Donkeys & Donuts at Wilmot Public Library

You probably think of October as pumpkin patch or spooky season, but in Wilmot, it's time for one of their most successful community events. The Wilmot Public Library started their popular "Donkeys & Donuts" program when indoor events were on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, they partnered with Road to Independence, a local "non-profit, non-riding equine program for individuals with differing abilities," inviting the group so that kids could read to their donkey herd.

      

    Adults wanted to get in on the fun, and the library expanded the program to include games, booths, live music and donuts. This year's iteration included a bouncy obstacle course, pumpkin carving with Dave Lorden, donkey-ear craft table, games and face painting, and a performance by singer-songwriter and puppet master Tom Knight.  Even as the event has grown, reading to donkeys remains a core activity. This is a fun example of how a small library, along with their Friends group and local partners, can create community traditions and bring people of all ages together. 

From the NH Center for the Book - November reading challenge from PBS Kids

 If you have kids at your library who love a reading log, check out this post on NH Book Notes (the Center for the Book's blog) about the PBS Kids November reading challenge celebrating Arthur's 30th Birthday:
Book Notes New Hampshire: Arthur turns 30!

There's a free toolkit. Note that the program is for ages 4-8.

Free professional development for YA/Teen Services staff

New England Teen Summit

Join us for the annual New England Teen Summit, a free, virtual event open to library staff across New England, focused on empowering teen services in libraries. We are thrilled to have author Cynthia Leitich Smith as our keynote speaker to kick off the event.

Cynthia Leitich Smith (Mvskoke Nation) is the 2026 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Winner, a two-time American Indian Youth Literature [Young Adult] Award winner, a 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Candidate, a NSK Neustadt Laureate, Southern Miss Medallion winner, Texas Literary Hall of Fame inductee, and the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperChildren’s. Cynthia also has been named to deliver the 2026 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture. She’s a New York Times bestselling author, and her latest titles include Here Come the Aunties!, Firefly Season, and Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories. 

Event Highlights:

Virtual and Free: Attend from anywhere in New England.

Author Keynote: Hear from Cynthia Leitich Smith, a nominee for the MA Teen Choice Book Award and RI Teen Book Award.

Recorded Sessions: All presentations will be recorded and available for later viewing.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow library staff and gain valuable tools to enhance teen services in your library. 

Please register for Teen Summit using this registration link. 

Zoom links will be sent out the week before the Summit

Teen Summit is coordinated by the New England Collaborative, a partnership between the Connecticut State Library, Maine State Library, Massachusetts Library System, New Hampshire State Library, Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, and Vermont Department of Libraries.

Solo-Ish Librarians Happy Hour from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)

From the ARSL - their next Solo-Ish meetup is next week. This is a free offering, open to all.

Solo-Ish Librarians Happy Hour 

Facilitator: Chelsea Price (Library Director, Meservey Public Library, Meservey, IA); Bree Drapa (Library Director, South Burlington Public Library, South Burlington, Vermont)

Schedule: Second Wednesdays, 3pm PT / 4pm MT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET

2026 Meeting Dates: January 14, February 11, March 11 (canceled), April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9

Sign up here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/u-DCfoIERwOu1cKoWSGjmQ 

Free Webinar On Outreach to Middle Schoolers

Our colleagues at the CT State Library are opening their free webinar to all New England librarians:

Reaching Middle Schoolers Through Outreach

Thursday, October 15 | 11:00-12:00

 

Outreach to teens can often be high effort with minimal results, especially when you have limited time and resources. However, strategic shifts in your outreach practices can increase your return on investment, and focusing on middle schoolers is a great way to draw more teens into your library. In this session we will explore different models of outreach to middle schools, create a flexible “menu” of outreach options, and go over tips and tricks for working with your public schools. Participants will leave with a toolbox filled with ideas to hopefully make middle school outreach manageable and sustainable.

Presenter:

Alyssa Taft is the teen librarian at Cranston Public Library. Her professional interests include youth civic engagement, strategic collection development, and partnerships between schools and public libraries. Alyssa has written for Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Computers in Libraries, and has served terms for the RI Middle School Book Award and RI Teen Book Award committees.

Recording and Slides:

This program is being recorded and will be made available on the Teen Services YouTube Playlist.  A link to the slides will be available in the YouTube video description.

Who Should Come?

Perfect for anyone who work with teens!

Accessibility 

​​​​​​​This webinar will be captioned. If you require another access service to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 14 days prior to the event.

Register for Reaching Middle Schoolers Through Outreach