Wednesdays, 5pm - 8pm in the Business Center

Players of all ages and skill levels are invited to play chess.  Use one of our chess sets or bring your own.  

Otis Library will be hosting a program on money management for new college students and their parents in the Meeting Room. Pamela Days-Luketich, Community Outreach Officer at Liberty Bank, will present this program.  Many college students spend a significant amount of money on things they can do without, open accounts they don’t need or get into dangerous credit situations.  By learning to make smart financial choices, they can develop strong money management skills that will stay with them through their college years and beyond.  For ages 16 and up.  Pizza will be provided.  Free event; registration is required.  Please register on our website calendar or call (860) 889-2365, ext. 128.  This program is sponsored by Liberty Bank

Learn about this ancient art and get a henna decoration!  Register online or by contacting the Front Desk.  For students in grades 6 -1 2.  Program will take place in the Young Adult Department.

For more information, call or visit the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365, ext. 100.

Wednesdays, June 21 - July 19, 6pm - 7:30pm

Learn about a different country each week and enjoy related activities, stories, and recipes! This program is run by the 4-H of New London County.  Space is limited; please register for one or all classes.

For more information, call or visit the Children's Room, 860-889-2365, ext. 114.

Sioux Wimler of Crunchybits will offer a cooking demonstration of One-Pot Wonders in the Community Room.  She will discuss various grains, starches, beans, vegetables, and spice combinations to make easy, versatile, healthy food.  The program will be followed by a food tasting and question and answer session.  Free program; registration is required.  To register, call (860) 889-2365, ext. 128, or register on the online calendar.  This program is open to teens (ages 16 and up) and adults. 

Learn about this beautiful art from Africa and wear your style home! Presented by artist LaShawn Cunningham.  Please register online or at the Front Desk.  Program will take place in the Young Adult Department.

For more information, call or visit the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365, ext. 100.

Otis Library will be offering an origami class in the Meeting Room. Instructor Fran Block will show you how to use recycled paper from a variety of sources to create modular origami models.  Modular origami is paper folding that uses two or more pieces of paper to create more complex units.  If you have favorite paper from old magazines, books, wrapping paper, etc., bring it along. Origami paper and other paper will be available at the program.  This class is for teens, ages 16 and up, and adults.  Registration is required.  To register, call (860) 889-2365, ext. 128, or register on the online calendar at www.otislibrarynorwich.org.  

Play Karuta, Ninja, and Shiritori!  Japanese snacks served too!  Please register.  For grades 5 & up. Program will take place in the Children's Department. 

For more information, call or visit the Front Desk, (860) 889-2365, ext. 100.

Otis Library, in partnership with the Norwich Free Academy History Department, is hosting a Women's History Month Tea to celebrate this year's theme of "Women in Science."  Join Norwich Free Academy students as they portray ground-breaking women in history!  Tea and desserts will be served.  Free event; registration is required.  Call (860) 889-2365, ext. 128, or register on our online calendar.

Community Room

Celebrate African-American Heritage Month by attending this fabulous program!  Learn about the history of head wrap as an African-American style.  Please register online or at the Front Desk.  For grades 5 and up.  Program will take place in the Young Adult Department.

For more information, call or visit the Front Desk, 860-889-2365, ext. 100.

Join us for a discussion of Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes..  There will be pizza and related activities!  Please register. For grades 5-8.  Program will take place in the Meeting Room.  For more information, call or visit the Children's Room, (860) 889-2365, ext. 114.

Join the Ecology Club of Otis Library that meets once a month to discuss environmental ideas and projects for the library and our community.  In partnership with Expressiones Cultural Center of New London.  For grades 6 and up.  Program will take place in the Children's Department.  Please register online.

