Welcome to the Martha Canfield Library
From board books for toddlers to large print books for seniors, from the latest best sellers to the classics, from fiction to non-fiction, from study tables to computers and video-conferencing (coming soon), from audio books to movies, from games to puzzles, from a community meeting room to an art gallery, from programs of current interest to a historical reference collection — it's all here, it's all free. Come and enjoy!
Latest News
VT Reads 2019 - A History of the Concept of Race talk - Sunday, Sept 22 at 2pm
Professor William Edelglass will trace the intellectual history of the concept of race in the West, from its prehistory to today as we kick off the VT Reads 2019 books of "March" by John Lewis and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. The first European to divide the peoples of the world into distinct races, in the seventeenth century, claimed that the Sami people of northern Scandinavia were one of four races on earth; Native Americans, Europeans, South Asians, and North Africans together were considered a second race. How did such a bizarre distinction among groups of people develop into one of the most historically significant ideas of the modern world?
Vermont Reads 2019 is a program of the Vermont Humanities Council and this event is free and open to the public. Contact the Library at 802-375-6153 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. Copies of the books are available to check out.
DCF Book Talk - Wednesday, Sept 25 at 3pm
The DCF book discussions are informal and give students an opportunity to talk about books they have read. All student in Grades 4-8 who wants to read these books is welcome to join us. Our first book is Bob by Wendy Maas and Rebecca Stead. Books are available at the library, at the school library, or ebooks and audio books may be available through Listen Up! Vermont. All you need is your library card! Please call the library at 375-6153 for more information. Snacks will be provided.
VT Reads 2019 - Wednesday, Sept 25 at 6:30pm
Join us as we start reading "March: Book One" by John Lewis and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee for Vermont Reads 2019. We'll talk about how to read graphic novels, and we'll read aloud the first chapter of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Vermont Reads 2019 is a program of the Vermont Humanities Council and this event is free and open to the public. Contact the Library at 802-375-6153 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. Copies of the books are available to check out.
Chili Supper and Pie Auction - Sunday, Oct 6 at 5pm
The Library will be hosting the chili supper and pie auction at the Federated Church in East Arlington, which will include, but is not limited to, dishes made with produce from your backyard as part of Exploring Food in Your Backyard Week sponsored by Rooted in Vermont. Come for supper…...stay for the pie auction and go home with a delicious pie!! Homemade chili, salad and cornbread will be served. Free will offering is accepted with proceeds to benefit the Library and the Federated Church. Call 375-6153 for more information.
VT Reads 2019: Film Screening - Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30
Come see the classic film version of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" from 1962 staring Gregory Peck. Vermont Reads 2019 is a program of the Vermont Humanities Council and this event is free and open to the public. Contact the Library at 802-375-6153 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. Copies of the books are available to check out.
Young Writers Club - Tuesdays 3:15-4:15pm from Oct 15 - Nov 5
Students in Grades 3 and up are invited to join our first Young Writers' Club at the library. Martha Folsom, local writer and published author will lead the afterschool group, providing a fun writing and learning experience for students. Students will be working on their own manuscripts and they will be able to display their work at the library if they want. Materials students should bring: Manuscript if they are already working on something, good sized pad of paper or notebook, and pen or pencil. Call the library at 375-6153 to sign up or for more information.
VT Reads 2019: Eugenics in Vermont - Sunday, Oct 20 at 2pm
Historian Bill Budde will talk about the eugenics movement in Vermont. Vermont Reads 2019 is a program of the Vermont Humanities Council and this event is free and open to the public. Contact the Library at 802-375-6153 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
VT Reads 2019 Book Dicussion - Sunday, Nov 3 at 2pm
Join us for a book discussion of the two books "March: Book One" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Vermont Reads 2019 is a program of the Vermont Humanities Council and this event is free and open to the public. Contact the Library at 802-375-6153 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. Copies of the books are available to check out.
Preschool Storytime - Tuesdays at 10:30am from Sept 10 to Dec 17
Children, ages 2 and up are invited to join us at the library for storytime on Tuesday mornings at 10:30. Songs, fingerplays and stories will be presented each week. Call 375-6153 for more information.
Norman Rockwell Exhibit up at Vermont History Musuem
Check out the following links for more information about the exhibit from the library that is now showing at the Vermont History Musuem through January 2020.
Martha's Used Books open May 24 to Oct 27
Welcome fellow book lovers and new friends! Martha's Used Books season will run from May 24 to October 27. Located in the historic Martha Canfield home on Highway 7A (across from Saint James Church), it's a one of kind shopping experience. Hours will be every Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm, and Sunday from 12pm-4pm. Come check out our greatly expanded fiction, mystery and history sections.
Check out upcoming library events on Facebook.
Join Bennington County 1000 Books Before Kindergarten (1KBB4K) at Martha Canfield
"Experts tell us that children need to hear a thousand stories read aloud before they begin to learn to read for themselves" – Mem Fox, Reading Magic.
