Playgroup for Littles (0-5) & Caregivers
2026-03-10 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Whiting Library is home to a weekly playgroup for the Littles (0-5 years old) and their caregivers on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. This is a free, fun and relaxed gathering where little kids play while their grown ups supervise and socialize.
No need to pre-register, simply drop in to the library Community Room. Stay as long or as little as you like. Geared towards Caregivers who want to find friendship and build connections in the greater wee little people (0-5 years old) community.
Fun & games in the community room downstairs!
Everyone learns best through play! Contact our Youth Librarian, for more information via youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277.

Story Time
2026-03-11 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
This weekly program is geared toward children ages 0–5 and their caregivers. You’re encouraged to arrive between 10:00–10:15 AM to give little ones time to get settled. We’ll begin with about 10-15 minutes of songs, poems and stories, followed by free play and art activities designed to support early learning.
Story Time is essential for building literacy skills—it fosters language development, imagination, and social-emotional growth. The program wraps up at 11:00 AM.
Look for us in the Community Room downstairs, or, if the weather is nice, we may be outside in the backyard.
Preregistration is appreciated but not required—drop-ins are always welcome! To sign up, call the library at 802-875-2277 or email Carrie at youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org.

The Fun and Games Club
2026-03-11 15:00 - 16:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Join us for an afternoon of friendly game playing, laughter, and all-around fun at Whiting Library’s Fun and Games Club, a fun and games group for school-aged kids.
We’ll rotate through a variety of games each month, including Wii favorites like bowling and tennis (always a hit!). Kids can take turns on the Wii while others jump into board games, dice games, or exciting card games. There’s something for every kind of player, and kids who just want to have a blast with friends.
Come see what fun we can create together with the Fun and Games Club!

Adult Book Discussion
2026-03-11 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-04-08 16:30 - 17:30
If you want to participate in the book club, contact the library at director@WhitingLibrary.org or call 802-875-2277 to reserve a copy.

Drop-In Tech Help
2026-03-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-19 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-26 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-02 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Have you run into a technology issue you just can’t figure out? Would you like some help? Every Thursday from 2-3 our “techie” librarian Kale sits down with folks to answer questions, teach skills, and talk through your pesky computer and mobile device problems with you.
Call to schedule at (802) 875-2277, email assistantlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org, or just come by the library!

YA Games Group
2026-03-17 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-24 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-31 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Looking for some after-school fun? Join Whiting Library’s Teen Games Group—a place to relax, laugh, and play all kinds of games with friends!
We’ll mix it up each week with everything from strategy and card games to cooperative board games, party favorites, and even the occasional tabletop role-playing adventure. Whether you’re into Magic the Gathering, Yahtzee, or Unstable Unicorns, there’s something for everyone!
🎯 For ages 13 and up📅 Tuesdays at 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM

CANCELED: Playgroup for Littles (0-5) & Caregivers
2026-03-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Unfortunately, playgroup is canceled this week due to an unexpected staff absence. Thank you for your understanding during this time. Playgroup will return on Tuesday, April 7 with updated guidelines and capacity limits.

Tuesday Playgroup: cancelled, resumes April 7

Playgroup Update at Whiting Library
Our Tuesday Morning Playgroup has grown into something truly special, and I’m so grateful to see so many families connecting, playing, and learning together. It’s been wonderful to watch this community grow!
With that growth, we’ve reached a point where a few changes will help keep playgroup a calm, safe, and engaging experience for everyone—especially our youngest participants.
When playgroup resumes in April, here’s what to expect:

Attendance will be limited to 6 adults (with their children) per session
Advance sign-up will be required to help families plan ahead. RSVP here!
Drop-ins may be welcomed only if space allows.
Playgroup is designed with children ages 0–3 in mind

We’ll prioritize reservations for families with children ages 3 and under.
If space allows, families with older children are always welcome to join.

