All The July Programs For Adults, Teens And Kids At Middletown Library

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Here are all the programs for kids, teens and adults at the Middletown Library this July:

Rubber Ducky Storytime – Monday, July 6 at 4 p.m.: A special storytime for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten enrollees or those eligible for enrollment.

"Children's Parade of 1776" Card Craft – Wednesday, July 8 at 11 a.m.: Graphic artists David & Susan Udovic lead another creative and unique PopDown® Card Craft in celebration of America's 250th Anniversary.

Cards for a Cause – Wednesday, July 8 from 3–5 pm: Drop in to make greeting cards for Middletown seniors. Volunteer hours will be offered for each card, with a limit of 5 cards for 5 hours. For ages 13–18.

Poricy Park Fossil Hunt – Thursday, July 9 at 10 am: Dig for fossils at Poricy Park's Fossil Beds! The Poricy Brook fossils date back to the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, 145 to 65 million years ago. Take home your best finds to show friends and family. For ages 5–12.

Stage A Story – Thursday, July 9 at 10 am: Practice your manners at a banquet fit for a dinosaur as we read "How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food" by Jane Yolen. For ages 1–4.

T-Rex Tea Party – Friday, July 10 at 10 am: A fancy, fierce and fabulous T-Rex Tea Party! Bring a favorite dinosaur or stuffed friend as your guest, dress in dinosaur-themed attire and enjoy stories, songs, and a special visit from T-Rex himself with photo opportunities.

Dino Terrarium Crafternoon – Monday, July 13 at 4 pm: Travel back in time and design your very own miniature dinosaur world using plants, rocks, and dinosaur figures to take home. For ages 5–8.

Dino Storytime – Tuesday, July 14 at 3 pm: A special dinosaur-themed storytime for ages 3 and up.

Teen Dinosaur Earring Workshop – Tuesday, July 14 at 6 pm: Head to the Makerspace to create cute dinosaur-themed earrings out of polymer clay. For ages 13–18.

WEBINAR: SAT® vs. ACT®: Everything You Need to Know – Tuesday, July 14 at 7 pm: Test-prep experts explore the similarities and differences between college admissions exams, debunk common myths, and share key strategies to crack standardized tests. Register at mtpl.org to receive a link to join this virtual program.

Teen/Tween Songwriting Workshop – Wednesday, July 15 at 3 pm: Work together to create a short musical piece inspired by Middletown and the library! The finished product will be unveiled on library social media during Library Card Sign Up Month in September. Open to grades 6 and up. Volunteer hours will be offered for participation.

Dinosaurs Arise – Monday, July 20 at 11 am: Meet and interact with Terry the T-Rex and his realistic animatronic dinosaur and puppet friends, hear a story, dig for fossils, and snap a photo. For ages 3 and up.

Teen Anime Club – Monday, July 20 at 4 pm: Compete in an anime jeopardy game in the Teen Room. For ages 10 and up.

School Summer Reading Quiet Reading Time – Tuesday, July 21 at 10 am and Thursday, July 23 at 2 pm: Drop by the Community Room for open reading time to work on your school summer reading book and graphic organizer. For grades 5–12.

Dino Academy – Wednesday, July 22 at 11 am: Bright Star Theatre brings the prehistoric world to life with Dino Academy! Led by the quirky and curious Dr. Sarah Tops, this action-packed adventure blends science, storytelling, and imagination to uncover fascinating dinosaur facts that will wow even the biggest dino fans.

Teen Mixed Media Self-Portraits – Wednesday, July 22 at 7 pm: Join us in the Makerspace to create self-portraits using a mix of printmaking and collage on canvas. For ages 13–18

Dinoman Paleontologist Bob Lisaius and his Dinosaurs – Friday, July 24 at 11 am: With magic, fun, and amazing props, audiences are taken on a 40-minute ride through the Mesozoic era. For ages 3 and up

Teen Dinosaur Cupcake Decorating – Monday, July 27 at 6:30 pm: Decorate four dinosaur-themed cupcakes to enjoy at this sweet program for teens ages 13–18.

Make a Sphinx Out of Clay with Crayola Imagine Arts Academy – Tuesday, July 28 at 2 pm: Step into the past and uncover the stories of ancient Egypt's people, places, and creatures while sculpting the Sphinx out of clay. For grades 5–8.

Junior Archaeology Lab with Reaction Lab – Thursday, July 30 at 10 am: Become a real-life archaeologist by digging through layers of soil, uncovering hidden artifacts, and piecing together "ancient" pottery — just like scientists at a real excavation site. For ages 6–10.

WEBINAR: Study Skills 101 – Thursday, July 30 at 7 pm: Learn study and time management techniques to feel prepared and confident in and outside of class, including how to prepare for assignments and tests. For middle and high school students. Register online at mtpl.org for a link to join this virtual program.

