Winter Chess Club
2026-01-27 16:00 - 16:30, 2026-02-10 15:15 - 15:45, 2026-02-10 16:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | The Burnham Library, 62 Main Street South, Burnham Library, Bridgewater, CT, 06798, United States
Burnham Library Presents: Winter Chess Club
Grades 1-5
Every other Tuesday (1/13, 1/27, 2/10, 2/24, 3/10, 3/24)
Jeremy Lingenfelser will introduce kids to the game of chess or help players who know the game, learn new strategies. Open to all abilities!
Available in 2 sessions. 3:15pm-3:45pm OR 4:00-4:30pm.
Registration required. Please register with Mrs. Lianne at lambruso@burnhamlibrary.org. When emailing, specify which session time you would like.

Homeschool Hangout -Space Explorers
2026-01-28 12:00 - 12:45
Burnham Library Presents:
Homeschool Hangout- Space Explorers
Ages 6+
Last Wednesdays of the month (1/28, 2/25, 3/25)
Join us to participate in space themed crafts, activities and STEM challenges.
Registration required. To register, email Mrs. Lianne at lambruso@burnhamlibrary.org.

Cancelled -Homeschool Hangout -Space Explorers
2026-01-28 12:00 - 12:45

Cancelled - Homeschool Hangout -Space Explorers
2026-01-28 12:00 - 12:45

Book Discussion: Migration
2026-01-28 17:00 - 19:00
Join us as we discuss Migration by Charlotte McConaghy
Copies available at the library circulation desk.
Questions? Contact jkallay@burnhamlibrary.org

Virtual Author Talk: Secrets and Second Chances with Liz Moore
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:00
REGISTER & SUBMIT QUESTIONS HERE
via Digital Livestream or on Demand
We are thrilled to welcome Liz Moore to discuss her latest work, The God of the Woods, an instant New York Times bestseller and one of NPR’s 2024 “Books We Love” highlights.
Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
Join us in conversation with Liz as we embark on a tale of thrilling twists and disturbing disappearances. Register today to “enter the woods,” if you dare!
About the Author: Liz Moore is the author of five novels: The Words of Every Song, Heft, The Unseen World, the New York Times bestselling Long Bright River, and The God of the Woods. A winner of the 2014 Rome Prize in Literature, she lives in Philadelphia and teaches in the MFA program in Creative Writing at Temple University.

Burnham Bunch Storytime
2026-01-29 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-02-05 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-02-12 10:30 - 11:00
Burnham Library Presents: Burnham Bunch Storytime
Thursdays 1/22-3/26
10:30am
Drop in.
Perfect for the 5 and under crowd! Sing songs, read books and have some bubble fun!

Town Event: Pop-Up Snowshoe Walk
2026-01-29 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-31 13:00 - 15:00
Bridgewater Recreation Commission Snowshoe Walk Pop-Up
Meet at the Hilltop Center Thursday, January 29 and Saturday January 31 at 1:00 pm
All ages welcome
Bring your own snowshoes.

French Conversation Fridays
2026-01-30 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-02-06 13:30 - 14:30, 2026-02-13 13:30 - 14:30
French Conversation Fridays
Join us for a relaxed meet-and-greet as we launch French Conversation Fridays! Whether you’re fluent or rusty, practice your French, meet fellow language learners, and enjoy a welcoming, low-pressure space to speak, listen, and learn together. Moderate to fluent speakers are welcome—à bientôt!
Questions? Contact jkallay@burnhamlibrary.org

80's & 90's Mix Tape Music Bingo
2026-01-30 18:00 - 20:00
80’s & 90’s Mix Tape Music Bingo
Friday, January 30, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, with doors opening at 5:45
Registration is required. email jkallay@burnhamlibrary.org
Feel free to bring snacks or beverages.
Mix Tape Music Bingo is a musical twist on old-school bingo! Players receive a bingo card where traditional numbers are replaced with song names. Snippets of songs will play over the speakers, and if the song is on your card, cross it out. The first player to complete a full row and shout “Bingo!” wins—easy as that!
No teams are needed. There will be two rounds: an ’80s round and a ’90s round. Prizes will be awarded to one lucky winner at the end of each “decade.”

