Pequot Library Announces November Events, Including Author Luncheon, Concerts And Family Programs

FAIRFIELD, CT — Pequot Library has announced its November 2026 schedule, featuring author discussions, musical performances, historical exhibitions, children's activities and wellness programs.

Among the month's events is a Literary Luncheon with New York Times bestselling author Jean Hanff Korelitz on Nov. 13 at 11:30 a.m. Korelitz will discuss her latest novel, "The Sequel," a follow-up to her bestseller "The Plot."

Local book expert Susy Hayes Jones will moderate the discussion, which will include an audience question-and-answer session and book signing. Barrett Bookstore will have copies available for purchase.

The library will also continue its Special Collections exhibition, "Lines of Liberty: Maps, Power, and the Making of America," through Jan. 9, 2027.

The exhibition features historic maps, atlases, manuscripts, letters and military records from the library's collection. It examines how maps influenced political claims and perceptions of American history from the colonial period through the 20th century, with particular attention to the Revolutionary War and Connecticut's role in the conflict.

Most November programs are free and open to the public, according to the library.

Fundraisers

Literary Luncheon — Friday, Nov. 13, at 11:30 a.m.

Author Jean Hanff Korelitz will discuss her novel "The Sequel" with moderator Susy Hayes Jones. The event will include an audience Q&A and book signing, with books available for purchase through Barrett Bookstore.

Black Friday/Saturday Book Sale — Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28

Pequot Library will hold a two-day book sale featuring new and gently used books and other materials selected with holiday gift-giving in mind.

Sale hours and book categories will be posted on the library's website closer to the event.

America's 250th Anniversary Programs

"Lines of Liberty: Maps, Power, and the Making of America" — On view through Jan. 9, 2027

The Special Collections exhibition explores the role of maps in American history, particularly during the Revolutionary period. Materials include early maps of America, historic atlases, correspondence and military documents connected to Connecticut.

Out of the Vault: Selections from Pequot Library's Americana Collection — Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m.

Special Collections staff will present selected rare books and manuscripts during a program in the library's Special Collections Reading Room.

Registration is required, and space is limited.

Historic Southport Walking Tour — Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m.

Library docents and historians will lead a walking tour exploring Southport's development from a colonial agricultural settlement into a commercial center.

The tour will also highlight examples of mid-19th-century architecture.

The cost is $10 per person.

Guided Exhibition Tour — Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m.

Visitors can take a guided tour of the "Lines of Liberty" exhibition. The library offers exhibition tours on the second Saturday of each month.

Registration is required, and space is limited.

Roots & Futures: A Conversation with Ramin Ganeshram — Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.

Culinary historian, author and journalist Ramin Ganeshram will participate in a discussion about the connections between historical food practices, agriculture and sustainability.

Ganeshram, a Pequot Library Fellow, uses the library's Special Collections in her research. Her current work includes a forthcoming biography of Hercules Posey, George Washington's enslaved cook.

Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Saveur and Food & Wine. Her books include "Stir It Up!" and "Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago."

She will be joined by a regional farmer and a representative of Southport General Store to discuss historical approaches to land use, seasonal food production and provisioning.

The program is part of "The Common Table: A Conversation Series on Culture, Place, and Food," a collaboration between Pequot Library and Southport General Store.

A subsequent program, "Wine, Terroir, and the Long Table: An Evening With Neal Rosenthal," is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2027, at 7 p.m.

Musical Performances

Tangled Up in Blue — Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.

Tangled Up in Blue, an American folk music group composed of Yale University undergraduates, will perform at the library.

Founded in 1986, the group performs music ranging from Appalachian bluegrass and traditional Irish ballads to folk-rock and contemporary country.

Its performances feature four-part harmonies accompanied by instruments including guitar, banjo, fiddle, viola, mandolin and harmonica.

Family And Youth Programs

Teen Advisory Board — Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m.

Students in grades six through 12 can participate in the library's Teen Advisory Board, which meets monthly to help plan programs and provide feedback on the library's young adult collection and teen services.

Participants can earn community service hours by attending meetings, staffing events and assisting with library activities. Snacks will be provided.

Ballet Storytime with Tutu School — Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m.

Tutu School Westport will lead a ballet-themed program for children ages 4 to 8.

The event will include an introductory ballet lesson, a ballet storybook and a craft activity. No previous dance experience is required.

Book Bedazzling — Friday, Nov. 13, at 4:30 p.m.

Participants ages 10 and older can decorate book covers using small gemstones.

Attendees should bring their own books. Other supplies will be provided.

Drop-in Storytime — Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:30 a.m.

Children ages 3 and older can attend a storytime and craft activity in the Children's Library.

No registration is required.

"Screenagers: Generation AI" Film and Discussion — Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m.

Pequot Library and Fairfield Community Services will present a screening of "Screenagers: Generation AI," followed by a panel discussion, audience Q&A and reception.

The documentary examines the influence of artificial intelligence on children's and teenagers' social lives, education and mental health, including potential risks and approaches to supporting healthy development.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the screening begins at 6 p.m.

Sensory Storytime — Thursday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m.

The library will offer a sensory-friendly storytime featuring stories and activities designed to accommodate a range of learning styles and needs.

Friday Night Café — Friday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m.

Music for Youth will present an evening of student performances featuring singers, percussionists, pianists, string and woodwind players, guitarists, poets and storytellers.

Students ages 4 to 18 who wish to perform must register through the library's website.

Audience members do not need to register.

Health And Wellness Programs

Monday Meanders — Mondays, Nov. 2 and 9, at 10 a.m.

Pequot Library Adult Programs Manager Genevieve Swenson will lead 45-minute walks through the historic neighborhood.

Qigong for Cultivating Calm Within Chaos — Thursday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m.

Certified Level II Radiant Lotus Women's Qigong instructor Julie Moffat will lead a class focused on movement, relaxation and emotional regulation.

Moffat works in the Integrative Medicine Department at Smilow Cancer Hospital/Yale New Haven Health, where she teaches classes and workshops for patients and caregivers.

No previous qigong experience is required. Exercises can be adapted for participants who prefer to remain seated or standing.

Additional information about November programs, registration requirements and event details is available through Pequot Library's website.