The Martha Canfield library has joined the Bennington County 1000 Books before Kindergarten, inviting all children ages infant - kindergarten to participate! Kids will earn a free book for every 200 books read. You'll get more information is the folder you will receive when registering your child. Books read by caregivers, parent, grandparents, and siblings all count, even books that you read multiple times can be counted each time! Get your registration form at the front desk, or you can call 802.375.6153 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Museum and Park Passes
We are proud to offer an opportunity for patrons to visit many parks and museums for free or reduced/low cost. Passes can be checked out for three days and must be returned to the library. Many of the passes were complimentary from the park or museum*, but others were donated by a grant in memory of Roger and Margery Hanson**. Passes include:
American Precision Museum* in Windsor (website) - Admits up to 2 adults and children under 18 years of age, free of charge
Bennington Museum** in Bennington (website) - Admits 2
Children's Musuem** at Saratoga (website) - Admits 4 people
Clark Art Institute* in Williamstown, MA (website) - Admits 1 adult
Echo Leahy Center* in Burlington (website) - Reduced admission to $7/person for up to 4 people
Hildene** in Manchester (website) - Admits 1 adult and 2 children/grandchildren
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum* in Vergennes (website) - Free family admission from late May through mid-October
MASS MoCA** in North Adams, MA (website) - Admits up to 2 adults and 2 children (under 16 years of age)
Shelburne Farms* in Shelburne (website) - Admits up to 2 adults and children for admission to walking trails and Children's Farmyard (excludes property tours)
Vermont History Museum* in Montpelier (website)
Vermont Heritage Galleries* in Barre (website)
Vermont Institute of Natural Science** in Quechee (website) - Reduced admission to $5/ person for 4 people. Children 3 & under are free.
Vermont Historic Sites* (website has complete listing of sites) - Family pass (up to 8 people in one vehicle) for free entry into sites
Vermont State Parks* (website has complete listing of parks) - Free entry to park day use (up to 8 people in one vehicle)
Wonderfeet Kid's Museum** in Rutland (website) - Admits 2 adults and 3 children (under 18 years of age)
Annual Appeal Time!
Check out how you can show your local library love on our Support page or click the Donate link on the right to donate online through Network for Good. We appreciate every donation, volunteer and patron. Together we make the library awesome!
Dorothy Canfield Fisher and Eugenics
Dorothy Canfield Fisher is one of Arlington, Vermont’s favorite celebrities. Recently questions have been raised about her relationship with the Vermont Eugenics Survey in the 1920s and 1930s. These questions have resulted in asking whether it is appropriate to continue to associate her name with the Vermont Department of Libraries annual award for children’s literature, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award.
In the interest of fostering an open and informed debate on her role concerning the eugenics movement in Vermont, the Martha Canfield Memorial Free Library has compiled a list of print and online material that is intended to show both sides of the issue over the years. Please feel free to share the list (PDF).
New Groups Wanted!
If you are interested in starting a new group such as book discussion, stamp collecting or any other topic, stop in and talk with Phyllis. We'll see if anyone else in interested in meeting at the Library to share your interest!
Volunteer Opportunity
We need people to work at the checkout desk on Saturdays. If you like helping people and are good with computers, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Join our Newsletter
If you would like to receive our email newsletter, just send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with "subscribe" in the subject line. The newsletter comes out once a month with occasional special announcements.
Book Donations
When donating books to the library, please remember these guidelines. The books must be clean. We can not take books with mildew, mold or water damage. It costs the library money to dispose of these books, so please do not include them. Drop your donations off at the front desk at the library. Please do not leave them outside at the door. If you cannot bring the books during library hours, we can arrange to pick them up for you.
Give yourself, a good friend, or family a MCL Tote Bag to carry your books in and support the library!
What's in your bag? These large canvas totes are available at the front desk. They have a front packet and zipper closure and they will hold lots of books. The cost is $15. Your gift will delight them and help support the library at the same time!
The Russell Collection
The Russell Collection is a valuable resource whether you are a historian researching Arlington's past or someone tracing family roots. Your financial help for this important collection is needed. Please consider earmarking part of your donation to the library for The Russell Collection.
Are You Interested
Learn a Language
Now you can learn a new language with the Mango program. This language learning program is yours for FREE through the Martha Canfield Library. Use the link on the right, and the barcode number on your MCL card.
Take a Class
Universal class is a new learning program available through the Vermont Department of Libraries which offers over 500 classes online. You can find the the link at the right of this page. To register you will need to enter a library membership ID that includes part of your library card barcode number. The password format is 2VSNA900XXXXXX, just replace the six X's with the last six characters of your barcode.
Databases for Research
The Vermont Online Library is an online database of periodical articles, many in full-text, and online reference, as well as a health module, a business module and reference material for kids of all ages. Your library card barcode is the password.
America's News Magazine helps you find topics of current interest and gives access to Newsweek, Popular Science, Field & Stream, Mother Earth News, Science Illustrated, Smithsonian and more.
The Bennington Banner gives access to articles from 12/18/2003 to present.
The Rutland Herald gives access to articles from 09/30/1999 to present.
Historical newspapers are available on the Library of Congress Chronicling America website.
