August Adult Programs At Middletown Public Library

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — What's planned:

Additional information and registration can be found at mtpl.org. Any questions, please contact the reference desk at 732-671-3700, ext. 320.

Virtual Talk: The Legacy of Julia Child’s Kitchen with Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson

On Tuesday, August 4 at 2 pm, delve into the legacy of cooking icon Julia Child, with Paula J. Johnson, a Smithsonian curator, public hisotrian and author of Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space. Learn about Child's 20' by 14' workspace, a top destination on display at the National Museum of American History, and how Julia Child continues to influence food today. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.

New Jersey Shipwrecks: A Lecture

On Tuesday, August 4 at 7 pm, join shipwreck diver Dan Lieb for an underwater archaeology program covering nearly 300 years of shipwreck activity in New Jersey waters. This program is part of MTPL's "Unearth a Story" summer reading program.

Dinosaur Speed Puzzling Challenge

Put your puzzle sovling skills to the test on Saturday, August 8 at 10:30 am as we celebrate the end of “Unearth a Story” summer reading with a race against the clock to solve fun, dinosaur-themed puzzles. Visit mtpl.org to sign up as an invidual or a team. A puzzle swap will follow the competition.

Afternoon Screening: Little House on the Prairie (2026)

Join us Thursday, August 13 at 2 pm for a special screening of the first two episodes of Netflix's new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie, a reimagining of the classic 1974 series. Drawing on Laura Ingalls Wilder's semi-autobiographical novels, this fresh take is part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, offering a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier. Rated TV-PG.

New Jersey Book Club: SHARK!

Join the NJ Book Club on Monday, August 17 at 12 pm to discuss two books about the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks: Michael Capuzzo's Close to Shore and Richard Fernicola's Twelve Days of Terror. Participants may attend in person in the History Room or register at mtpl.org to receive a Zoom link.

Genealogy Club

Stop by the History Room on Wednesday, August 19 at 2 pm as special guest Joseph A. Grabas author of Owning New Jersey: Historic Tales of War, Property Disputes and the Pursuit of Happiness, discusses Land Title Records and how they can help with genealogical research.

Virtual Talk: When Trees Testify — Reclaiming America’s Black Botanical Legacy with Beronda Montgomery

Join a riveting conversation with award-winning biologist Beronda Montgomery on Tuesday, August 25 at 2 pm as we discuss her book When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy. Montgomery explores how trees — from pecans to poplars to willows — are living witnesses to Black American history, revealing a heritage of Black botanical expertise that has shaped the nation since its beginning.Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.

Virtual Talk: High Altitudes and High Stakes — A Miss Marple Mystery with Lucy Foley

On Thursday, August 27 at 2 pm, join us for a thrilling conversation with acclaimed author Lucy Foley about her brand-new Miss Marple mystery, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel. When a body is found at a luxurious, snowbound Swiss Alps hotel, only Miss Marple can unravel the secrets among its guests before the killer strikes again. Visit mtpl.org to register for a link to the virtual presentation.