These adjustments will help create a more relaxed environment where little ones can explore, play, and build early literacy skills at their own pace.
Thank you for your understanding and for being such an important part of this growing playgroup community. Everyone learns best through play! Contact me, your Youth Librarian, for more information via youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277. I look forward to welcoming you back in April!
Warmly,
Carrie
Youth Services Librarian
Whiting Library

Virtual Author Talks: America’s Failed Response to the Opioid Crisis with Author Shoshana Walter With Special Guest Host Barbara Kingsolver
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:00
PLEASE REGISTER HERE: https://libraryc.org/whitinglibrary/117440/register

WATCH THE RECORDING HERE: https://libraryc.org/whitinglibrary/archive

Join us for a special conversation between award-winning journalist Shoshana Walter and bestselling and award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver as they chat about Walter’s book Rehab: An American Scandal. In this work, Walter, a Pulitzer finalist, exposes the country’s failed response to the opioid crisis, and the malfeasance, corruption, and snake oil which blight the drug rehabilitation industry.
Today, more people have access to treatment than ever before. So why isn’t it working? The answer is that in America—where anyone can get addicted—only certain people get a real chance to recover. Despite record numbers of overdose deaths, our default response is still to punish, while rehabs across the United States fail to incorporate scientifically proven strategies and exploit patients.
In this book, you’ll find the stories of four people who represent the failures of the rehab-industrial complex, and the ways our treatment system often prevents recovery. April is a black mom in Philadelphia, who witnessed firsthand how the government’s punitive response to the crack epidemic impeded her mother’s recovery—and then her own. Chris, a young middle-class white man from Louisiana, received more opportunities in his addiction than April, including the chance to go to treatment instead of prison. Yet the only program the judge permitted was one that forced him to perform unpaid back-breaking labor at for-profit companies. Wendy is a mother from a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles, whose son died in a sober living home. She began investigating for-profit treatment programs—yet law enforcement and regulators routinely ignored her warnings, allowing rehab patients to die, again and again. Larry is a surgeon who himself struggled with addiction, and would eventually become one of the first Suboxone prescribers in the nation, drawing the scrutiny of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Be sure to register now to participate in this urgent conversation and learn insight on how we might fix the system to save lives.
About the Author:
Shoshana Walter is a reporter for the Marshall Project covering the criminal justice system. Her reporting has been honored as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and Selden Ring, and she has won the Knight Award for Public Service, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Livingston Award for Young Journalists. She started her work on the treatment system at The Center for Investigative Reporting, where her work appeared in The New York Times Magazine, in newspapers, and on NPR stations across the country. She is based in Oakland, California.
About the Guest Host:
Barbara Ellen Kingsolver is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and poet. Her widely known works include The Poisonwood Bible, the tale of a missionary family in the Congo, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a nonfiction account of her family’s attempts to eat locally. In 2023, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the novel Demon Copperhead. Her work often focuses on topics such as social justice, biodiversity, and the interaction between humans and their communities and environments.

Canceled: Story Time
2026-03-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Unfortunately, story time is canceled this week due to an unexpected staff absence. Thank you for your understanding during this time. Story Time will return on Wednesday, April 1.
This weekly program is geared toward children ages 0–5 and their caregivers. You’re encouraged to arrive between 10:00–10:15 AM to give little ones time to get settled. We’ll begin with about 10-15 minutes of songs, poems and stories, followed by free play and art activities designed to support early learning.
Story Time is essential for building literacy skills—it fosters language development, imagination, and social-emotional growth. The program wraps up at 11:00 AM.
Look for us in the Community Room downstairs, or, if the weather is nice, we may be outside in the backyard.
Preregistration is appreciated but not required—drop-ins are always welcome! To sign up, call the library at 802-875-2277 or email Carrie at youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org.

LEGO Builders Club
2026-03-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Build, play, and create at the library! At this event kids can design their own masterpiece, then display it in the Youth Room. Play isn’t just fun—it builds problem-solving, motor skills, and storytelling, all essential to literacy growth. Younger siblings can enjoy big blocks, and building books are on hand for inspiration.

