Library programs get outside for summertime
June 2, 2026 | By Judi ByronSummertime schedules are kicking in for June with several fun ways for library patrons to get outside.
As always, check WaterburyPublicLibrary.com for all of the latest events, programs, etc. for all ages.
Here are highlights and some announcements below from the adult program schedule for June.
June 6: Bravery and the Human Brain
Kicking off the adult programming summer season is Ken Boring’s presentation of the Science of Courage, otherwise known as “Bravery and the Human Brain.”
So, what does it mean to be brave? Courage is a neurological process, not a personality trait. The good news is the brain’s courage circuits are plastic and trainable. In other words, repeated exposure to manageable uncertainty strengthens them over time. Small, deliberate acts of bravery compound neurologically, building resilience -- making that phone call, having that conversation, or setting that boundary. Layman Ken Boring gives a presentation on the Science of Courage a.k.a. Bravery and the Human Brain on Saturday morning, June 6, at 10:30 a.m.
Ken, who says he grew up painfully shy, has studied bravery and the brain for the last 12 years and shares the science behind building new neural circuits and overriding the fear of doing new and challenging things to build up courage and bravery as a learned skill. He will explain that process and share some fun, experiential exercises. For more information and to register email judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.
June 24: Silent Reading Party at Trapp’s
Cows graze at the Trapp Family Lodge, which host the Silent Reading Party on Wednesday, June 24. Photo courtesy of Bridgeside Books
The popular Silent Reading Parties collaboration between the library and Bridgeside Books are fun in the summertime at special outdoor venues. June’s party won’t disappoint at the Trapp Family Lodge’s beautiful wedding meadow in Stowe.
Scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, readers are invited to settle in with their books on a chair or blanket amid the Scottish Highland cows and gorgeous gardens. Judi Byron will be bringing her Celtic harp to add to the atmosphere in this stunning location. Bring some water and maybe a hat for the hour-long session. Readers have a chance to share a bit about what they’re reading before they leave. Should the weather not cooperate, Friday, the 26th at the same time is the rain date.
Wednesday Passeggiata at the library
Waterbury resident Ingrid Jonas was the inspiration behind last summer's Passeggiata Waterbury. She and other organizers, with help from Discover Waterbury (formerly Revitalizing Waterbury), aim to continue the Italian “leisurely stroll” custom this summer, encouraging folks to get out on Wednesdays. This social ritual involves walking with no particular purpose other than socializing -- no set route and no starting or ending point. The first one was held this past Wednesday, May 27, with a kick-off gathering at Jack’s Alley on Stowe Street. They will continue on Wednesdays through the summertime, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Discover Waterbury website is collecting passeggiata information from local businesses that will be open during that time with special hours, treats or happenings. Bridgeside Books has contributed special buttons to wear to show that you’re out on the stroll. There are even some suggested walking routes to take.
The Waterbury Public Library is pleased to be a part of this event on Wednesday evenings. Everyone is invited to come by for a stroll through the library’s gardens or come inside and check out a book. The library is open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Some summertime changes, pauses
Various classes and regular meetings will be taking a hiatus over the summer.
Classes taking a break for June and July include the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Writers’ Wertfrei, and Genealogy. Duplicate Bridge and The No Pressure Book Club pause for the whole summer, with Bridge resuming in September and the book club in October.
Blood on the Clocktower will continue to meet, but is changing its day from the third to the fourth Tuesday.
The Watercolor group will continue to meet on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Steele Community Room, but rather than a class with instruction, it will be structured as a drop-in for watercolor painters who have their own materials and supplies. No registration is required and instruction will not be offered.
Mahjong continues throughout the summer, upstairs in front of the northwest windows. No instruction, just a drop-in on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mahjong is a fun, focused and social time. Four players make up a table and take turns drawing and discarding tiles to form a hand of four sets and a pair, using a mix of skill and luck to create combinations. Pauline or Carmel will be present to set up the tables for play.
Judi Byron is the Waterbury Public Library’s Adult Program Coordinator. Contact: 802-244-7036 or judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.