Holiday Hours

The Winchester Public Library will be closed on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11 for the Veterans Day holiday.

- Appointments for Study Room use

- Museum Passes for Winchester residents

- Info on Computer Access, Copying, & Printing

- Subscribe to one of our Newsletters

Yarnies at the Library
2nd Tuesday of the Month at 10:00 AM
3rd Thursday of the Month at 12:00 PM

Do you knit or crochet? Do you want to work on a project and talk with other crafters? Then this group is for you! Bring along current project, or join us to gather ideas from your fellow crafters. No registration required.

Yarnies at the Jenks
1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM

The Library's Yarnies group is now meeting on the first and third Saturday of the month at the Jenks!  All are welcome: beginners, experts, and everyone in between! Drop in, no registration required.

Mandala Mindfulness:
A Group For Creative Coloring and Connection
Wednesdays at 11:00 AM starting September 27

Many people find the drawing or coloring of a mandala to be meditative. The very nature of drawing or coloring a mandala is therapeutic and symbolic. Join us for a relaxing session of coloring and connection. We will meet on Wednesdays at 11:00 am.  All are welcome. This event is presented in partnership with the Northeast Recovery Learning Community. No Registration Required.

Books & Building
Wednesdays at 3:30 PM

Join us for an afternoon of stories and building. We will read a story or two, and then have materials for an open ended building challenge. For ages 3-6. No registration required.

Board Game Afternoon for Teens
Fridays at 3:30 PM

Drop in to the Large Meeting Room on Friday afternoons to play board games and hang out with your friends! We'll provide a variety of games and snacks for this unstructured game time. No registration required.

Poke(mon) Ball
Saturday, October 28 10:30 AM

“I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was! To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause!”

Come dressed as your favorite Pokemon or Trainer and enjoy Pokemon-themed crafts, games and activities! This program is for kids in Kindergarten - 4th grade and their grown-ups. Register online.

Paper Lanterns
Monday, October 30 3:30 PM

Join us as we make lanterns out of popsicle sticks and paper to light up the night! This program is for kids in Kindergarten - 4th grade and their grown ups. Register online.

Friends Speaker Series: Dan Gagnon
Monday, October 30 7:00 PM

Join author Dan Gagnon for a discussion of his book A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse. Gagnon will shine a spotlight on Nurse’s life and the 1692 witch hunt in general. A Salem Witch reveals a remarkable woman whose legacy has transformed how the witch hunt has been remembered and memorialized. Registration is not required, but you may sign up here if you'd like an email reminder.

This event is part of the Friends of the Winchester Public Library Speaker Series.

Teen Craft Time: Stuffed Animal Taxidermy
Thursday, November 2 4:00 PM

Make some cute room decor by...chopping up stuffed animals. There's really no way to make this not sound weird, but the results are fun! We'll have a variety of stuffed animals to choose from and you can paint and personalize your plaque. Register online.

Kids Creative Drama with Little Spark Theater
Saturday, November 4 11:00 AM

Kids ages 2-5 sign up to join Little Spark Theater for a high-energy, imaginative, zany, silly, super fun theater experience focused on senses, feelings, and movement through fun, energetic, and imaginative play! Parent/caregiver participation is encouraged. Register online.

PJ Storytime
Monday, November 6 5:00 PM

Kids of all ages join us for some books before bedtime! PJs and stuffies are optional but encouraged! We'll read, sing some songs, and then all head home for a good night's rest. No registration required.

Teen Taste Test: Generic vs. Name Brand
Tuesday, November 7 4:00 PM

Do you think you know your favorite snacks? We'll be sampling generic and name brand versions of the same items to see if you can tell the difference. Register online.

Young Writers Club
Tuesday, November 7 5:00 PM

Whether you write stories, graphic novels, poetry, or anything, the young writers club is a place where you can talk about writing, share what you’re working on, and learn tips and tricks to help you on your writing journey. This program will meet once a month. This program is for kids in grades 3-5. Children younger than 9 years old must have an adult present on library property during the event. No Registration Required

Friends Speaker Series: Sol Gittleman
Wednesday, November 8 7:00 PM

Sol Gittleman, author and Professor Emeritus at Tufts University, will discuss his book An Accidental Triumph: The Improbable History of American Higher Education.

