The New Ipswich Library has joined with community partners to bring new programming for children to the library.

Library Director Melanie Kane said that in combination with The River Center in Peterborough and MilliporeSigma in Jaffrey, the library is hosting three new programs, for a range of ages. Kane said she wants to provide more programs, particularly for older children, and revitalize the library as a place for all ages.

“My goal is to bring the community back together, and have the library be the focal piece it once was for the community, and be the place where people can come for whatever they need,” Kane said.

Kane said conversations with The River Center began last year about providing a space to host programs aimed at new parents and toddlers.

Every Wednesday, The River Center hosts a group for caregivers and infants, where parents can connect and share experiences and resources. Children will have unstructured playtime. That group meets at the library every week from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

On the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m., the library hosts a toddler-age craft project. New Ipswich is joining a roster of local libraries that host the “Pop-Up Play and Create” program, with Ingalls Memorial Library in Rindge hosting on the second Tuesday of the month and the Stephenson Memorial Library in Greenfield on the third Tuesday.

Both programs are free, but parents are encouraged to register their attendance at The River Center by sending email to register@rivercenter.org.

On the third Thursday of every month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the library will be hosting an employee from MilliporeSigma in Jaffrey, who will lead Curiosity Labs with hands-on, child-friendly experiments that will be suitable for repeating at home. The experiments are aimed at middle school-age children, but accessible for elementary students as young as 8. This program launched in September.

This month, children will learn about chemical reactions as they try methods to self-inflate balloons. In March, they will be making silly putty. This is also a free program, though registration is encouraged through the New Ipswich Library website, newipswichlibrary.org, on its event page.

In addition to the new programming, the library is also continuing some of its existing regular events, including tax preparation assistance, which will be ongoing every Wednesday from 2 to 5 p.m. leading up to the end of tax season.

Story time is held every Tuesday at 10 a.m.

The library has been collecting plastic shopping bags, for a program where the plastic can be recycled into benches for the community.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @ AshleySaariMLT.