Brooks Memorial Library

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Hey Buddy, Can You Spare A Sign?

by cgrotke | Town News
dec 5 brattleboro selectboard

The Brattleboro Selectboard bravely took no action against a non-existent problem at their most recent meeting. Panhandling isn’t a problem to be solved, and existing laws cover any other potential issues.  Perhaps we will make… a sign!

The Library has a strategic plan, housing development is lackluster, the town might get McNeill’s property to pay off demolition of his building, the public wondered about unusually large raises for department heads given an expected increase in property taxes, and an exhaustive search led the Town to hire Golden Cross’s billing service for EMS billing.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – Dec 1, 2023

by cgrotke | Town News

Ooops. A “previously overlooked item” will require an estimated base increase in Brattleboro property taxes for FY25 of 3.6%. It’s on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The Brattleboro Fire Department would like $3000 a month to pay an outside company for EMS billing services. Doing everything in-house is no longer an option.

The board will also hear about a strategic plan for Brooks Memorial Library, and update on how their housing plan has been going, talk of acquiring the McNeill’s property in exchange for the demolition costs, and another discussion of things that can be done about panhandling.

You can bring up almost anything else during public participation unless it is some issue the Chair doesn’t want discussed in public.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Summer Public EMS Discussions Wrapping Up

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard aug 15 2023

The Brattleboro Selectboard held their August public EMS discussion at their regular meeting on Tuesday. The board is happy with their progress though one member said that the public doesn’t understand what decisions are to be made,. They will make their EMS decision in late September. Two more public meetings will be held prior.

The Town Manager said the EMS project web page has had over 1600 page views since May. (This site averaged 7,750 pages viewed per day in August for comparison). The board had questions about the Fire Department’s large overtime budget and the public had questions about downtown cameras and sheltering people without homes this winter. 

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes – August 15, 2023

by cgrotke | Town News

Brattleboro’s Town Manager will suggest changes to the budget process at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. One proposed change to the schedule is intended to increase public participation.

EMS discussions continue, with one more chance for the public to weigh in on aspects of pending EMS decisions. The board will also hear a financial report and will spend nearly $60,000 for a Pool Engineering Feasibility Study.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brooks Memorial Library Seeks Trustee

by Starr LaTronica | Town News

The Board of Library Trustees of Brooks Memorial Library seeks an enthusiastic and dedicated library user to fill a two-year position on the Board.

Candidates should have an interest in maintaining a strong, dynamic and visionary library in Town. Trustees must be residents of Brattleboro.

The Board, which numbers nine trustees, meets at the Library at 4:45 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. Members are asked to chair or serve on two or more committees that convene as needed.

Brattleboro Town Manager Friday COVID-19 Update – What’s New

by Not Signed In | Town News, Uncategorized

WHAT IS NEW TODAY 

• Governor Scott’s updated executive order earlier today includes the following: 

“All businesses, not-for-profit entities, and municipal entities in the State shall reinstitute, to the maximum extent possible, … telecommuting or work from home procedures… [A]ll meetings should be held by telephone or electronically to avoid in person meetings whenever possible.” 

In furtherance of this directive, Town of Brattleboro administrative offices will transition next week back to the almost entirely remote operations that we put in place during the Stay Home Stay Safe period last March and April. Starting Monday, November 16, some Town offices will be unoccupied. By Friday, November 20, most Town offices will be unoccupied most of the time. As was true last spring, some employees will come to the offices on some days just to perform tasks that cannot be performed from remote locations. We found last spring that we could adequately meet the public’s needs while performing the vast majority of our work online, via email, and by phone. 

Library Books Are Quarantined at Brooks Memorial Library!

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Dear Library Community,

If anyone has been wondering why items are still showing up on their account after returning them to the Big Blue Book Drop, here is why

Don’t worry, we no longer charge any fines. they may accrue, but we delete them as soon as the item comes back to us!

Step 1: items are returned in the Big Blue Book Drop in the Municipal Parking Lot.

Get your Sunflower Seeds at Brooks Memorial Library!!!

by Brooks Memorial Library | Home & Garden

Brooks Memorial Library is part of the Growing Hope Campaign!

Come to the Main Street library entrance from 10AM – 5PM, Monday – Saturday, up a sign that says sunflowers, growing hope, or even a picture of a sunflower and we will give you a packet of seeds for you to plant! You can also request seeds when you order items through our curbside service.

The Growing Hope Campaign is a partnership between Brooks Memorial Library and Building a Positive Community in Brattleboro, to distribute sunflower seeds to people who would like to have some hope growing, wherever they are. You can now get sunflowers from Brooks Memorial Library, with curbside pickup. Packets may also be found at the tiny libraries on Spruce Street, Coombs Street, and near the Oak Grove School. Please let us know if they have run out!

Brooks Memorial Library Curbside Service!

