Update from the Executive Director
December 2018
Library Staff Visit National Park Staff

Librarians in the Community

The Library Staff took a field trip a few weeks ago to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. Our librarians give visitors to Woodstock directions to the National Park and answer numerous questions about it throughout the year. We thought it would be great to visit the park, get to know the park staff and learn more about this special and important resource in our town. On a miserable wet and snowy morning last week we made our way to the beautiful Forest Center where we were warmly greeted by Stephanie Kyriazis, Chief of Interpretation, Education , and Visitor Services and several other members of her team: Ryan Polk - Curator, Kelly Sczomak - Lead Ranger, Laila Browning - Intern.

Library staff and park staff had a chance to get acquainted and share ideas for how the library and park might collaborate on special programs throughout the year. A good part of our conversation centered around the need for more public education about the US National Park Service in general. We talked about holding joint programs on nature and conservation or creating "travel planning sessions" to help people decide which National Park to visit. After a rousing conversation and many great ideas for sharing resources, library staff were treated to a private tour of the mansion. We were most impressed with the comfortable "homey" feeling of this magnificent, historic building. We enjoyed the spectacular art collection and spent time in the library and learned which books Laurance and Mary Rockefeller had on their nightstands.

Library staff commented that the best part of the field trip was spending time with National Park staff and getting to know more about the important work of the National Park Service in the US.

Photos: top (library and park staff on steps of mansion) bottom (Library Staff pause in front of Forest Center: Lori ,Michael, Mac, Kathy, Danelle, Adrienne, Meg & special guest Isadora)

Season of Giving

There are so many ways to give of yourself, and there are many riches that are not monetary. You may be rich in love and family. You may be rich in volunteerism. Perhaps, like me, you are rich in red squirrels who have invaded your wild bird feeders!

Whatever your riches, we welcome you to consider giving to the library. We welcome new volunteers (email kathy@normanwilliams.org ).

We also ask you to give as generously as you possibly can to our Annual Appeal. We receive 35% of our operating income from town tax appropriations. We are very grateful to the taxpayers of Woodstock and Bridgewater. We must raise the remaining 65% of the income needed to keep our doors open, the library warm, full of good books and thriving. We rely on the generosity of people like you. This year our Annual Appeal goal has been set at
$120, 000.00. Please help us reach this goal!

Send tax deductible donations to the library (NWPL, 10 The Green, Woodstock, VT 05091) or donate online on our website. Please consider becoming a sustaining donor by making a monthly contribution to the library.



" Get Cozy and Read"

Holiday Raffle Basket


This year we are raising money for the library with a special holiday raffle - tickets cost $5.00 each and you can buy them at the library. The handmade basket comes from Gillinghams and it is filled with other goodies from local Village of Woodstock shops. Hot cocoa mix, mug and cookies, four great new books from Yankee Bookshop (including the new Louise Penny!). A fir scented candle from Woodstock Pharmacy.

Support local businesses, support the library and enter to win a great gift for yourself or someone you love!

Drawing will be held on December 22. You do not have to be present to win.

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Friends of NWPL Give Generously to a Special Library Project

The Friends of NWPL held a meeting at the library a few weeks ago and voted to give $6,000.00 to the library for a special audio visual "Community Room." As planned, the new Community Room will be equipped with a high-quality sound system, a large-screen and projection system, and an assistive listening system, which will help the hearing impaired to fully participate in and enjoy library presentations. The room will be available for a wide variety of community uses, such as learning-lab courses, computer-skills training, technology classes, and student group meetings. The large-screen capability will also enable the NWPL to offer film screenings and documentaries that accompany the library’s diverse book-discussion groups.

In addition, vastly improved lighting, sound, and projection capabilities in the Community Room will help NWPL more effectively partner with the Woodstock Community Television Network. The upgraded technology will help the network to better tape and broadcast a variety of NWPL programs, making them regularly available for viewing by library patrons who are unable to attend NWPL events in person.

I am personally thrilled with the ongoing support from the Friends! Every library in every town in America should be lucky enough to have a Friends group like this.

If you'd like to get in on helping the Friends raise money for this Community Room please stop by the library and make a pledge to hang on the beautiful "Giving Tree" in our lobby.

If you'd like to get involved in the Friends please email Peggy Fraser, President of the Friends: fraserusa@gmail.com 

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There are many wonderful programs going on at the library this weekend as the community comes together for the magic of Wassail! Join us for arts and crafts for kids, storytelling, a reading of "A Child's Christmas in Wales," a special concert by a surprise group of youth singers and more.

Friends of NWPL “Meet the Author” Holiday Tea

All are invited to tea, cookies and a talk by Ellen Stimson who wrote Mud Season and An Old Fashioned Christmas. Yankee Bookshop will be on hand to sell signed copies of Ms. Stimson's books.

Wednesday, December 12 1-4PM



I wish each and every one of you the happiest of holidays. May you feel the peace of the winter season and the love of family and friends. Thank you for all you do to support our library!

Amanda S. Merk, MSLIS
Executive Director
Norman Williams Public Library| 802-457-2295 | E-mail | Website