First, we want to thank everyone in the community–young and old–who joined us to make our 1st Annual SBOOKY LIBRARY and Halloween Party such fabulous fun! And kudos to the creative genius of Adrian Tans, the Children’s Librarian. 

Now that it is November, stick season is upon us. Our vistas, hidden by summer leaves, return and the gardens are put to bed. Time to join in one of NWPL’s many ongoing programs or attend one of our special events?

"Mindful Musings" is a new exhibit of paintings is gracing the walls of the Mezzanine Gallery. You are invited to meet D. Scotti Hanson at the Artist Talk/Reception on Saturday, November 4. 

On November 7, Yankee Bookshop and NWPL are pleased to welcome Joni B. Cole, local writing teacher and author of a new book of personal essays, Party Like It’s 2044.

The library will close at 4 on Wednesday, November 8, for a "Thank You Volunteers" Tea. We appreciate the contributions of the many generous volunteers who keep things ticking along smoothly. They shelve books, keep the book sale in the foyer stocked, organize the art exhibits, and generally support the hard-working librarians.  

Libraries are special places. During unsettled and potentially stressful times NWPL offers you a myriad of opportunities: to learn from books and visiting speakers; to be entertained by movies–on DVD or streamed; to make a connection while playing chess or gathering to knit; to be inspired by a magazine on art and design; or to simply warm yourself in front of the fireplace on a chilly afternoon. Having a public-facing role, librarians witness the toll of these tense times and recognize the need for us all to find ways to take care of ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world. They are happy to help you choose materials from the collection for information, distraction, and comfort.

It is through your generous support that we can offer important programs and services to our community free of charge. Norman Williams Public Library is not a fully-funded municipal library; nearly two-thirds of our operating budget comes from fundraising - and it is that time of year again. Please keep an eye out for a letter with a report on the past year's activities and consider a gift to the library.

And last, but certainly not least, mark your calendar for the fundraising–and fun–Enchanted Wassail Evening on Sunday, December 10. The library will be filled with lights, libation, and laughter to wrap up our Wassail Weekend activities including Children’s Stories for the December Holidays, our Rare & Vintage Book Sale, Ham Gillett sharing Dylan Thomas’ Lyrical Writing, and the annual Wrensong Concert. 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

From silly to serious, quiet to rambunctious, we host events and programs for everyone -- kids, tweens, young adults, and grown-ups!

All are free and open to the public. You do not need to have a library card to participate. Find details by clicking on the image or the title of the event.

We request RSVPs for some events and programs. This is not required but gives us a sense of how many chairs are needed. The sign-up forms will be at the bottom of an event's webpage if we are asking for an RSVP.

A new exhibition of paintings by



D. Scotti Hanson

“Mindful Musings”

November 1 - December 31

Reception & Artist Talk

Saturday, November 4, 2:00-3:30 pm

Vermont-based artist, D. Scotti Hanson’s artistic development stems from spending years photographing human hidden faces, exploring the acceptance of the physical body, discovering what could be held inside a protective shell, to an inquiry into her own childhood history.

Currently, they are exploring, through the daily practice of photographing visual notes and then transposing what they saw heard, thought, remembered, or dreamt onto paper, using art markers, colored pencils, and ink. (MORE INFO)

NWPL hosts a variety of lively, ongoing book discussion groups. The hybrid format offers you the choice of attending in person and/or virtually via zoom.

Intrigued by the topic, the titles, or books in general? We invite you to join a session--or several! All groups are open and welcome new participants. Click on the group name for more details.

Email programs@normanwilliams.org to be kept updated on book selections and links to sign on.

Discover reading possibilities and chat about the books you are enjoying with the What's on Your Nightstand group. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 am.

Read Between the Lines will discuss Shmutz: A Novel by Felicia Berliner on Tuesday, November 28 at 6 pm.

"A single spark can start a huge fire” is the theme for the next Literary Pairs gathering. We will discuss two novels When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. Meets quarterly, next meeting is Wednesday, February 7 at 1 pm.

The Green Books Discussion Group is on hiatus as we seek a new facilitator and evaluate meeting times.

Free and open to all, we are pleased to offer programs in the library, online, and in a hybrid format (in person and via zoom). Please check each program for details.

Email programs@normanwilliams.org for information and link to join.

Poetry Group

Twice monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays

4:00 PM - in person

Are you looking for feedback on your poems? You are invited to join the Poetry Group at NWPL for study and critique. (MORE INFO)

Italian Film Series

Monthly on the 3rd Tuesday; Next meeting November 21

4:00 pm

Local language instructor Veronica DeLay is screening a series of Italian films for her students at NWPL and invites everyone to join! (MORE INFO)

Recite! Open-mic Poetry

Monthly on the 2nd Tuesday; Next meeting November 14

5:30 PM - in person & via zoom



Poetry lovers: bring a poem of your own or one from a favorite poet to read and share. Or simply join and listen. (MORE INFO)

Zentangle Workshops

Monthly on Wednesdays - dates on website; Next meeting November 15

4:00 PM - in person



Drawing Zentangles is easy to learn and relaxing. Led by Jenny Dembinski, these workshops are for beginners and experienced "tanglers." (MORE INFO)

Qigong

Weekly on Fridays

8:30 AM - online via Zoom

Gerry Sandweiss shares her knowledge of Qigong–the art of conscious movement–offering a pathway to enhance your quality of life. (MORE INFO)

NWPL Bag Mobile

Sometimes mobility issues and transportation challenges make it hard to get to the library.

Enter the Bag Mobile! We are happy to fill a special tote bag with your choice of books. This may be picked up at the library by a caregiver or friend.

We now have a regular off-site delivery service to The Homestead, Melishwood, and Woodstock Terrace for patrons who request it. Currently, we pick up and deliver items weekly, on Tuesday afternoons. We will do our best to accommodate requests outside of those locations if you cannot send someone to pick up the Bag Mobile at NWPL. (MORE INFO)