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

If you wondered what it is like behind the scenes here at Brooks Memorial Library, here is a sample of some items that are checked out, bagged up, dated, and ready to go!

Please make sure to tell us what day (and time if possible) you plan to come, and make sure to bring a sign to display at the door. That way we can match the name on the bag with your name to avoid mistakes, while reducing direct contact 

Big Blue Book Book Drop for Brooks Memorial Library Book Returns!

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Dear Library Community,

When bringing items back to us, please place them in the Big Blue Drop Box, immediately on the left when you enter the municipal lot (near where the police station used to be).

There is a handy parking spot reserved for your car, and you can drop them in from the driver’s side window Walkers are welcome!

Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status – March 20, 2020 – 12:20 pm

by Not Signed In | Town News

WHAT IS NEW TODAY

A special Selectboard meeting will be held on Monday, March 23, at 5:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.  The Selectboard will appoint Ian Goodnow to the seat that became vacant upon Dave Schoales’ resignation and will elect Selectboard officers.  Please note that the Municipal Building will be open to the public on March 23 from 5:15pm until 15 minutes after the special Selectboard meeting is adjourned.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – The Intent of Representative Town Meeting, and Budgets

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard dec 3 2019

The Brattleboro Selectboard had an extended discussion of the appropriateness of giving the new sustainability coordinator $10,000 for community programs and outreach. Was this what Representative Town Meeting intended? Will the line item grow out of control?

Brattleboro is joining with other Vermont municipalities and VLCT to request some time, some authority, and some money when and if commercial cannabis operations are legalized. It is expected in the coming legislative session. The board continued discussions of FY21 and signed on for some training.

Free Irish Music Concert and Book Launch: Doiminic Mac Giolla Bhríde, with Frances Morton

by Brooks Memorial Library | Music

Join us at 6:30 pm on Monday, June 3rd, as we welcome internationally known Irish musician, Doiminic Mac Giolla Bhríde, and his partner, Frances Morton! They will be giving a FREE concert of his own sean-nós music, after introducing his second Irish-language children’s book, Polcaphonc. He will play a few fun songs from the book!

About the book: Polcaphonc (Polka Dot)
The Songbook/CD for kids by Dominic Mac Giolla Bhríde (from the artists who created Icí Pící), has English (Béarla) translations for each song.

Brooks Memorial Library First Floor Closed May 13th – May 21st

by Brooks Memorial Library | Living

Sections of the library’s first floor and mezzanine will be curtained off and closed from May 13 through June 4 including two days (May 20 and 21) when the entire lower level will be inaccessible. We thank you for your patience as we install a new ceiling, more efficient lighting, and air vents that will minimize noise while making the most of our new HVAC system. The Children’s Room and Teen Room will be open throughout these phases of construction.

Free Author Talk at Brooks Library: Independence Corrupted

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Join us at 7 pm on Monday, May 6th,  in the Main Reading Room at Brooks Memorial Library,  as author Charles Schudson presents a FREE presentation about his new book, Independence Corrupted: How America’s Judges Make Their Decisions.

With twenty-two years in America’s courts, Judge Schudson knows the factors affecting judicial decision-making.  With scholarship and impassioned accounts of compelling cases, he brings readers behind the trial bench to see judges analyzing actual trials and sentencings – of abortion protesters, sex predators, murderers, white supremacists….

Free Hip Hop Concert with Rebel Diaz

by Brooks Memorial Library | Culture

Join us at 8 pm on Friday, May 10th, as Brooks Memorial Library hosts a kid-friendly concert by hip hop artists, Rebel Diaz! Doors will open at 7:30 pm.

Rebel Diaz is a political hip hop duo out of the Bronx, New York and Chicago, IL consisting of the Chilean brothers Rodstarz (Rodrigo Venegas) and G1 (Gonzalo Venegas). Rebel Diaz uses their music as an organizing tool and to spread knowledge about injustice.

Brooks Memorial Library Children’s Room will be Closed: Week of May 6th

by Brooks Memorial Library | Living

Brooks Memorial Library will be undergoing some minor renovations in May, beginning with new ceiling tiles in the Children’s Room.

Unfortunately, there is no way to safely remain open during this process, so beginning May 6th, the Children’s Room will be closed for about a week. You will still be able to enter the library from the second floor entrance, and use the elevator or stairs to access materials on the Mezzanine, and in the Main Reading Room.

Free Diversity Day Film Screening: I Am From Here

by Brooks Memorial Library | Culture

Join us at 7 pm on Thursday, May 2nd as we present a FREE screening of the movie: I Am From Here, in honor of Diversity Day.

This is an instructional film, originally created for public school staff, teachers, and administrators in Vermont. It was commissioned by the Vermont-NEA Racial Justice Task Force in collaboration with the National Education Association. Bess O’Brien from Kingdom County Productions produced the 30-minute film. She interviewed parents, community members, educators, and students from Vermont. Bess filmed their accounts of living in and going to school in Vermont.