WTBAnow Blog and Show Notes

     In Episode 15, I talk with Sue Dowdell, Library Director of the Springfield Town Library in Springfield, VT. The Springfield Town Library is a historic building on Main St in downtown Springfield. But don't let the historic nature of the building fool you. This library has developed new programs and ways to connect with the community that are innovative and welcoming.     Sue talked about the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the ways the library staff have changed practices to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious. They also have programming like the new sewing program where community members are learning to sew and repurposing donated material into new items. Often these programs are in conjunction with other community services in Springfield. Many of the programs are also recorded for later viewing.     The library also has a Library of Things and you can borrow a moisture meter for your woodpile, snowshoes, a shredder and much more. In the Children's Department there are homeschool resources and also some STEM toys/games that folks can borrow. As one of the larger libraries in Vermont, this library has a great collection of books as well and Sue and I shared a couple of our favorites.

In today's episode, I chat with Marie Schmukal, Library Director at the Warren Public Library in Warren, VT. Marie shared some history of the Warren Library that is similar to many public libraries. The library had many different locations when it first began, but its current home is the first floor of the Warren Town Hall.She also told me about the Mad River Libraries group that offers reciprocal borrowing between towns and collaborates on many events for their communities. Such a great idea, especially for a group of smaller towns and libraries!  The Warren Library also has a very cool Maker Space, offers some very cool events - Jigsaw Puzzle Tournaments, a Pub Trivia night - and like all public libraries, so much more. If you stop by, ask about the "Critter Getter."Marie and I shared some cozy, quirky, and a couple of "must-read" books during this episode. I recommended what I think is one of the best historical novels so far this year. A novel about the life of Florence Nightingale, Flight of the Wild Swan by Melissa Pritchard (March 2024). The story takes our caricature of Florence Nightingale and makes her human. It shows how she felt called to help the sick and injured from when she was a young child and how as she became an adult woman she came up against the Victorian mores of her time. The story is told through a letters, lists, and a series of short vignettes and I liked that format - it worked.

In today's episode, I talk with Mark Richardson, Library Director at the Weathersfield Proctor Library in Ascutney, Vermont. This library is one of three "sister" libraries in Windsor County, Vermont (along with the Windsor Public Library and the Mary L Blood Library in West Windsor) funded by the same benefactor, Benjamin Blood, in the early 20th century.**SPECIAL NOTE: Mark and I lost our connection for a few seconds, so you will hear a short pause, then we're back.**Mark shared a bit about that history and then shared all the exciting things happening at the library, including a Seed Library open to everyone, professional quality telescopes, and a soon-to-be observatory in Perkinsville, VT. Mark also shared information about the extensive "Library of America" collection that WPL owns, which is available through interlibrary loan. The Weathersfield Proctor Library has been known as a stopping place for local genealogists and had an extensive onsite database of local records. These records have now been uploaded to the Family Search website and can be accessed online for free.We wrapped up as always with some book recommendations. Mark shared a children's book about The Lost Words (2018) by Robert McFarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris. These lost words were discovered among the words removed from the Oxford Junior Dictionary in 2007. They were removed because it was said children aren't using them anymore. All of the words had to do with nature. And all the words that replaced these words have to do with technology. McFarlane (who also wrote The Wild Places and The Old Ways among other books) and Morris decided to create a "spell book" that would conjure some of these words back into the language of children. In words and images they created a beautiful book that is being shared far and wide. This one comes highly recommended by Mark for children and adults. 

In Episode 12 I chatted with Barbara Ball, the Library Director at the Windsor Public Library, in Windsor, VT.  This library is one of three in Windsor Country built by the same benefactor, Benjamin Blood. All three libraries share some common features and have their original shelving. I asked Barbara if the Windsor Library still has the antique metal fold-down steps attached to the shelves - made to help reach books on the upper shelves. And they are still there!Barbara also told me about programs and events happening at the library, including a special hiking event, book discussions, and open mic nights in the library's backyard. The Library also received a Vermont Arts Council grant to create a story archive of residents' stories. And the library is also raffling off a pickleball set at their Fall Festival in September! You can find out more information about all of this at the library website.Barbara shared some great books that you might not have heard about. She said the first one is great if you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed. How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley (2024). It's a novel with some senior citizen hijinks. When the city council threatens to close the community center building where the senior social hour and the community daycare reside, the two groups join forces to save the building. This is a book with a big heart and many funny moments.

In Episode 11, I talked with Brenda Stanley, the Library Director at the Enosburgh Public Library, just northeast of St Albans, VT in the state's northwestern corner. According to Brenda, the Enosburgh Public Library was formed at the turn of the 20th century in 1897 and housed in several locations. The current library building was constructed in 1984 and was purposely made to look like an older building to fit in with the look of other town buildings.

