February is Black History Month and Vermonters of all ages are invited to participate in the Black History Month Reading Challenge. This Vermont Beanstack program from the Vermont Department of Libraries runs through February 29. Celebrate Black authors and illustrators and explore Black history through the arts by reading and completing activities throughout the month. The Beanstack site provides tools to log reading, complete activities, and earn digital badges. Create an account for yourself or your family and register at Vermont Beanstack (scroll to bottom of page for the challenge).

We are thrilled to be partnering with the Thompson Senior Center on "Creative Play for Seniors," a series of seven interrelated workshops with a performance at the beginning and end. Workshop leaders, Marv Klassen-Landis, Michael Zerphy, and Ham Gillett will kick off the program with "We're Never Too Old to Play," a performance on the Mezzanine, introducing their lively approach to storytelling, singing, and acting. (Details below and on our website.)

NWPL's first "Library After Hours" program features a Jam Session with Interplay Jazz. You are invited to join the music making or come listen. Our grand piano and the building's acoustics will add to the fun.

What else might be staged in the library after hours? Game night? A movie? An open mic event? What is of interest to you?

Another collaboration, this time with Sustainable Woodstock, brings their monthly Green Drinks event to the library. Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) will present its hands-on Home Electrification Workshop, exploring the advantages of electricity.

Four Book Discussion Groups meet in February including a special "One-off" gathering. (Details below.) These are free and open to the public. All of the groups welcome new participants – in person or joining via zoom. (Email programs@NormanWilliams.org for the links.)

We have a contingent of readers interested in tackling Herman Melville's Moby Dick; or, The Whale a few chapters at a time. Are you in? Please let us know if you would like to participate.

If you are having trouble carving out time to read, consider stopping by for a cup of tea and Silent Reading on Wednesdays at 4 pm in front of the fireplace.

The Closing Reception for Peggy Brightman's exhibition of photographs will include a poetry reading. Join us to celebrate "The Dance of Image and Word" in the Mezzanine Gallery.

Recent winter storms have disrupted several programs including the Italian Film Series. Originally planned for January, this month's movie will be La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano (The Legend of 1900) about a musical prodigy who spends his life aboard a ship, sailing back and forth between the U.S. and Europe, entertaining the passengers.

Remember, even when we need to adjust our hours because of inclement weather, you can visit us at NormanWilliams.org to request or renew books as well as download eBooks, eAudiobooks, and movies.

Where is this magical place? Tucked away downstairs is an out-of-the-way spot reserved for area teens to spend time, play games, talk, and perhaps study. Middle and high school patrons relax on the classic yet comfy new furniture and are drawn into the mysterious, Hogwarts-like, library scene depicted in the mural that fills the wall. They can enjoy one of the board or strategy games with others or solo time playing the library's electric piano. We had fun creating this new space and will continue to make changes as we receive feedback from those who visit.  

We look forward to seeing you at the library soon!

Creative Play for Seniors

Fridays, February 9 - April 12

The Norman Williams Public Library is partnering with the Thompson Senior Center to bring “Creative Play for Seniors” to Woodstock. Led by Marv Klassen-Landis, Michael Zerphy, and Ham Gillett – friends, collaborators, and older adults themselves – these workshops will provide fun and creative ways to explore storytelling, poems, songs, skits, and improvisation!

We’ll begin on Friday, February 9 at 4 pm with “We’re Never Too Old to Play,” an introductory performance by the workshop leaders at NWPL. Everyone is welcome!

An exciting series of hands-on workshops encompassing literature, theater, and music will be held the following seven Fridays at 1 pm at the Thompson Senior Center. 

• 2/16 Workshop 1: Read and Discuss - What comes up for us when we read?
• 2/23 Workshop 2: Oral Interpretation - Would you like to be a bit more expressive?
• 3/1 Workshop 3: Storytelling - We all have stories; we all are stories.
• 3/8 Workshop 4: Personal Writing - Ever get stuck while writing?
• 3/15 Workshop 5: Stepping Out of the Shower - Everyone sings in the shower, right?
• 3/22 Workshop 6: Theater Games - If you enjoy charades, you will love this!
• 3/29 Workshop 7: Readers Theater - Let’s pick a play and read it out loud together.