July programs for adults:

The Ancient Near East at the MET: An Art History Lecture On Thursday, July 2 at 2 pm, join an art history lecture exploring the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and 7,500 years of cultural history spanning the Middle East — from present-day Turkey to India, and from Armenia to Saudi Arabia. From this land came stories of Noah's Great Flood, the unconquerable hero Gilgamesh, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, as well as the modern discovery of the Great Death Pit of Ur, filled with 74 bodies and priceless artifacts. This program is part of MTPL's "Unearth a Story" summer reading program.

Patriotic Concert with Trilogy & Peanut Butter Bridges
Join us on Tuesday, July 7 at 7 pm for an evening of music and fun with local groups Trilogy and Peanut Butter Bridges, celebrating Independence Day and America's 250th anniversary.

Life in the Silk City: Historical Lecture & Jazz Concert
On Saturday, July 11 at 1 pm, join a lecture exploring the genesis and composition of "Life in the Silk City," an anthem to Paterson composed entirely by its students. Following the lecture, enjoy a live jazz concert from the Sam Tobias Quartet presenting "A Celebration of New Jersey's Greatest Jazz Musicians."

New Jersey Book Club: The Andy Carpenter Series
Join us on Monday, July 13 at 12 pm for a discussion of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series, featuring a dog-loving lawyer from Paterson who bends the rules to solve mysteries. Participants may attend in person in the History Room or register at mtpl.org to receive a Zoom link.

Geode Painting: Adult Art Program
On Monday, July 13 at 6:30 pm, join a special "Unearth a Story" craft for adults: participants will create stunning geode-inspired paintings using vibrant colors, metallic accents, and crystal-like designs that mimic the beauty hidden beneath the earth's surface.

Virtual Talk: The Shipwrecked Sailor — Archaeology in Ancient Egyptian Literature
On Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30 pm, archaeologist Julia Fuchs, RPA explores key hieroglyphic inscriptions and themes in the stories, art, and archaeology of Ancient Egypt. This virtual program is part of MTPL's "Unearth a Story" summer reading program. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.

Virtual Talk: Small Towns and Big Secrets — In Conversation with Bestselling Author Karin Slaughter

On Tuesday, July 14 at 7 pm, acclaimed thriller author Karin Slaughter discusses her North Falls series, including debut novel We Are All Guilty Here and her upcoming sequel, The Secrets We Hide — in which Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, investigate a murder on a quiet residential street where everyone thinks they know what happened, but secrets are buried everywhere. Attendees will receive an exclusive sneak peek of The Secrets We Hide, arriving in bookstores August 11, 2026. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.

Genealogy Club
Join us in the History Room on Wednesday, July 15 at 2 pm as Lynne Klemens of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society discusses the First Families of Old Monmouth County.

Virtual Talk: Migrant Heart — The Hidden Cost of the American Dream with Reyna Grande
On Thursday, July 16 at 2 pm, bestselling author Reyna Grande discusses her new memoir, Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can't Forget — a raw and unflinching exploration of life lived between two nations, two languages, and two identities, and the power of storytelling to transform pain into healing. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.

Mixed Media Self-Portraits: Adult Art Program
On Thursday, July 16 at 7 pm, artist Patricia Micca of Painting Waves leads a hands-on class combining printmaking and collage on canvas to create a unique self-portrait. Express your personal history through art as part of MTPL's Community History Project.

Extinctopedia: Dine and Discuss
On Monday, July 20 at 6:30 pm, gather in the Community Room as we screen a virtual presentation featuring Smithsonian scientists discussing Extinctopedia — exploring species we have lost, animals currently at risk, and steps we can take to preserve the diversity of our planet. Light snacks and coffee will be provided. Please note: snacks may contain nuts or be processed in facilities that handle nuts.

World of Westeros Trivia

Test your knowledge of the Seven Kingdoms on Thursday, July 23 at 7 pm with a trivia night celebrating the books and HBO adaptations of NJ's own George R.R. Martin. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.

Virtual Talk: The Power of Connection — Creating Lasting Friendships with Dr. Marisa Franco
On Tuesday, July 28 at 2 pm, bestselling author and friendship expert Dr. Marisa Franco discusses Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends, offering research-backed strategies for building deeper, lasting connections at any age. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.

Fossil Clay Bowl: Adult Craft
On Thursday, July 30 at 2 pm, unearth your creativity with a hands-on fossil clay bowl craft as part of MTPL's "Unearth a Story" summer reading program. Participants will design unique clay bowls using imprints of shells, leaves, and other natural materials to create beautiful fossil-inspired patterns and textures — and take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art.