Help library prepare for future by filling out survey

The Charlotte Library is planning for the future and needs your input to better understand how to serve the needs of the community.

The first step is a town-wide survey. The library hopes to hear from as many residents as possible, whether they are regular library users or have never been to the library before. Access the survey or fill out a paper survey available around town. Questions? Please contact Margaret Woodruff at the library.

Holiday Hours
The Charlotte Library will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23 and 24, for the Thanksgiving holiday. It will reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Children’s programs

Preschool story time
Tuesdays, Nov. 7, 14 & 28
Join the Charlotte Library for preschool stories, crafts and activities. No registration required. Age 2 and over.

Preschool play time
Wednesdays, Nov. 8, 15 & 29
Play in the preschool years enables children to explore and make sense of the world around them, as well as to use and develop their imagination and creativity. Exploring the sensory table, sorting, playing with blocks or Play-Doh — these are a few of the open-ended projects planned for Wednesday morning play-based learning at the Charlotte Library. Stay tuned for details about upcoming fall programs.

Programs for adults

Thursday book group
Thursday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sarah M. Broom’s “The Yellow House” tells 100 years of her family and their relationship to home in a neglected area of one of America’s most mythologized cities. This is the story of a mother’s struggle against a house’s entropy and of a prodigal daughter who left home only to reckon with the pull that home exerts, even after the Yellow House was wiped off the map after Hurricane Katrina. “The Yellow House” expands the map of New Orleans to include the stories of its lesser known natives. Copies available at the library circulation desk. Join on Zoom.

Mystery book group
Monday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m.
Visit 1921 Bombay in “The Widows of Malabar Hill.” Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her father’s law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a legal education from Oxford, Mistry also has a tragic personal history that makes her especially devoted to championing women’s rights. Mistry Law is handling the will of Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. But as Perveen goes through the papers, she notices something strange: all three have signed over their inheritance to a charity. What will they live on if they forfeit what their husbands left them? Perveen is suspicious. Copies available at the circulation desk.

Short story selections
Monday, Nov. 20, 1:30 p.m.
Join library director Margaret Woodruff online to share and discuss short stories old and new. The reading list will include a variety of authors, and one or two stories will be featured each session. Copies of the stories are available at the library circulation desk or via email. Link via Zoom.

Winter decorations
Saturday, Nov. 25, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Stop in to make some seasonal decor for winter. Enjoy warm cider from the Charlie Cart while you create garlands and pomanders. For all ages. Children under 10 must have an adult with them.

Gift wrap workshop
Saturday, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Create some one-of-a kind wrapping paper for special gifts using recycled and reused materials. For all ages. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Recurring programs

Book chat
Wednesdays, 3 p.m.
Meet each week to discuss new books, old books and books we might have missed. Each week, Margaret Woodruff selects a theme and highlights related titles from the library collection. No registration necessary.

Crochet & knit night
Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.
Claudia Marshall is your host for a casual weekly session of crocheting and chatting, knitting and catching up. Bring your project or start a new one with yarn and needles available at the library, along with plenty of books to instruct and inspire. For teens and adults.

Library contact information:
Margaret Woodruff, director
Cheryl Sloan, youth services librarian
Susanna Kahn, tech librarian
Phone: 802-425-3864
Email

The Charlotte Library Board of Trustees meets regularly on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. The next meeting takes place on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. online and in person. Please contact the library or visit the library website for more information.