We’ll wrap up the program back at NWPL on Friday, April 12 at 4 pm with “Sharing Our Creative Play!” – a time to celebrate with family and friends.

Thanks in part to funding from the Vermont Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, these programs are free and open to the public. Come for one, two, three, or all of them! 

Registration is requested; please email Programs@ThompsonSeniorCenter.org. Hope you will join the fun! (MORE INFO)

Interplay Jazz Jam Session

Thursday, February 15, 6:30 - 9:30 pm at NWPL



Founded by local musicians Fred Haas and Sabrina Brown, Interplay Jazz & Arts has been inspiring musicians of all ages from around the world for nearly three decades. In mid-February, their monthly Jam Session will be held at Norman Williams Public Library.

These jam sessions are social gatherings and communal practice sessions that are free and open to everyone to participate – or just listen and enjoy. You are invited to bring an offering of food or drink to share if you’d like. (MORE INFO)

Home Electrification Workshop

Saturday, February 24, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at NWPL

What are the various areas in the home to electrify? What are the range of costs, savings, and incentives associated with each area? Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) has the answer to these and other questions.

About VEEP: “Our mission is to build a deep understanding of energy and climate through education, inspiring and empowering people to take action for increased sustainability in our communities, economy, and environment.”

This free event is brought to the community by Sustainable Woodstock, NWPL, and VEEP with funding from Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity (VLITE).

Limited seats available; PRE-REGISTRATION at Sustainable Woodstock is required. (MORE INFO)

Intrigued by the topic, the titles, or books in general? NWPL hosts a variety of lively book discussion groups. 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.

The hybrid format offers you the choice of attending in person and/or virtually via zoom. Email programs@normanwilliams.org to be kept updated on book selections and links to sign on.

Tuesday, February 13, 10:30 am: What's on Your Nightstand has no required reading! Chat about the books that excite you and discover what others are enjoying. (meets monthly)

Tuesday, February 6, 6 pm: "One-off" Book Discussion Group for those intrigued, confused, inspired, and otherwise touched by Abraham Verghese's new novel, The Covenant of Water.

Wednesday, February 7, 1 pm: Literary Pairs will explore the idea that "a single spark can start a huge fire" and discuss When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. (meets quarterly)

Tuesday, February 27, 6 pm: Read Between the Lines will discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge a novel inspired by the true story of two giraffes who made headlines in the Depression-era America. (meets monthly)

"The Dance of Image and Word"

Photographs and Poetry

by Peggy Brightman

January 1 - February 29, 2024

Artist Reception and Poetry Reading

Tuesday, February, 27, 5 pm

All her adult life, Peggy Brightman has been engaged in and has explored relationships among different artistic media like dance and music, and photography and poetry. In this exhibition, Peg explores ekphrastic relationships between her own photographs and poetry, fascinated with the cross-fertilization between words and images. (MORE INFO)

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, (Note: no meeting Feb 19)

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 feedback. (MORE INFO)

Baby Story Time - Birth - 20 months

Weekly on Tuesdays

10:30 AM - in person

Introduce your child early to the joys of reading! We'll feature short stories, songs, finger puppets, free play & more. (MORE INFO)

Recite! Open-mic Poetry

Monthly on the 2nd Tuesday; Next meeting Feb 13

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)

Italian Film Series

Monthly on the 3rd Tuesday; Next meeting Feb 20

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)

Mending Circle

Monthly on the 4th Wednesday, Next meeting Feb 28

2:00 PM - in person



A stitch in time saves nine! Mend, patch, darn, and hem items languishing in your wardrobe. Bring your projects – and your friends! (MORE INFO)

Silent Reading Gathering

Weekly on Wednesdays

4:00 PM - in person



Carve time out of your busy schedule for an hour of silent reading in front of the fireplace. (MORE INFO)

Knitters Meet-up

Weekly on Thursdays

2:00-4:00 PM - in person

We knit together and provide assistance when needed. Come when you can and bring your current project. (MORE INFO)

Bridge with the Friends

Weekly on Thursdays

2:00-4:00 PM - in person

The Friends of the NWPL invite experienced bridge players to join their weekly game. To save a place, please email Peggy Fraser. (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)