📅 Wednesdays, March 25, April 29, May 27
🕒 3–4 PM
📍 Whiting Library
📞 RSVP at 802-875-2277 — contact Carrie King, Youth Librarian (youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org) for more info!
And don’t forget—you don’t have to wait for program days to build. When you come to the library, I’ll be happy to show you our big box of LEGOs and a comfy spot to make your masterpiece. It’s also a great place to meet up with friends after school and get creative together!
—Carrie

Flight Path: Discover Our Feathered Neighbors
2026-03-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Join us, Friday, March 27, 3-4PM at the Whiting Library for Flight Path, a fun and interactive program celebrating the resident and migratory birds that share our community. Through games and activities, participants will learn more about the fascinating avian neighbors that pass through or call our region home.
Test your knowledge with a bird trivia game, try a bird matching challenge, and discover ways to explore birdwatching in your own backyard. Plus, explore a special display of birding books curated for all ages.
We’ll also debut the library’s new Birding Backpacks, a grab-and-go kit filled with tools to help you start observing birds. Patrons can also check out the library’s Sibley’s Birding Bingo game, a bird-themed puzzle, and a birding board game from our Library of Things for even more birding fun at home.
Throughout March, enter our raffle for a birding prize basket, featuring a reusable water bottle, bird-friendly coffee, and reflective window tape designed to help prevent bird collisions.
Come celebrate birds with the Whiting Library and learn simple ways to enjoy and protect them!

Books, Birds, and Baked Goods!
2026-03-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Join Whiting Library’s open house to celebrate the reopening of the renovated downstairs on Saturday, March 28th from 11AM to 1PM. Shop in our book sale room, learn all about birds, munch on homemade treats, and get your library card while you’re at it!

Visit the Book Sale Room for huge discounts and a brown bag sale on library discards. Still looking for more books? Pick up a free copy of the Vermont Reads book of the year, The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton, a poignant story about resilience and adaptation in a shifting landscape. Next, explore the stacks upstairs to find a new favorite book or DVD or to discover the Library of Things.

In honor of receiving the Flight Path grant, the library is getting bird-brained. Borrow the birding backpacks, play with the new themed bird ID take-away box, try bird bingo, or chill with a birdsong book. Stop in to watch two short documentaries and pick up window decals that protect our feathered friends. Take a gander at our themed bird displays and find the hidden birds.
Of course, don’t forget to grab a delicious home-made treat before you leave. Got questions? Email info@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277 or stop in at 117 Main St in Chester. See you at the library!

Canceled: Playgroup for Littles (0-5) & Caregivers
2026-03-31 10:00 - 11:30 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Unfortunately, Playgroup will be canceled this week due to an unexpected staff absence. Thank you for your understanding during this time.
Playgroup Update 💛
Our Tuesday Playgroup has grown, and we’re so grateful for this wonderful community! To keep playgroup safe, calm, and fun for our youngest participants, a few changes will begin in April:

Limit: 6 adults per session

Sign-up required to reserve a spot

Drop-ins welcome if space allows

Designed for ages 0–3

Priority given to children 3 and under

Older children may join if space is available

Why this matters:Smaller groups help create a calmer space where little ones can safely explore, build early literacy skills, and enjoy play at their own pace.
Thank you for your understanding and for being such an important part of this growing playgroup community. Contact me, your Youth Librarian, for more information via youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277. I look forward to welcoming you back in April!
Carrie, Youth Services Librarian

Virtual Author Talks: On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal
2026-04-02 14:00 - 15:00
PLEASE REGISTER HERE: https://libraryc.org/whitinglibrary/145583/register
WATCH RECORDING AFTER EVENT HERE: https://libraryc.org/whitinglibrary/archive