Join this interactive workshop for pre-teens, teens, and college students.  Learn from our expert panelists - James Shackle, mechanic and pilot in training; Marianne Juber, math teacher; and Gayla Holmes, math instructor.  Door prizes and lunch make this a fun and educational day!  For grades 6 and up.  Please register online or by calling the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365, ext. 100.  Sponsored by Professor & Chair Michelle Dunlap and the Connecticut College Department of Human Development, Connecticut College Holleran Center Margaret Sheriden Faculty Engagement Grant, and Otis Library.

Baseball season is here and Otis Library is proud to partner with the Connecticut Tigers again for the 2016 season! There are two ways to support Otis Library and enjoy a night at the ballpark:

Buy tickets for Otis Library Night at Dodd Stadium:  Friday, August 26, at 7:05pm.  CT Tigers vs. Vermont Lake Monsters; Fireworks after the game!  $8 each ($4 from each ticket goes to Otis Library)

Buy vouchers for any 2016 CT Tigers Game:  Choose your game!  $8 each ($4 from each ticket goes to Otis Library).

Tickets are available now by contacting Kate McDonald at (860) 889-2365, ext. 127 or kmcdonald@otis.lioninc.org.

Sponsored by The Friends of Otis Library.

"Fashion in Fiction" is a delightful show-and-tell on the clothing of Regency England as reflected in Jane Austen's fiction.  The program is presented by dynamic performance artist Kandie Carle.  Ms. Carle has been presenting historical programs since 1992, from Regency to Edwardian (1800-1915), and draws on her extensive background in theater, dance and historical fashion to engage and enthrall the audience!

While dressed in authentic Regency attire, Ms. Carle gives a detailed overview of the clothing of the Regency era (early 1800s) for both gentlemen and ladies.  She shares excerpts from Austen's personal letters as well as passages from some of the novels, highlighting Miss Austen's use of clothing and fashion to define character and class, enhance story line, and develop plot points.  Teens through adults will enjoy discovering just how important fashion was 200 years ago! This program is free and open to the public.

Community Room

Otis Library will host a “Poetry Out Loud” series on Fridays, July 15 – August 12, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.  Participants age 15 and up are invited to gather in the Otis Library Community Room to work on their poetry, songs, and flash fiction, and share them with the group. All skill levels are welcome!  This program will be facilitated by Charlie Chase, a published poet and President of the Norwich Arts Center.  Pizza and soda will be provided each week.  Free event; no registration necessary. 

This program is funded by Connecticut Humanities. Connecticut Humanities, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, supports cultural and historic organizations that tell the state’s stories, build community and enrich lives.  

Expand your science knowledge this summer through challenging experiments!  If you love a challenge and want to develop your learning experience, let your local 4-H lead the way with fun that expands your knowledge of the world!

This program will be held in the Community Room.  Please register for one or all classes.

Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27; 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Explore the world of graphic novels with Sisters by Raina Telgemeier and The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley. Read one or both! Over pizza, we'll explore what in our own lives might be "graphic memoir" material. A zany relative? A fabulous trip? A special hobby? With activities featuring word balloons and panel planning, we will also dive into the process of graphic novel making itself. Pick up a copy of one or both books at the Front Desk. Register online or by contacting the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365 beginning June 20. For grades 5 – 8.

Meeting Room

Make a difference in your library; give us your input on books, programming ideas, and services for teens in the greater Norwich area.  Pizza will be served and community hours counted.  Meetings will take place in the Young Adult area.  For grades 9 & up. Please register online or at the Front Desk.

George Lopez and Marisa Tomei star in this drama inspired by the true story of four undocumented Mexican-American high school students who enter the National Underwater Robotics Competition.  There, with the help of their teacher, the savvy young students test their tech skills against some of the brightest minds at MIT.  Jamie Lee Curtis, Esai Morales and Alexa PenaVega co-star.  Rated PG-13. Free; refreshments provided. Sponsored by The Friends of Otis Library.