   In today's episode, I spoke with Wendy Sharkey, Library Director at the Bennington Free Library in Bennington, VT. Bennington is located in southwestern Vermont. Wendy told me the library has been operating in the same location for 160 years (as of next year)! The library began as a gentleman's reading club. In 1936 a new library building was built right next door, and over time it became too small, so a connector was constructed between the original library and the newer building. The current library operates in both buildings and the connector. For more on the history of the Bennington Free Library see this history page on their website.   Wendy also told me about the library's Memory Book collection geared toward caregivers of people with memory issues. Each kit contains 6 books and is available through interlibrary loan as well. The Bennington Library of Things collection includes snowshoes, a pass to a local ski resort,  a telescope, and more. Every Spring, the library hosts a craft supplies swap which is very popular and they have started a new sewing program called "Sit and Sew".   I had a lot of fun sharing book recommendations with Wendy. I moved her first book to the number one place on my TBR list. It's a YA non-fiction book about the 1921 Tulsa Massacre and its legacy, Blackbirds in the Sky (2022) by Brandy Colbert. Wendy shared that she had not known about this piece of American history and I remarked that I certainly didn't learn about it when I was in school. I'm very grateful that more history books are being published that tell about events and stories that have not been written about in book published by mainstream publishers. 

I can't believe we're at Episode 9 of Where the Books Are Now already! In this episode, I talk with Kate Hunter, Library Director at the Orwell Free Library in Orwell, VT. The Orwell Free Library is housed in a house! It looks like a lovely historic home on the outside and on the inside it is the public library and Historical Society.  This library, like many public libraries in Vermont, has a great history story. The library is located right in the center of town on the village green and bonus, the school is right across the street, making it so easy for kids to come to the library after school.The staff have started a coffee hour on Fridays at 9:00 am and Kate says that it's very well attended by people in the community. We also talked about other programs and services (like Teen pizza on Thursdays) and the summer reading program. Kate likes partnering with other organizations to bring new programs and events to the community. Orwell also has a Library of Things collection which includes tables and chairs, an egg incubator, a bubble makers, a large speaker, and more!

On Episode 8 I talk with Maya Newroot, the Library Director at the Rochester Public Library in Rochester, Vermont. Most librarians in small libraries where several hats and Maya is both the Children's Librarian and the Library Director. She shared the special history of the Rochester Public Library and the building. The Rochester Public Library building was built in 1849 by the Universalist Church Society to be a church and still has beautiful stained glass windows. As Maya talked, I imagined myself reading a book on the second floor, sitting on one of their comfy couches, with light from a stained glass window streaming in beside me.

In Episode 7 of the WTBAnow podcast, I visit with Kyrra Howard, Library Director at the Pettee Memorial Library in Wilmington, VT.  Kyrra talks about the long history of the library and Mr Lyman Pettee who funded the construction of the first library building in Wilmington in 1906 in memory of his parents Dr Anson and Lucy Pettee.

     In episode 6 of Where the Books Are Now, I chat with Susan O'Connell, Library Director at the Craftsbury Public Library in Craftsbury, VT.  The library sits in a perfect location in town, just off the town common and close to the Craftsbury Academy. We chat about the history of the library, including a great story about the $50 that was set aside to build the first public library in Craftsbury.

In episode 5 of Where the Books Are Now, I talk with Catherine Hays, Library Director at the Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vergennes, Vermont.  Bixby is a library, a community center, and a museum that serves not just Vergennes, VT but the surrounding communities of Ferrisburgh, Waltham, Panton, and Addison.

Air date: April 22, 2024 - In this episode I chat with Elizabeth Frederick, Library Director at the Mary L Blood Library in West Windsor, Vermont. The Mary L Blood Library is one of three small libraries built by Benjamin Franklin Blood around the turn of the 20th century. (The others are the Windsor Public Library in Windsor, Vermont and the Weathersfield Proctor Library in Ascutney, VT). This library was built in 1900 and was affectionately referred to as "The Little Library." Liz told me that the library still has some books from the original library collection and they were organized in a very interesting way.

In Episode 3  I chat with Jennie Rozycki , Library Director at the John G. McCullough Library in North Bennington, VT. Jennie shares the long history of libraries in North Bennington, starting with the "Ladies Lending Library." We chat about the new tool lending library where you can get snowshoes for the winter and fishing poles for the warmer months. Jennie shares more library offerings that the "Tardis-like" library provides including access to over 4,000 digital magazines for library members. 

In Episode 2, I talk with my hometown librarians at the Rockingham Free Public Library located in the town in the village of Bellows Falls, in the town of Rockingham, Vermont:  Ian Graham, Library Director, Sam Howard, Youth Services Librarian, and Pamela Johnson Spurlock, Reference and Historical Collections Librarian.

It’s LAUNCH DAY!  I’m so excited to start sharing the fabulous world of Vermont’s public libraries with you. In Episode one, I chat with Bree Drapa, Library Director at the Westford Public Library in Westford, VT. Bree talked about the  history of the library, all the interesting things you can check out that aren’t books - like card tables and chairs! Biblio+ the new streaming service for movies and tv, and many other services the library offers.