Join us online April 2nd at 2 PM for an exhilarating journey through the history of US women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and expert on human spaceflight.
Sally Ride became a household name as the first American woman in space, but scores of equally impressive women have also left their mark in space. On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts spans 45 years and 61 astronauts to share the epic journeys of women who made space for themselves in a male-dominated field.
Valerie Neal interviewed many of the US women astronauts to bring their experiences to life. She offers a culturally insightful history of their achievements, the challenges they’ve faced, and their distinctive stories. Collectively, they’ve completed more than 100 space shuttle missions, and more than 30 long-duration stays on the International Space Station and Russian Space Station Mir, and they continue to prove themselves in present-day space exploration efforts.
The book includes 50 black-and-white photographs to complement the historical account. With its sweeping look from the first women astronauts to Christina Hammock Koch, assigned to the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, there is no comparably thorough book on America’s women astronauts. On a Mission is an inspiring tribute to unsung women’s history.
Register now to take part in this inspirational discussion!
About the Author: Valerie Neal is a space historian and Curator Emerita at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Her specialty is human spaceflight, space technology, and space science in the Space Shuttle era and beyond. At the Museum, she collected more than 1500 artifacts of the shuttle era, curated three exhibitions and eight documentary programs for the Smithsonian Channel (cable TV), published books and articles growing from her research, lectured in the USA and abroad, and gave many interviews for US and international media.
Before joining the Museum, she was a writer and editor for some 25 NASA publications on Space Shuttle and Spacelab missions, the Hubble Space Telescope and other Great Observatories, space science, and NASA History. She participated in underwater astronaut training in Alabama and mission support in Houston for four Space Shuttle missions. She has taught American Studies and writing courses at multiple universities. Valerie Neal holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in American Studies and a B.A. degree in English and History.

Playgroup for Littles (0-3) & Caregivers
2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Playgroup Update at Whiting Library. Reserve your spot here.
Our Tuesday Morning Playgroup has grown into something truly special, and I’m so grateful to see so many families connecting, playing, and learning together. It’s been wonderful to watch this community grow!
With that growth, we’ve reached a point where a few changes will help keep playgroup a calm, safe, and engaging experience for everyone—especially our youngest participants.
When playgroup resumes in April, here’s what to expect:

Attendance will be limited to 6 adults (with their children) per session
Advance sign-up will be required to help families plan ahead. RSVP here!
Drop-ins may be welcomed only if space allows.
Playgroup is designed with children ages 0–3 in mind

We’ll prioritize reservations for families with children ages 3 and under.
If space allows, families with older children are always welcome to join.

These adjustments will help create a more relaxed environment where little ones can explore, play, and build early literacy skills at their own pace.
Thank you for your understanding and for being such an important part of this growing playgroup community. Everyone learns best through play! Contact me, your Youth Librarian, for more information via youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277.
Warmly,
Carrie
Youth Services Librarian
Whiting Library

Little Sprouts Garden Day
2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Springfield Area Parent Child Center Family Engagement Specialist Krista Wilson and Family Support Worker Robbie Wierzbicki invite children and families to dig in and grow some fun with us at the Whiting Library!
Join us for a hands-on gardening adventure! Children and their caregivers will get creative decorating their own planting pots and then plant seeds to grow flowers and veggies. Get ready for a little soil, a lot of smiles, and seeds of confidence to grow right along with your plants!
Families will learn how to care for their new plants while building patience, creativity, and a love for nature together.
Take the fun home with you! Each family registered will receive a to-go bag with gardening materials and a children’s book celebrating the joy of gardening.
Look for us in the Community Room downstairs.
Preregistration is appreciated but not required—drop-ins are always welcome! To sign up, call the library at 802-875-2277 or email Carrie at youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org.

Celebrate National Unicorn Day!
2026-04-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
Join Carrie for a magical hour filled with stories and creativity as we celebrate the legendary unicorn! We’ll read enchanting books and create unicorn-inspired art while learning about the history of this mythical creature. The unicorn has been a symbol on the Scottish coat of arms since the 12th century and has appeared in myths and legends throughout history. With such a long and fascinating past, it’s no wonder National Unicorn Day on April 9th was officially introduced in 2015!
Space is limited, please contact the library either during opening hours to make a reservation by calling 802-875-2277 or by completing this RSVP form. Thank you to those who register—it helps us plan for everyone!
Perfect for elementary school-aged kids. Contact Carrie Roy King, Youth Librarian with any questions by emailing youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or calling 802-875-2277.

