Ongoing/drop-in programs, displays, swaps, and givaways

Book Display: This month, check out books related to and inspired by our Repair Cafe and come back next month to participate in the event!   Visit the KCR display! This month, our featured artist is Moments by Kate!    Magazine Swap: Need some new reading material? Chec......More

Book Display: This month, check out books related to and inspired by our Repair Cafe and come back next month to participate in the event!   Visit the KCR display! This month, our featured artist is Moments by Kate!    Magazine Swap: Need some new reading material? Check out the magazine swap!    Community Puzzle: Spend some time working on a puzzle in the Main Reading Room. Puzzles rotate as they are completed.      Pattern Swap: Bring in sewing/cross stitch/knitting etc. patterns and take a few!   Puzzle Swap: Bring a puzzle, take a puzzle. Adult and kid friendly puzzles welcome! Only puzzles that have all the pieces. Drop your puzzle off on the table next to the main desk.     Pocket Constitutions are available by the main desk while supplies last.     Red Cards: Informational cards are available in several different languages.    Coupon Swap: Do you have extra coupons that aren't useful to you? Bring them in and take a few!    Battery Recycling Station: Do you have old batteries? Drop them off at our recycling station (no exploded batteries please!)    Lion's Club Eyeglasses Drop Off Station. Do you have old glasses you no longer need? Drop them off at our recycling station!   

March Madness: Battle of the Literary Quotes!

Youth March Madness Battle of the Literary Quotes! Fill out your Bracket before March 6th and drop it in our ballot box or email your youth choices to [email protected] for a chance to win a prize! Every week in Mar......More

Youth March Madness Battle of the Literary Quotes! Fill out your Bracket before March 6th and drop it in our ballot box or email your youth choices to [email protected] for a chance to win a prize! Every week in March we will have a new voting ballot from Elite Eight down to the championship round. Vote for your favorite quote to make it to the final round at the library! Your vote determines our champion!

STEM Challenge: Cardboard Couture

Stop by the Winnie Bell Maker Space in Youth Nonfiction to try our March STEM Challenge: Design and build your own wearable cardboard accessory using the library's kid-friendly Chomp Saw while learning to brainstorm, prototype, and refine your ideas. This program is mad......More

Stop by the Winnie Bell Maker Space in Youth Nonfiction to try our March STEM Challenge: Design and build your own wearable cardboard accessory using the library's kid-friendly Chomp Saw while learning to brainstorm, prototype, and refine your ideas. This program is made possible with support from the Winnie Bell Learned Fund, and it is open to all ages. 

Tech Help with Clif

Offering one on one technology help. Reservation required. Please call 802-878-6955 at least 48 hours in advance.

Crazy 8s Club (FULL)

Let's make math fun! An 8 week long recreational, fun math club for grades K-2 of all abilities. This program will take place twice per month, from January through April. Materials provided by the Bedtime Math organization. Led by volunteer math coach Nina Donyaee.

Must Read Mondays - The Weight Of Ink, by Rachel Kadish

Set in London of the 1660s and of the early twenty-first century, The Weight of Ink is the interwoven tale of two women of remarkable intellect: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam who is permitted to scribe for a blind rabbi, just before the plague hits the cit......More

Set in London of the 1660s and of the early twenty-first century, The Weight of Ink is the interwoven tale of two women of remarkable intellect: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam who is permitted to scribe for a blind rabbi, just before the plague hits the city; and Helen Watt, an ailing historian with a love of Jewish history.    When Helen is summoned by a former student to view a cache of newly discovered seventeenth-century Jewish documents, she enlists the help of Aaron Levy, an American graduate student as impatient as he is charming, and embarks on one last project: to determine the identity of the documents' scribe, the elusive "Aleph."    Electrifying and ambitious, The Weight of Ink is about women separated by centuries—and the choices and sacrifices they must make in order to reconcile the life of the heart and mind.   (description by publisher) Please fill out this form to get the GoToMeeting sign in information. https://forms.gle/UE9ZDT8ZD3a7UAQs8

Must Read Mondays -

Please fill out this form to get the GoToMeeting sign in information. https://forms.gle/UE9ZDT8ZD3a7UAQs8

Current Events Discussion Group - In Person

In an age of instant news reporting from every corner of our world, sometimes the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming. This current events discussion group will attempt to quiet the noise and step back to reflect on what the news means, what is its context......More

In an age of instant news reporting from every corner of our world, sometimes the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming. This current events discussion group will attempt to quiet the noise and step back to reflect on what the news means, what is its context, and what the ramifications are. We will look at, reflect on, and analyze daily events and try to discern trends and understand the national picture and the larger world basing the discussion on factual information in a non-judgmental framework. This discussion group is free and open to all. Registration is not required. 