Otis Library, in partnership with Norwich Free Academy, will present the free, after-hours program "Songs From The Sea" with local musician/storyteller Rick Spencer. This is a storytelling event for grades 5-8.  No registration necessary.  For more information, call Diane at (860) 889-2365, ext. 119.

Are you interested in volunteering at Otis Library this summer?  Teen Volunteers must be between age twelve (12), and eighteen (18).  An application must be filled out prior to, or day of meeting.  All volunteers must have application signed by parent or guardian.

During the month of April, Otis Library will be celebrating the Middle East, from ancient civilizations to the Arab Spring.  On your next visit to Otis Library, make sure to stop at the display cases in the atrium to see items from ancient and modern Egypt, Israel and Lebanon.  There will also be a display of books and media that you can borrow that reflect middle eastern arts, religion and culture.

On Wednesday, April 20, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., we will highlight the culture of the Middle East with a series of programs throughout the Library.  Sweets from Lazaizah Bakery will be served on the main level;  a drop-in craft will be offered in the Children's Department; and henna tattoos will be available in the Young Adult Department.  

A screening of the film Caramel in the Community Room begins at 6:00 p.m.  Caramel is a romantic comedy centered on the daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut.  The film is rated PG and has subtitles. The film is sponsored by The Friends of Otis Library.

 All programs are free; no registration required.

This program has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

The start of the school year is not going as the Fletcher brothers hoped.  As the year continues, the boys learn the hard and often hilarious lesson that sometimes what you least expect is what you come to care about most.  Pick up a copy of The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy at the Front Desk and come back Monday, March 28, for refreshments, discussion, and book related activities.   Register online or by contacting the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365.

Meeting Room

Introduction to Yoga for Teens and Adults will be presented by Instructors from A Peace of Space Yoga Co-op.  Wear comfortable clothing; yoga mats will be available to borrow.  Free program; no registration required.  For more information, call Julie at (860) 889-2365, ext. 128.  Sponsored by The Elsie Brown Fund.

Classes will held on Monday evenings, 6:00 - 7:15 p.m., in February and March (except for February 15) in the Community Room.

Middle school students: Do you know what to do in high school to prepare for your future career or college experience?  Dannika Avent of Yale University will present this four-part workshop with the best strategies for your success.  Topics covered are:

March 2: "Let's Talk About college".  

March 9: "It's Time to Explore Careers, Part 1".

March 16: "It's Time to Explore Careers, Part 2". 

 March 23: "What is College Like?".

*All class will be held in the Community Room except for March 23rd, that will take place in the Children's Department.  Please register online or at the Front Desk.

Author Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel will appear at Otis Library on "Take Your Child to the Library Day."  Ms Zobel's latest work, Wabanaki Blues, is a young adult murder mystery set in New England.  Ms. Zobel will also discuss the book  Medicine Trail, which features the life and work of her Great Aunt, legendary Mohegan Medicine Women Dr. Gladys Tantaquidgeon.  Please register online or at the Front Desk.  

No art experience is necessary!  This is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.  Anyone can do this because there is no right or wrong way.  Please register for one or all classes.  Register online or by contacting the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365.  All classes will meet in the Community Room, except February 6 (Meeting Room).

Saturdays, January 9, 16, 30 & February 6, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The Young Adult Department will host a workshop on volunteering for teens .  Taught by Dannika Avent of Yale University, this course will bring to life the following concepts:

• Volunteering is skill building - How can volunteering help me?
• Volunteering has a great impact on our community - Who can I help and why?
• Volunteering is Professional Networking - Who can I meet, and how will I benefit?
• Volunteering can greatly impact your academic future -  What's this about my grades improving?  How will this help my college application become more competitive?
• Volunteering allows for personal development - When will I come out of my shell?  What skills will I develop?
• Volunteering supports economic growth - How can I support my community?  How will my community benefit from my help?

This workshop is for students grade 9 and up.  It will be held in the Community Room  Please register online or by contacting the Front Desk at (860) 889-2365.