It's Stick Season! After welcoming more than 12,000 visitors to the library in October, the leaf peepers have returned home. It was wonderful to hear their appreciative comments! The most common answers we gave: “1883;” “always a library;” and “the Welcome Center is just around the corner…” We are fortunate to have this architectural gem in the center of the village, and remind ourselves that we can enjoy the local landscape, shops, restaurants, and landmarks – including the library – year-round.

November brings NWPL programs for a wide variety of ages and interests!

The second Family Game Day is on Tuesday, November 4, from 3:00-5:00. This is an opportunity to introduce your kids to the games you grew up playing, and meet up with other players for an afternoon of fun and discovery. We have a selection to choose from, or bring a favorite from home.

Also on November 4, Time to Talk Books, our newest book discussion group, will meet at 5:30. Like the long running What’s On Your Nightstand gatherings, there is no required reading! Just show up and share what books you are excited about and learn what others are currently reading. (Speaking of which, November’s WOYN will be on the 18th because of Veterans Day.)

Let’s gooooooo, LEGO! A new afterschool session of our LEGO Club begins on Wednesday, November 5 at 3:00 pm. We welcome kids in grades 3, 4, and 5, to engage their maker minds and builder brains. Come have fun with fellow Lego enthusiasts in a supportive and creative environment. Space is limited; registration requested: stop by or email. 

Calling all crossword puzzlers, Wordle fans, and spelling bee champs: time to relax, mingle, and play games! The next Library After Hours on Thursday, November 6, from 6:00-7:30 pm is a “Word Play Party.” NWPL has games in our collection or introduce us to your favorite. BYOB; the library will supply munchies.

Celebrate the new exhibition in the Mezzanine Gallery at the Opening Reception on Saturday, November 15, at 2 pm. “Art for All Seasons” features oil paintings by local artist Lynn VanNatta. This collection offers a glimpse into the artist’s exploration of moods, colors, textures, and light of the ever-changing seasons of New England.

Join us and our co-hosts, Yankee Bookshop, for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on Tuesday, November 18, at 6 pm. Beth Mallow and Douglas Teschner, authors of Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times, aim to find a way to turn the politics of fear and contempt into the politics of hope.

November schedule changes due to holidays:

• What’s On Your Nightstand will meet 11/18 (instead of 11/11)
• Read Between the Lines will meet 11/19 (instead of 11/26)
• Zentangle Time will meet 11/19 (instead of 11/26)

‘Tis the season for Town Meeting Planning! Next time you are in town, please stop by NWPL to sign the petition to the Select Board to place the library funding article on the Warning for vote at the Town Meeting in 2026. You will find it near the circulation desk, along with other Woodstock non-profit petitions requesting the opportunity to be considered by the voters.

Looking ahead, tickets are now available for the Enchanted Wassail Evening, a festive fundraiser on Thursday, December 11, from 6:00-8:00 pm.

This annual event has become one of our favorite parties of the year! Make a plan to don your holiday finery, raise a glass, and enjoy supporting the library with friends and neighbors.

In the meantime, we are thankful for our wonderful community and look forward to seeing you in November!

P.S. A special shout-out to the Yankee Bookshop on their 90th Anniversary! We are fortunate to have a strong independent bookstore in the Village. Kristian and Kari are hosting an Open House on Wednesday, November 12, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. They invite the community to the celebration “with music, light food and drink, and so much joy to share!”

The Norman Williams Public Library offers free services and programs to everyone in our community. With each addition to our lending library and every program we offer, we’re building on the foundation set more than 14 decades ago. To sustain and grow these services, we need your contributions more than ever.

A not-for-profit organization, the library receives only a portion of its funding from the town. We rely on fundraising to cover more than two-thirds of our operating budget. 

Please consider a gift to our 2025 Year-end Appeal. Your generous support for the Norman Williams Public Library makes such a difference! 

Details on alternative ways to donate – check, Venmo, etc. – can be found on our website HERE.

"Art for All Seasons"

An Exhibition of Oil Paintings by

Lynn VanNatta

November & December, 2025

Opening Reception

Saturday, November 15, 2:00-3:30 pm



Currently based in West Windsor, VT, Lynn VanNatta has been painting in oils since the 1990s and has exhibited widely in the region.

Her painting style has been influenced by the Cape Ann Painters of Massachusetts. Landscape painter Caleb Stone of Cape Ann is a long-time mentor. Copley Master, Mark Hayden of Bradford, MA, encouraged her early exploration in oils; his teachings in portrait and still life painting have had a lasting influence.

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 some group meetings in person or virtually via zoom. Please email Programs@NormanWilliams.org for the links to sign in.

Tuesday, November 4, 5:30 pm: Time to Talk Books: Another "Not-A-Book-Club" Book Club offers a time to talk about what you are reading and learn what books others are excited about. No required reading! (meets monthly, hybrid)



Wednesday, November 5, 1 pm: Literary Pairs will explore the theme “The Junkyard of the Past.” We will discuss Old Filth by Jane Gardam and The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.(meets quarterly, hybrid)

Tuesday, November 18, 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. (a week later than usual, meets monthly, hybrid)

Tuesday, November 18, 5 pm: Read, Cook, Eat!: A Cookbook Club will focus on the flavors of Thailand. (meets monthly, in person)

Wednesday, November 19, 4 pm: Read Between the Lines will discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. (a week earlier than usual, meets monthly, hybrid)

The next "One-off" Book Discussion has not been scheduled. Suggestions welcome!

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). Programs below are in person unless otherwise noted.

Email Programs@NormanWilliams.org for information and links to join.

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 regular off-site delivery services to library patrons within a 3-mile radius of the village green. 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.

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Questions? Please call us, 802-457-2295, or email Programs@NormanWilliams.org.

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