February - March Art Show: Makers, Bakers, Movers and Shakers: Vintage Portraits from Bridgewater's Past
2026-02-03 10:00 - 17:00
Makers, Bakers, Movers and Shakers: Vintage Portraits from Bridgewater’s Past
During Library Hours, February 2 – March 28
Reception on Saturday, February 14, from 11:00 – 1:00 pm
As part of Burnham Library’s Centennial Celebration, the Library is proud to present a special photographic exhibition honoring the people and history of Bridgewater through the lens of fine art photographer Robert Gumpper (1928-2005).
This exhibition features a compelling collection of vintage portraits depicting Bridgewater residents from the 1950s through the 1970s, offering today’s community a rare and intimate glimpse into the town’s past. It is particularly fitting that such an exhibit be included in the library’s centennial year, as the photographs both educate and illuminate the lives of the people who helped shape Bridgewater into the town it is today.
Photographer Robert Gumpper settled in Bridgewater in 1954. When the town celebrated its own centennial two years later, Gumpper—who specialized in large-format photography and historic photographic processes—documented the occasion by creating portraits of residents attending the Bridgewater Centennial Ball. Many of the sitters wore period costumes, resulting in striking images that capture a moment in time now long past. A slideshow of these Centennial Ball portraits will run throughout the exhibition, with select images reproduced and framed for display.
In addition to the Centennial Ball photographs, the exhibit includes portraits of Bridgewater residents from subsequent decades. Some of the subjects were well-known figures in their respective fields, while others are individuals whose names have largely faded from public memory. Regardless of notoriety, each portrait is visually compelling and tells a deeply human story. Background information has been gathered for each subject, allowing visitors to learn more about and commemorate these former residents.
Robert Gumpper (1926–2005) was a fine art photographer known for his mastery of antique photographic processes, including Gum Bichromate, Kallitype, Bromoil, and Dye Transfer, among others. In addition to his artistic work, he operated a portrait studio in Bridgewater and studied lighting and portraiture with William Mortensen, the famed Hollywood photographer. Gumpper’s work reflects both technical excellence and a strong sense of place, making it especially meaningful to the Bridgewater community.
The exhibition has been curated by the photographer’s daughter, Valerie Gumpper, and stands as both a tribute to her father’s legacy and a celebration of Bridgewater’s residents—past and present.

Burnham School Visit
2026-02-03 14:00 - 15:00
Burnham School visit for grades 2 & 4.

Burnham School Visit
2026-02-05 11:00 - 15:00
Burnham School Visit for grades K, 1, 3, &5

Remembering the Holocaust: The Power of Family Stories - An Evening with Ruben Wind
2026-02-05 18:00 - 19:00
Remembering the Holocaust: The Power of Family Stories – An Evening with Ruben Wind
In partnership with the Bridgewater Congregational Church
Registration required. RSVP below
Ruben Wind will share his parents’ story of escape from the Nazi regime, placing their journey within the broader historical context of the Holocaust and the decades that followed. Passionate about Holocaust education, Wind is dedicated to sharing family stories to ensure this history is never forgotten and never repeated.
Ruben Wind is a member of HERO, the Holocaust Education Resource and Outreach Center, and Generations Forward, sponsored by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center of White Plains, New York.
This program is free and open to the public.

Virtual Author Talk: Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures with Novelist Vanessa Riley
2026-02-05 19:00 - 20:00
REGISTER & SUBMIT QUESTIONS HERE
via Digital Livestream or on Demand
Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat online with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye.
The Caribbean Sea, 1675. Jacquotte Delahaye is the mixed-race daughter of a wealthy tavern owner on the island of Tortuga. Instead of marriage, Jacquotte dreams of joining the seafarers and smugglers whose tall-masted ships cluster in the turquoise waters around Tortuga. In Haiti she becomes Jacques, a dockworker, earning the respect of those around her while hiding her gender.
Jacquotte discovers that secret identities are fairly common in the chaotic world of seafaring, which is full of outsiders and misfits. As Jacques, Jacquotte falls in love with Lizzôa d’Erville, a beautiful courtesan who deals in secrets and sex. While others see their work clothes as a disguise, Lizzôa’s true self is as a woman.
For the next twenty years, Jacquotte raids the Caribbean, making enemies and amassing a fortune in stolen gold. When her fellow pirates decide to increase their profits by entering the slave trade, Jacquotte turns away from piracy and the pursuit of riches. Risking her life in one deadly skirmish after another, she instead begins to plot a war of liberation.
Don’t miss out on this exciting discussion! Register now to embark on a seafaring journey of self discovery and reclamation of personal power.
About the Author: Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author and proud recipient of the 2024 Georgia Mystery/Detective Fiction Author of the Year. She writes Sagas and Book Club Fiction that brings to life the hidden narratives of Black women and women of color in novels like Island Queen and Queen of Exiles. Her stories celebrate strong sisterhoods, diverse communities, and resilience across historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres.Her work has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and The New York Times.