Collage with Olivia

Drop in and experiment with collage materials. This program is led by teen volunteer Olivia. Recommended for youth ages 5-11

Play Time

Read one story together and play! We have giant blocks and other creative play materials. Best for ages 0-5.

Whimsical Wednesday: Buld a Fort & Read!

Every Wednesday we will do a fun activity, ranging from crafts to engineering and more! This time, Build a fort with blocks, furniture, mats and tablecloths and read!

Whimsical Wednesday:

Every Wednesday we will do a fun activity, ranging from crafts to engineering and more! This time:

AARP Tax Aide Appointments

AARP Foundation provides in-person assistance free of charge with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low-to-moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year. Taxpayers must bring all information ......More

AARP Foundation provides in-person assistance free of charge with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low-to-moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year. Taxpayers must bring all information and documents that have been received that apply to their 2025 income taxes, as well as a copy of their 2024 returns. Appointments required.  Please call 802-878-6955, in advance, to book a 60 minute  appointment.  The schedule fills up quickly!

Story Time

Picture books, songs, rhymes, crafts and early literacy tips. In the picture book area.

Snap and Code with Lego Robotics

Children ages 6-10 code with Legos and Scratch. Along the way they will grow more comfortable with the iterative nature of the design process, which involves experimenting, failing, and trying again. This program could be a good fit if you have a creative kid who loves ......More

Children ages 6-10 code with Legos and Scratch. Along the way they will grow more comfortable with the iterative nature of the design process, which involves experimenting, failing, and trying again. This program could be a good fit if you have a creative kid who loves solving puzzles.  Registration is required, and space is limited to 10 children, please sign up only if you can commit to coming to both sessions on 3/19 and 3/26. Lego Robotics programming is possible thanks to the support of the Brownell Library Foundation and the Al Bergendahl Fund.

AARP Tax Aide Appointments

AARP Foundation provides in-person assistance free of charge with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low-to-moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year. Taxpayers must bring all information ......More

AARP Foundation provides in-person assistance free of charge with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low-to-moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year. Taxpayers must bring all information and documents that have been received that apply to their 2025 income taxes, as well as a copy of their 2024 returns. Appointments required.  Please call 802-878-6955, in advance, to book a 60 minute  appointment.  The schedule fills up quickly!

Mah Jongg

Mah Jongg takes place every Friday from 10am-12pm and it's FREE!   If you know how to play, drop by and enjoy the great game of (American) Mah Jongg!     This is an EJRP/Essex Senior Center program. Questions? Please contact Julie: jsh......More

Mah Jongg takes place every Friday from 10am-12pm and it's FREE!   If you know how to play, drop by and enjoy the great game of (American) Mah Jongg!     This is an EJRP/Essex Senior Center program. Questions? Please contact Julie: [email protected] or 802-878-1375 EXT 1553

Dungeons & Dragons - FULL

Players embark on imaginary adventures. The current campaign is full, if you are interested in joining, and able to commit to an ongoing collaborative story for at least 4 months, please email [email protected] to a......More

Players embark on imaginary adventures. The current campaign is full, if you are interested in joining, and able to commit to an ongoing collaborative story for at least 4 months, please email [email protected] to add your name to the wait list. Open to 5th grade and up.

Read & Play

Looking for a weekend story time in a relaxed setting? Attend this program where we read picture books, free play with creative materials and end with a musical activity! Best for ages 0-5.

Tech Help with Clif

Offering one on one technology help. Reservation required. Please call 802-878-6955 at least 48 hours in advance.

Crazy 8s Club (FULL)

Let's make math fun! An 8 week long recreational, fun math club for grades K-2 of all abilities. This program will take place twice per month, from January through April. Materials provided by the Bedtime Math organization. Led by volunteer math coach Nina Donyaee.

