News & Events
About Round Tables
Round Tables are a new way of getting small groups in conversation using the rich resources of the Sitting Room Library. Here is how we are imagining them: no cost, no advance preparation needed. And only one meeting planned. Browse the library, select a book. Each person speaks and also listens and thus we have what we all say we are wanting: conversation. Bring your curiosity!
2026 Anthology prompt
Painter Hilma af Klint, fiction writer Lucia Berlin, park ranger Betty Reid Soskin, librarian Belle da Costa Greene, activist and author Zitkála-Šá. These are all women who shaped the world, yet only recently have they been recognized for their achievements. These remarkable women—and many others—still are not widely known beyond specific circles.
Let’s shine a spotlight on women who have been left too long in the shadows. In the 2026 Sitting Room Library Anthology we invite you to celebrate an overlooked heroine. Women who, through literature, art, or advocacy paved the way for all of us. All contributions are welcome including poetry, prose, and visual arts* that can introduce our community of readers to inspiring figures.
Contributions should be no more than two pages, 12 point font, Times New Roman. No headers or footers. Please send your work to sittingroomlibrary@gmail.com by April 15, 2026 with the subject line: “2026 Sitting Room Anthology Contribution.” Contributions may also be sent to the Sitting Room Library at P.O. Box 838, Penngrove, CA 94951.
NOTE: This year’s anthology will be published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license, and an online version will be available for people to download and read for free from the Sitting Room Library website. If you would like to be included in the print edition but want to opt out of the online publication, please note this in your email.
*If including visuals that are not original, please avoid using images that are currently under copyright.
Listen to "The Sitting Room: A Treasure Trove of 'Lost Ladies'" — a new podcast episode!
The hosts of the Lost Ladies of Lit podcast, Kim and Amy, visited the Sitting Room Library in October and made a special episode all about our collection and work. Listen to hear snippets from co-founder J.J. Wilson's tour, and conversations about the history, present and future of the Sitting Room Library and the many wonderful readers and writers who have spent time here.
Available to listen on any podcast platform; for a direct link to the Lost Ladies of lit webpage for the episode, click here.
2026 Events
02/28/2026
The Emergency Was Curiosity: Creating “book reports,” with Christie George and Jessi Haley
1pm
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4:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
Event Details
02/28/2026
The Emergency Was Curiosity: Creating “book reports,” with Christie George and Jessi Haley
In 2020, inspired by the book How to Do Nothing by Jenny O’Dell, writer/producer Christie George began pursuing a new form of reading and cu...
1pm
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4:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
03/01/2026
50-Word Stories with Bridget Hayes
2pm
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4:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
Event Details
03/01/2026
50-Word Stories with Bridget Hayes
Short, to-the-point, and powerful, 50-word stories challenge us to say more with a lot less. We’ll begin with a brief overview, examples a...
2pm
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4:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
03/07/2026
The Mystical Dickinson with Holly Springfield
2pm
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4:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
Event Details
03/07/2026
The Mystical Dickinson with Holly Springfield
Come join us for an exploration of Emily Dickinson's mystical poetry. Emily writes: “my business is circumference, my business is to love, m...
2pm
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4:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
03/24/2026
Transcribe Harper Party
4:30pm
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7:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
Event Details
03/24/2026
Transcribe Harper Party
Looking for an accessible way to address the assaults on truth and history taking place all around the country? Join us for a transcription ...
4:30pm
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7:30pm
The Sitting Room Library
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