PK Little Crafts
2026-02-06 10:30 - 11:00
Burnham Library Presents: PK Little Crafts
1st Fridays of the month (1/9*, 2/6, 3/6) *1/9 due to New Year holiday*.
10:30am
Crafts specifically for our toddlers and preschoolers! Simple, seasonal crafts to help practice fine motor, scissor and prewriting skills!
Registration required. Email Mrs. Lianne at lambruso@burnhamlibrary.org

Take Your Child to the Library Day
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00
Take Your Child to the Library Day – Pirate Adventures
Saturday, February 7, 2026
10:00am-12:00pm
Drop in. All ages.
Come visit Burnham Library for the 15th annual ‘Take Your Child to the Library Day’ celebrated throughout Connecticut and the nation. Ahoy Matey! The Burnham Library is full of Pirate Adventures. Follow our treasure map and complete pirate activities to claim your booty!

CANCELLED Homeschool Hangout - Artventure
2026-02-11 12:00 - 12:45
Burnham Library Presents: Home School Hangout- Artventure
2nd Wednesdays
12:00pm-12:45pm
Ages 6+
Learn about famous artists and try out some artwork in the same style! A new artist and project each session.
Registration required. Please email Mrs. Lianne at lambruso@burnhamlibrary.org to register.

STORYTIME CANCELLED
2026-02-12

Virtual Author Talk: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic with Dr. Lindsey Stewart
2026-02-12 14:00 - 15:00
REGISTER & SUBMIT QUESTIONS HERE
via Digital Livestream or on Demand
Feminist philosopher Dr. Lindsey Stewart’s book, The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic, tells the stories of Negro Mammies of slavery; the Voodoo Queens and Blues Women of Reconstruction; and the Granny Midwives and textile weavers of the Jim Crow era. These women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries and passed down their traditions.
Conjure informs our lives in ways remarkable and ordinary—from traditional medicines that informed the creation of Vicks VapoRub and the rise of Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix, to the original magic of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), and the true origins of the all-American classic blue jean.
From the moment enslaved Africans first arrived on these shores, conjure was heavily regulated and even outlawed. Now, Stewart uncovers new contours of American history, sourcing letters from the enslaved, dispatches from the lore of Oshun and other African mystics. The Conjuring of America is a love letter to the real magic Black women used, their herbs, food, textiles, song, and dance, used to sow rebellion, freedom, and hope.
Join us to take part in the magic and celebrate the legacy of America’s founding Black women. Register for free today!
About the Author: Lindsey Stewart is a Black feminist philosopher and an Associate Professor of philosophy at the University of Memphis. She is the author of The Politics of Black Joy. Her work has been featured in Blavity, Signs, Hypatia, and the British Journal for the History of Philosophy, and she holds a 2021 Michael Beaney Prize. She lives in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bridgewater: A Century Ago
2026-02-12 17:30 - 18:30
THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY!
Sponsored by the Bridgewater Historical Society and Bridgewater Land Trust
Look for a second presentation at the Hilltop Center coming in May! email julie@bridgewaterlandtrust.org
A wine and cheese reception to follow.
Join us on a visual journey through Bridgewater: A Century Ago. It’s hard to imagine that just 100 years ago, Bridgewater was a town of narrow dirt roads, few automobiles, and mail delivered by horse and wood-shod sled. Tobacco farming was at its peak, dairy farms dotted the landscape, and the mighty Housatonic River flowed through town. At the heart of the village, a library built of Mine Hill granite rose as a community landmark, followed a few years later by the Burnham School in 1929—both gifts of Clipper Ship Captain William D. Burnham.

Makers, Bakers, Moveres and Shakers: Vintage Portraits from Bridgewater's Past
2026-02-14 11:00 - 13:00
Makers, Bakers, Movers and Shakers: Vintage Portraits from Bridgewater’s Past
During Library Hours, February 2 – March 28
Reception on Saturday, February 14, from 11:00 – 1:00 pm

Table Top Gaming Club
2026-02-14 13:00 - 17:00
Are you ready to dive into a world of adventure, strategy, and fun? Whether you’re a seasoned tabletop game aficionado or just curious to see what all the excitement is about, our monthly meet-up has something for everyone! Why Join Us?

Explore New Games: From favorites to the latest hits, discover a wide variety of games that will challenge your mind and spark your imagination.
Meet Like-Minded Enthusiasts: Connect with fellow game lovers, share tips and strategies.
All Skill Levels Welcome: Whether you’re a beginner or a master, our meet-up is the perfect place to learn new games or showcase your expertise.

Don’t miss out on the fun! Grab your friends, roll the dice, and join us for an unforgettable gaming experience. 🧩
Questions? Contact jkallay@burnhamlibrary.org

Drop-in thru the back door.
