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Smokey the Bear Reading Challenge

Friday, July 05, 2024
Rogers Free Library
Help Smokey celebrate his 80th birthday by learning how to prevent wildfires and help the environment.

Check in with staff at the Children's Room to pick up your reading log. Read books and earn badges to complete the challenge and earn your prize! 

Best for ages 4-10, but any age can participate.
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Hold Fast; Stay True

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Rogers Free Library
Community Gallery (Lower Level)
Hold Fast; Stay True

A juried regional exhibit. Juried by Naomi Slipp, the Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator and the Director of Museum Learning at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. 

On Display from Thursday March 28 to Wednesday May 1
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Poetry Magazine Installation

Friday, May 31, 2024
Rogers Free Library
Main Floor Display
“April Poetry Magazine” by Roger Williams University Students

Poems written by RWU students of Associate Professor Rene Soto are hanging throughout the library. Please find the “hanging magazine” of poems in the Foyer Entryway and on various walls in the stacks.
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Fine Fur-Giveness Month

Friday, May 31, 2024
Rogers Free Library

FINE FUR-GIVENESS

During the month of May, bring us a picture or drawing of any pet and we’ll waive your fines for any lost items belonging to Rogers Free Library.


No pet ownership or art/photography skills required! We just want you back in the library.


The fine print: 

We cannot cancel fines for items owned by other libraries, only items belonging to Rogers Free Library.  

We cannot cancel fines for lost technology (tablets, hotspots, DVD players, etc).

Accounts with 10 or more lost items will need to be approved by the Head of Circulation. 

Items waived must have been lost for two months or longer. 

Rogers Free Library reserves the right to refuse to waive fines at our discretion.

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Pencil Display

Friday, May 31, 2024
Rogers Free Library
Reference Display Area (Upper Level)
Are you looking for an inexpensive hobby; a collection that won’t take up much space; something easy to move; something you won’t have to ship home; something that will remind you of everywhere you’ve been? If so, pencils might be the answer for you. Come see the awesome, excellent, display of the most imaginative collection of pencils you will ever see collected by our local Bristolian, Jay Hurd.
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A Glimmer of Light, A Splash of Color

Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Rogers Free Library
Community Gallery (Lower Level)
The Bristol Art Museum (BAM) in partnership with Rogers Free Library (RFL) is exhibiting artwork which envisions and defines the impact made by a dash of light and a splash of color on a largely monotone image.


“If you see a tree as blue, then make it blue”
Paul Gauguin


Juried by Kristin S. Street, who established The Mill Gallery in Pawtucket, RI. She also served as an an Arts educator at Moses Brown School, Rhode Island School of Design and Maryland Institute College of Art.

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Registration is open

Toddler Storytime with Miss Erin

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Rogers Free Library
Children's Room
Spring Session of Toddler Storytime

Every Monday, April 22 to June 3. Except 5/27, we are closed that day.

Join us for stories, songs, movement and rhymes, and develop pre-reading and social skills during this fun storytime! There will be a craft and snack following the stories. Toddlers, parents and caregivers, join us on the Rainbow Rug in the Children’s Room.

Registration is required. Registration opens on Friday 4/12/24.

Limited to 12 children.
Ages: 2-3
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Adult Education Information Center

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Quiet Study South
Ready to re-boot your learning? Get information, referrals, and skill assessments here at the library through RIDE’s Adult Education Information Center.

Schedule:
2:00 - 5:00 - MEET WITH A JOB COACH
Check your skills, Take a reading or math test, Find training courses, Get referrals to the classes you want.

5:00-6:00 - English Conversation & Writing Class
Get confidence with English speaking and listening.  We will focus on common vocabulary, pronunciation, and role-play.

The info center is open on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings. To get started, drop by and meet with an Adult Education professional to discuss your goals.
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Registration is open

Minecraft Mondays!

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Rogers Free Library
Teen Space
Minecraft is back at Rogers Free Library! Join us in the Teen Space every Monday that school is scheduled at 3:45pm to play. Don’t have a Minecraft account? Don’t worry, we will provide you with one! Play with your friends, and get building!

Laptops available for those who register, or bring your own device if you’d like. All levels of experience are welcome.   

Registration is required. Please register for the individual sessions you can attend. 