Vermont Women and the Civil War
2026-04-11 14:00 - 15:30 | Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St, Chester, VT, 05143, United States
Please join us at Chester Town Hall on Saturday, April 11th from 2-3:30 PM for a presentation by Vermonter Howard Coffin on the exceptional women of Vermont who kept the state going during the Civil War.
“Vermont women enlisted for the duration.” So said a Vermont historian assessing the war years 1861-1865. Vermont’s remarkable Civil War battlefield record is well documented, but little is known of how Vermont women sustained the home front. Historian Howard Coffin explains, with nearly 35,000 of the state’s able-bodied men at war, how women took on farming, worked in factories, served as nurses in the state’s military hospitals, and more. And at least one Vermont woman appears to have secretly enlisted and fought in a Vermont regiment!
Drawing from letters and diaries, Coffin tells their story in their own words, describe life during the Civil War in the Green Mountain State.
This event is sponsored in part through Vermont Humanities and held in partnership with the Chester Historical Society.

FULL: Play, Connect, and Learn: A Family Place Immersion Experience
2026-04-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Whiting Library, 117 Main St., CHESTER, VT, 05143, United States
The 4/14/26 playgroup is full. Thank you for reserving your spot in advance.
Playgroup Update at Whiting Library, Reserve Your Spot Here, The number of participants will be limited in order to provide a higher quality of experience.
Play, Connect, and Learn: A Family Place Immersion Experience
With Cara Tyrrell | Week of the Young Child Special Program
Join us for a 90-minute interactive, play-based learning experience designed especially for families with infants and toddlers.
This special session will be facilitated by Cara Tyrrell, a Chester-based early childhood teacher trainer, author, and parent educator. Instead of a traditional author talk, this experience takes place right in our Family Place play environment—where learning happens through play, connection, and real-life moments.
Drawing from her new book, Talk to Them Early and Often: A Caregiver’s Guide to Intentional Language Development for Infants and Toddlers, Cara will guide caregivers through simple, powerful ways to support their child’s development through everyday language.
What to expect:

Live modeling of intentional language during play
Opportunities to practice with your child in real time
Gentle coaching and reflection throughout the session
A free copy of the book to take home

You’ll learn:

Why language plays a key role in brain development and emotional regulation
What intentional language sounds like in everyday moments
How to adapt your words to your child’s temperament
How to stay connected—even during challenging moments

Bonus Follow-Up Session:
Join us again on Saturday, May 9 at 10AM for a relaxed author chat with Cara, where you can ask questions and get support as you begin using these strategies at home.
This two-part experience is designed to be practical, supportive, and immediately useful for families.
WOYC Flyer Chester
Our Tuesday Morning Playgroup has grown into something truly special, and I’m so grateful to see so many families connecting, playing, and learning together. It’s been wonderful to watch this community grow!
With that growth, we’ve reached a point where a few changes will help keep playgroup a calm, safe, and engaging experience for everyone—especially our youngest participants.
When playgroup resumes in April, here’s what to expect:

Attendance will be limited to 6 adults (with their children) per session
Advance sign-up will be required to help families plan ahead. RSVP here!
Drop-ins may be welcomed only if space allows.
Playgroup is designed with children ages 0–3 in mind

We’ll prioritize reservations for families with children ages 3 and under.
If space allows, families with older children are always welcome to join.

These adjustments will help create a more relaxed environment where little ones can explore, play, and build early literacy skills at their own pace.
Thank you for your understanding and for being such an important part of this growing playgroup community. Contact me, your Youth Librarian, for more information via youthlibrarian@whitinglibrary.org or call 802-875-2277.
Warmly,
Carrie
Youth Services Librarian
Whiting Library