Current Events Discussion Group - In Person

In an age of instant news reporting from every corner of our world, sometimes the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming. This current events discussion group will attempt to quiet the noise and step back to reflect on what the news means, what is its context......More

In an age of instant news reporting from every corner of our world, sometimes the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming. This current events discussion group will attempt to quiet the noise and step back to reflect on what the news means, what is its context, and what the ramifications are. We will look at, reflect on, and analyze daily events and try to discern trends and understand the national picture and the larger world basing the discussion on factual information in a non-judgmental framework. This discussion group is free and open to all. Registration is not required. 

Earth Month Scavenger Hunt

Are you an expert on reusing, recycling or composting? Test your knowledge and find ways to make our planet a better place in this scavenger hunt.

ART LAB: Mystery Bag Challenge

Grab a mystery bag from the youth desk and repurpose some of our creative scraps into your own creation! Show us what you come up with and we’ll take a picture to display on the Winnie Belle windows. This program is made possible with support from the Winnie Bell Learne......More

Grab a mystery bag from the youth desk and repurpose some of our creative scraps into your own creation! Show us what you come up with and we’ll take a picture to display on the Winnie Belle windows. This program is made possible with support from the Winnie Bell Learned Fund and it is open to all ages!

Daily, Ongoing Programs for Adults:

Book Display: This month, check out books and films about, inspired by, and written by Shakespeare!   Visit the KCR display! This month our display features art by Essex Art League!    Magazine Swap: Need some new reading material? Check out the magazine swap!    Commu......More

Book Display: This month, check out books and films about, inspired by, and written by Shakespeare!   Visit the KCR display! This month our display features art by Essex Art League!    Magazine Swap: Need some new reading material? Check out the magazine swap!    Community Puzzle: Spend some time working on a puzzle in the Main Reading Room. Puzzles rotate as they are completed.      Pattern Swap: Bring in sewing/cross stitch/knitting etc. patterns and take a few!   Puzzle Swap: Bring a puzzle, take a puzzle. Adult and kid friendly puzzles welcome! Only puzzles that have all the pieces. Drop your puzzle off on the table next to the main desk.     Pocket Constitutions are available by the main desk while supplies last.     Red Cards: Informational cards are available in several different languages.    Coupon Swap: Do you have extra coupons that aren't useful to you? Bring them in and take a few!    Battery Recycling Station: Do you have old batteries? Drop them off at our recycling station (no exploded batteries please!)    Lion's Club Eyeglasses Drop Off Station. Do you have old glasses you no longer need? Drop them off at our recycling station!    Seed Swap: Have extra seeds you don't need? Drop them off at our seed swap and take home seeds you want for your garden! 

Play Time

Read one story together and play! We have giant blocks and other creative play materials. Best for ages 0-5.

Whimsical Wednesday: Watershed model with Lake Champlain Basin Program

Every Wednesday we will do a fun activity, ranging from crafts to engineering and more! This time: Watershed model with Lake Champlain Basin Program.  This hands-on, tabletop model helps students understand how polluted runoff impairs lakes and rivers. Topics covered in......More

Every Wednesday we will do a fun activity, ranging from crafts to engineering and more! This time: Watershed model with Lake Champlain Basin Program.  This hands-on, tabletop model helps students understand how polluted runoff impairs lakes and rivers. Topics covered include point and nonpoint pollution sources (urban, industrial, forested, and agricultural), toxic substances, phosphorus, pollution prevention, and watershed planning.

Whimsical Wednesday:

Every Wednesday we will do a fun activity, ranging from crafts to engineering and more! This time:

Grief Group

Join a compassionate community of adults who are grieving in a safe and supportive space. Guided by certified death doula Karen Hergesheimer, participants are invited to share, listen, and explore the complexities of grief through thoughtful conversation, education, and......More

Join a compassionate community of adults who are grieving in a safe and supportive space. Guided by certified death doula Karen Hergesheimer, participants are invited to share, listen, and explore the complexities of grief through thoughtful conversation, education, and shared resources. Hot tea is provided.Please note: this group is designed to support many forms of grief and is not intended for those grieving suicide loss or the loss of a child.