Questions? Please email Sarah Griffin, sgriffin@rogersfreelibrary.org

ages 10-18
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English Conversation & Writing

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Quiet Study South
Ready to re-boot your learning? Get confidence with English speaking and listening. We will focus on common vocabulary, pronunciation, and role-play.

Provided here at the library from February 26 to March 25 thanks to RIDE’s Adult Education Information Center.


If you would like to participate in the "English for Work" classes, please see our event on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
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Teen Book Club Made Easy

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Teen Space
Come to hear about new books and talk about a book that you like! If you can, please bring with you the book that you want to talk about.

Extra credit for Mr. Swist's class available! Plus, free pizza!

Ages 11-18

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Craft Night

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Herreshoff Community Room
The craft program will be hosted on the last Monday of the month at 6 pm unless there’s a holiday or other event. The crafts are open to all ages unless there is a note below. Registration required - limits vary.

Craft: Lotus Lantern 
virtual/hybrid workshop with the Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project (KSCPP0

The KSCPP will teach participants step by step how making a lovely lotus flower lantern using colored paper and a pre-made wireframe via live stream. At the same time, the participants will learn about Korea’s unique history and culture. There is the PPT presentation about the lotus & the lantern festival in Korea and a short documentary on Korea will be shown at the end of the class.

This class is best suited for ages 10 and up. 
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Shakespeare Reading Club

6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
Rogers Free Library
Upstairs Conference Room
Expressive reading of Shakespearean dramas, tragedies, histories, and comedies. All attendees will get a chance to participate and play a role.

Open to adults and teens ages 16 and up. We meet every Monday in the 3rd floor.

To register, please email Tom at ttihen@rogersfreelibrary.org.
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Bouncing Babies with Miss Erin

9:30 AM - 9:50 AM
Rogers Free Library
Children's Room
Bouncing Babies is our drop-in storytime program for babies/toddlers up to 23 months old. Join us for great stories, fun rhymes and simple songs!  Shakers, scarves, bubbles and more, create an immersive experience, improving your child’s reading readiness!

Bouncing Babies runs approximately 20 minutes.

Babies, parents and caregivers, join us on the Rainbow Rug in the Children’s Room.

No registration needed!

Ages: 0-2
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Registration is open

Toddler Storytime with Miss Erin

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Rogers Free Library
Children's Room
Spring Session of Toddler Storytime

Every Tuesday, April 23 to June 4.

Join us for stories, songs, movement and rhymes, and develop pre-reading and social skills during this fun storytime! There will be a craft and snack following the stories. Toddlers, parents and caregivers, join us on the Rainbow Rug in the Children’s Room.

Registration is required. Registration opens on Friday 4/12/24.

Limited to 12 children.
Ages: 2-3
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Tech Help

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Main Floor Quiet Study
Do you have questions about computers, mobile devices, or e-readers? Our staff and Roger Williams University volunteers can help!

No registrations required, drop in when you can. Just bring your device and make sure you know your passwords.

Tuesdays 3 PM to 6 PM
Fridays 12 PM to 3 PM
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English for Work

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Main Floor Reading Room
Are you looking to build a strong basic foundation in the English language? This class has an academic focus on grammar and vocabulary needed for work. Students will build skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Provided here at the library every Tuesday & Thursday from February 27 to March 28 thanks to RIDE’s Adult Education Information Center.
The info center is open on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings. To get started, drop by and meet with an Adult Education professional to discuss your goals. You may be tested for proficiency before getting started.
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Don't Get Mad! - Mini Tech Lessons

5:15 PM - 5:45 PM
Rogers Free Library
Upstairs Conference Room
This is a new 5-week series of 30-minute tech lessons designed to empower you in the digital age. Attend one, some, or all the sessions. Gain the knowledge and confidence to tackle any tech challenge in your day-to-day life. This series will be taught by Kirby Forsberg, a Bristol-based software engineer.

We will meet every other Tuesday from 5:15 to 5:45 in the Upstairs Conference Room. 