Hardly a day passes without some reference to the decline of American colleges and universities. America has created, mostly by accident, a higher education enterprise unlike any in the world. In the years after WWII, American faculty have come to dominate the Nobel Prizes, while millions of international students seek a place on any American campus. So, what are we: a higher education disaster, or the envy of the world? The answer is: both. How did this happen? Registration is not required, but you may register HERE if you'd like an email reminder!

This event is part of the Friends of the Winchester Public Library Speaker Series and is made possible by your generous donations to the Friends of the Winchester Public Library.

Introduction to Mindfulness
Thursday, November 9 7:00 PM

This program presents a basic introduction to mindfulness, its foundations and its many benefits, including a review of its conceptual underpinnings and an orientation to formal and informal mindfulness practices that can be integrated into daily life.

Registration is not required. Sign up HERE if you'd like an email reminder!

Scratch in the Sandbox
Monday, November 13 4:30 PM

Want to do more with coding? Kids in grades 3-5 join us to experiment coding with Scratch, and learn how to interface it with Lego Mindstorms EV3 and WeDo. Children younger than 9 years old must have an adult present on library property during the event. Register online.

VIRTUAL: Navigating College Admissions Successfully in 2023
Tuesday, November 14 7:00 PM

This Zoom presentation from Stand Out for College will help families understand how the lingering effects from the pandemic have changed the college admissions landscape and how it affects Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen.This program covers current college admissions trends, the importance of researching and visiting colleges to find schools that can be a good fit for your child, a timeline and other action steps that can be taken to make this Fall productive and help reduce the stress around the college admissions process. We will also discuss the importance of community service and how it can help a student to stand out from other applicants.Please register HERE to receive the Zoom link.

Craft Night: Woodland Animals
Wednesday, November 15 7:00 PM

Paint a cute forest animal on a wood slice. These work as autumn decor or Christmas tree ornaments. This project is best for ages 13 and up. Note: acrylic paint stains fabric, so please wear old clothes or bring a smock/apron. Register online.

Teen Craft Time: Wire Wrapped Crystal Necklaces
Thursday, November 16 3:30 PM & 4:00 PM

Try the art of wire wrapping in this quick program. We'll have a variety of tumbled stones for you to choose from in making a pendant.

There are two time slots available:
Click Here to register for Group 1.
Click Here to register for Group 2.

Kids Graphic Novel Book Club
Tuesday, November 14 5:00 PM

If you enjoy reading graphic novels, and you are in grades 3-5, this is the perfect book club for you! We will meet and discuss a different graphic novel once a month. Children younger than 9 years old must have an adult present on library property during the event.

This month we'll be reading Miles Morales: Shock Waves: A Spider-Man Graphic Novel by Justin A. Reynolds. Register online.

Monday Night Mystery Book Club
Monday, November 6 7:00 PM

Love mysteries? Join WPL's latest book group - Monday Mysteries! This month's book is The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths.

Second Tuesday Women's Reading Group
Tuesday, November 14 7:30 PM

This month's book is White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht. Questions? Please contact Sarah Levinson at [email protected]. No Registration Required.

Step into Storytime
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM

Children of all ages are invited to attend Step into Storytime! We'll read, sing, laugh and craft at this program. No registration required, however, high attendance is expected. Program begins promptly at 10:30am.

Itsy Bitsy Readers
Wednesdays at 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM

Parents and caregivers of infants, join us in the Storytime Room for songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and stories perfectly geared toward our littlest readers and their grown-ups. You’ll learn ways to develop your child’s early literacy skills, and we'll leave a little time at the end of each session for participants to chat with each other.

Pattycake Place
Thursdays at 11:00 AM

Join us for songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and stories geared toward little readers. We will continue to develop your child’s early literacy skills, and you’ll get to meet other parents and caregivers. For children ages 2 and under. Meet in the Large Meeting Room.

Shake Rattle and Read
Fridays at 10:30 AM

Kids ages 2 and 3 join us for a musical storytime! We'll make music with some fun instruments, and read some rockin' good books too! No registration required!

Is the Library your Happy Place? Read on!

The Board of the Friends of the Winchester Public Library has openings for a few new members. Opportunities include the following:

- Corresponding Secretary
- Marketing/Communications Role
- Speaker Series Role

If you are interested and would like more information about serving on the Board, please contact [email protected].