, their adult children, and anyone who wants to understand how to make smart, informed decisions about Medicare in 2026.

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas.

There are only three real powers in the Spiral: the corporate power of the Trust versus the Union's labor's leverage. Between them the Guild tries to keep everyone's hands above the table. It ain't easy.

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring First Wednesdays Open Mic at the Enfield Public Library.

First Wednesdays are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Join Deputy Director Katie Werth for a discussion of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.

Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which the director of an adoption organization kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

Huda F Are You by Huda Fahmy
188 pages
Huda and her family just moved to Dearborn, Michigan, a small town with a big Muslim population. In her old town, Huda knew exactly who she was: She was the hijabi girl. But in Dearborn, everyone is the hijabi girl.

Sound Healing is an ancient practice going back thousands of years. It promotes balance throughout the body and mind. Julia Nadolny is certified in energy-medicine and will lead participants in a connecting and reflective experience. Depending on your journey in life, chakras can become imbalanced and stuck, or flow in the wrong direction. The quartz crystal singing bowls help to rebalance energy systems, realign and connects us to the Earth.

Attendees are asked to bring a yoga mat, beach towel or blanket to lay on during the program. Chairs will also be available.

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel.

This adrenaline-packed debut novel is about a dating app employee who discovers a glitch that transports him to other worlds.

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring First Wednesdays Open Mic at the Enfield Public Library.

First Wednesdays are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Join Deputy Director Katie Werth for a discussion of Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourne.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for an elite network of assassins for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and people rely more on technology than people skills. When they are sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, and the women realize they've been marked for death. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman--and a killer--of a certain age."

The Puzzler by AJ Jacobs
352 pages
A rollicking journey to understand the enduring power of puzzles: why we love them, what they do to our brains, and how they can improve our world.

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of Holdout by Jeffrey Kluger.

When evil forces are going unchecked on Earth, a principled astronaut makes a spilt-second decision to try to seek justice in the only place she knows how—the International Space Station.

Enfield Culture and Arts Commission is sponsoring First Wednesdays Open Mic at the Enfield Public Library.

First Wednesdays are about creating a welcoming and supportive performance space for artists of all ages and levels. Come express your talents whether it be music, poetry, rap, or spoken word with a receptive group. Facilitated by Enfield musician Kevin Crane.

A variety of instruments including ukuleles, guitars, drums, violins, mandolins, and keyboards are available to be checked out at the library for a three week loan.

The purpose of the Enfield Culture and Arts Commission shall be to plan, produce, coordinate, or otherwise provide assistance to sponsors of events or activities and to encourage participation therein, which promote or develop the artistic, historic, cultural and heritage resources of and within the community of Enfield.

Join Public Services Librarian Lisa Sprague for a discussion of Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.