November 1, 2026 | By Judi Byron Library programs for November include regular happenings and some special presentations, including a visit from sled dogs and an author visit to discuss the history of poor farms in Vermont and an award-winning historical fiction novel on the subject. The Federalist Papers discussion series holds its final meeting. And the Waterbury Library Commission is hoping to fill a vacant position.
See highlights below and be sure to check the full listings of programs for adults, children and teens on the library’s website waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Note that the library will be closed Nov. 26-27 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Also, due to the holiday, the Blood on the Clocktower group will meet on Nov. 19 (not the fourth Thursday, which is Thanksgiving).
Several programs meeting this month will take a break until January: the Watercolor Class, meeting on Nov. 17; the Arthritis exercise class on Nov. 20; and Mahjong Training, meeting on Nov. 21. They each will resume in January.
Library Commission opening
The Waterbury Library Commission has had a vacancy for several months and it is invites local residents to apply to serve in role until Town Meeting Day.
Library Commission members are elected to five-year terms. When a vacancy occurs between local elections, the Select Board fills the position until the next election. The current opening is for a term that would end in March 2027, when a full term would be on the ballot. Someone appointed to the opening may choose to run for the office in March, but is not required to do so.
Except for a summer recess, the commission meets monthly. The Library Commission oversees the Library Director and library finances, aiding in budget planning, drafting and updating policy, and engaging in strategic planning in support of the library’s mission.
Candidates for commissioner positions must be Waterbury residents. Anyone interested is asked to send a letter of interest by Thursday, Nov. 5, to the Waterbury Library Commission at waterburylibraryvt@gmail.com. Experience with libraries is a plus; candidates should note any special experience or skills they bring to the role.
See more about applying for the opening here. More information about the commission, including its meeting agendas and minutes, is online here.
Nov. 2: Silent Reading Party at The Bidwell
File photo by Claire Pomer
This month’s programs start with a Silent Reading Party at The Bidwell restaurant, beside Bridgeside Books at 29 Stowe Street.
Bridgeside and the library host these monthly gatherings where readers bring a book or electronic reading device to spend a quiet hour reading as a group. Venues, dates and times all vary from month to month. This gathering will start at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.
Nov. 3: Mock election
Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day, and the Waterbury Public Library invites patrons of all ages to make their voices heard in a Mock Election. Check out new library logo designs and cast a vote for the one you like best. Every vote counts. Stop in any time during library hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Nov. 4: Last call for the Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers Book Club has been meeting since August discussing issues of what the founders of the U.S. Constitution envisioned and how it has played out. Led by local history buff and Waterbury Select Board member Evan Karl Hoffman, the series has been presented as part of Waterbury’s contribution to the Vermont 250 history commemorations.
The final meeting is this Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the library. All are welcome, regardless of whether you have attended previous sessions.
This last discussion will be on the judiciary. Some questions to consider: If so much of the federal judiciary could be left up to the discretion of Congress, why not other parts of the government? The Supreme Court is often criticized for being unelected and undemocratic, especially after they release an unpopular decision. Would electing justices be an improvement, or would it just make the court more political? What about other federal judges? What would a political campaign for federal judges look like? Do all institutions need to be fully democratic? Are there other ways of bringing democratic power into the court system?
Find the readings ahead of this meeting online at the Waterbury 250 website, home for this discussion group. Read the selections online at the Library of Congress, or listen for free on LibriVox.
Nov: 5: Author visit: ‘The Rise and Fall of Vermont Poor Farms’
Vermont author Jodi Lew-Smith will speak about the history of Vermont poor farms and what is known of historic poor relief in Waterbury. In an engaging talk that’s been getting rave reviews, she’ll follow the rise and decline of the poor farm system within the small towns of rural New England. Her talk will touch on the statewide and local systems. She’ll delve into her fictional portrayal of a poor farm in her historical novel, “Asa James,” the tale of a young man raised on an 1875 Vermont poor farm, where he dreamed of being the next Charles Darwin. Published in 2025 by Koehler Books, the novel has won multiple awards for historical fiction, including the American Legacy Book Award, the National Indie Excellence Award for regional fiction of the Northeast, the Independent Publisher Book Awards for Northeast fiction and the Feathered Quill Book Awards for historical fiction.
Jodi Lew-Smith lives on a hill farm in Hardwick, with her husband, dog, chickens, and 250 apple trees. Her stories and essays have appeared in various journals, including a story in “The Wax Paper” that was nominated for a 2019 Pushcart Prize. The talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a book signing.
File photo by Gordon Miller
Nov. 7: Visit with Siber Sled Dogs
Siber Sled Dogs return for a visit on Saturday morning, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon.
The friendly Siberian huskies from Cambridge and their human handlers will be eager to meet with library visitors of all ages in the library garden.
All are invited to meet the pack and learn about the dogs. Should there be rain, the event will be held inside the library. No registration is needed.
Judi Byron is the Waterbury Public Library’s Adult Program Coordinator. Reach her at 802-244-7036 or judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.