Week 1, March 5 - Understanding Modern Tech: This is an introduction to understand the growing world of technology. In these 30 minutes, we will discuss annoying tech examples, identify solutions, and share personal experiences with the goal of being able to tackle any tech problem you handle in your day-to-day life!
Week 2, March 19 - Grocery Store Apps (Stop&Shop): Grocery stores have entered the digital age. These 30 minutes will familiarize you with digital coupons, grocery store apps, digital grocery websites, rewards systems, and other ways to even save money online for your every day essentials!
Week 3, April 2 - Hardware (Printers and Rokus): Software is one problem, but it becomes that much more frustrating when the devices in your home are equally hard to control. In these 30 minutes, we will teach you how things like printers, DVD players, Chromecast, Roku, even SleepNumber beds have evolved and what kind of challenged to expect when you turn one on.
Week 4, April 16 - Cyber Safety for Everyone: There’s always reason to stay alert in a world where digital crime is higher than ever. Instead of being scared of it, these 30 minutes will give you the confidence to browse emails, websites, and apps without the fear of wondering if you will ever be a victim.
DISCLAIMER: This is not advice from a professionally-certified representative
Week 5, April 30 - How To Troubleshoot (feat. Microsoft Excel): At the end of the day, knowing how to solve specific problems is nice, but knowing the process behind it is even more valuable. In these 30 minutes, we will go over the process of how to troubleshoot tech problems. There is an underlying method to it after all! And we will be using Microsoft Excel as an example. If you have Excel-specific questions, this class will help even more!


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Bristol Writing Group

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Rogers Free Library
Upstairs Conference Room
Join a growing community of writers for critique and co-writing!

All genres and skill levels are welcome.
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Adult Education Information Center

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Quiet Study South
Ready to re-boot your learning? Get information, referrals, and skill assessments here at the library through RIDE’s Adult Education Information Center.

Schedule:
9:00 - 1:00 - MEET WITH A JOB COACH
Check your skills, Take a reading or math test, Find training courses, Get referrals to the classes you want


The info center is open on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings. To get started, drop by and meet with an Adult Education professional to discuss your goals.
View More
Registration is open

Toddler Storytime with Miss Erin

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Rogers Free Library
Children's Room
Spring Session of Toddler Storytime

Every Wednesday, April 24 to June 5.

Join us for stories, songs, movement and rhymes, and develop pre-reading and social skills during this fun storytime! There will be a craft and snack following the stories. Toddlers, parents and caregivers, join us on the Rainbow Rug in the Children’s Room.

Registration is required. Registration opens on Friday 4/12/24.

Limited to 12 children.
Ages: 2-3
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Drop-In Storytime with Miss Erin

10:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Rogers Free Library
Children's Room
This fun storytime will include stories, interactive songs and rhymes and a Grab & Go Craft Kit (while supplies last).

Children, parents and caregivers, join us on the Rainbow Rug in the Children’s Room.

No registration needed!

Ages: 0-7
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Knitting Group

1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Quiet Study South
Do you love to knit? Do you want to learn more about it? Join our local group of knitters on the 3rd floor every Wednesday and knit as a group.

No registration required. Must bring your own materials.
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Authors Unplugged: Douglas Brunt

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Rogers Free Library
Virtual Only Event
A Live and Virtual Author Talk
Authors Unplugged: Douglas Brunt - Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I

This talk will NOT be hosted on-site at the library. It is online only.
Registration is required for virtual attendance. Click HERE to register.

Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Brunt, about instant bestselling debut non-fiction work The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I. 

September 29, 1913: the steamship Dresden is halfway between Belgium and England. On board is one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine is on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrives at his destination. He vanishes during the night and headlines around the world wonder if it was an accident, suicide, or murder. 

After rising from an impoverished European childhood, Diesel had become a multi-millionaire with his powerful engine that does not require expensive petroleum-based fuel. In doing so, he became not only an international celebrity but also the enemy of two extremely powerful men -– Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and the richest man in the world. The Kaiser wanted the engine to power a fleet of submarines that would finally allow him to challenge Great Britain’s Royal Navy. But Diesel had intended for his engine to be used for the betterment of the world. 

Brunt reopens the case and provides a compelling new conclusion about Diesel’s fate. Register now to see how the mystery unfolds! 

About the AuthorDouglas Brunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel and host of the top-rated SiriusXM author podcast Dedicated with Doug Brunt. A Philadelphia native, he lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children. Visit DouglasBrunt.com for more information.

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Chess Club

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Rogers Free Library
Quiet Study South
This event is for anybody who loves a good game of chess. We are a fun group of players. We like a competitive match, but we are not too serious!

People of all levels are welcome.
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