Welcome May! Beginning Tuesday afternoon May 3 we offer a four-part virtual workshop called “Writing a ‘Legacy Letter’: Sharing Your Values with Loved Ones.” A legacy letter (also called an “ethical will”) is a written document that allows you to share your life lessons, express your values and transmit your blessings to future generations.

Our presenter is attorney Jay Sherwin. Registration is required for this Zoom event. This event is co-sponsored with the Mystic, Ledyard and Groton Libraries.

On Tuesday evening, May 3, join us for an in-depth exploration of Acupuncture Theory and Taoist 5 Element Theory with Tyler Ellison, a Licensed Acupuncturist and Universal Healing Tao Instructor. A lecture on Syrian Lebanese Migration to the Americas will take place on Wednesday evening, May 11. Our presenter is Joseph Leidy, a Ph.D. candidate in modern Middle Eastern history at Brown University and a teaching fellow in Global Islamic Studies at Connecticut College.

Author and local teacher Will Reed presents The Granite Industry of Waterford on Thursday evening, May 12. This event is co-sponsored with the Waterford Historical Society. Books will be available for sale. Registration is suggested.

Join us for our second Talk About Town: Waterford conversation. At this session, we will be responding to Waterford Youth & Family Services’ (WYFS) regional panel presentation on Fentanyl and its impact on Waterford and our surrounding communities. Addiction is a disease: In this event on Wednesday, May 18, we will be exploring the topic through the eyes of individuals personally affected by addiction — either their own, or that experienced by a loved one. Come to this session prepared to learn more about opioids, Representatives from Community Speaks Out, Ledge Light Health District, New London Cares, and SERAC will join us to share information and start the conversation. Registered is suggested.

Have you been scratching your head about Bitcoin? What is it? How does it work? We will explore cryptocurrency and other trends in the marketplace with Tim Baker, CFA, Founder & CEO of Metric Financial to discuss Cryptocurrency and Other Market Trends on Saturday, May 21. Registration is required for this in-person event.

Municipal Historian Bob Nye presents a look at town-owned historic buildings. “Taking Stock: Waterford’s Town-Owned Historic Buildings” will be presented Tuesday evening, May 24. Registration is suggested.

Our Children’s Room is as busy as ever with many events scheduled this month. Calling all Lego fans! Join us for a special book club where we read the early reader 3, 2, 1 Liftoff! by Sonia Sander and discuss the story. Participants and their caregivers will then build their own Lego City mail plane. Registration is required for 5-7 year-olds with a caregiver present.

There will be an Outdoor Storytime on Thursday morning, May 5. Join us outside on the side lawn for an all-ages family storytime. We will have a read aloud by special guest reader, Rod Cornish, local author of “We’re Really All Just the Same” on Thursday morning, May 19 on the side lawn. Please bring a blanket or lawn chairs for both of these children’s events. In the event of rain, these programs will be canceled.

Read to a Dog on Tuesday, May 17! Practice your reading with K-9 Officer Hodges from the Waterford Police Department! Community Engagement Officer and Service Dog Handler, Eric Fredricks, will also accompany the visit and be available for any questions about Officer Hodges. Recommended for ages 5 and up with a caregiver.

“STEAM Ahead: Wind Powered Car. Get set, Ready, and Go!” You may have heard of a sailboat, but have you heard of a sail … car? Registration required for 6- to 12-year-olds.

Do you enjoy learning about art, discovering new techniques, and trying different types of media? This Teen Art series is for you! This series will include weekly Tuesday afternoon workshops beginning May 3. Registration required for teens 12- to 18-year-olds.

Grab & Go Crafts will be available for children and adults. Check the calendar of events as to when these crafts will be available.

Our Monday Night Oscars Film Series continues through June. Also continuing through May, our “Great Decisions: Global Topics for Local Discussion” series on Thursday evenings and our Let’s Talk About It! Women’s Suffrage Discussion series on Wednesday afternoons.

Last, we wish to say congratulations and also farewell to our Children’s Department Head Jennifer Smith as she starts her new position as Library Director at the Ledyard Libraries. We’ll miss you Miss Jen as you made wonderful and significant changes to our Children’s Room over the last few years and the children will dearly miss you!

Further details about all of our programs and registration can be found on our website www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org and then by clicking on our Calendar of Events tab.

Jill Adams is Head of Adult Services at Waterford Public Library.