Send us a Text Message.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.**...
Send us a Text Message.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!B...
Send us a Text Message.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.The Enosburgh Publ...
Send us a Text Message.In today's episode, I chat 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 newe...
Send us a Text Message.Today in Episode 9 of Where the Books Are Now, I talk with Kate Hunter, Library Director at the Orwell Free Library in Orwell, VT. The Orwell Library is housed in a house! It looks like a lovely historic home on the outside and on the inside is the public library and Historical Society. 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.T...
Send us a Text Message.In Episode 8 I talk with Maya Newroot, the Library Director at the Rochester Public Library in Rochester, Vermont. Every public library has a great history story. The Rochester Public Library building used 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 under a stained glass window. The Rochester Public Library's Summer Reading Program starts th...
Send us a Text Message.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.The Pettee Library is a small, cozy library with lots going on. They are one of the few libraries in Vermont that is open on Sundays for ...
Send us a Text Message.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. 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. Susan also shares her philosophy about having a "Library of Things" collection, and surprises me with their collection of folding kayaks available for loan. I didn't know there was ...
Send us a Text Message.In today's episode I talk with Catherine Hays, Library Director at the Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vergennes, Vermont. The 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. Catharine shared the interesting and surprising history of how this beautiful neoclassical revival library building came to be and the "rest room" that was included in the orig...
Send us a Text Message.In Episode 4 I talk with Elizabeth Frederick, Library Director at the Mary L Blood Library in West Windsor, Vermont. This library was built in 1900 and was affectionately referred to as "The Little Library." Liz shares her excitement about the new programs and services that the library is offering, including a new public computer, museum and attraction passes, and the really big news - this library completed a very large project to catalog all of its holdings from the o...
Send us a Text Message.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. We wrap up with some great book reco...
Send us a Text Message.In Episode 2, I chat with my hometown library, the Rockingham Free Public Library, located in the village of Bellows Falls, in the town of Rockingham, Vermont. **Special Note: I apologize for some wonky sound at minute 4 and minute 8. We had some microphone gremlins for a couple of minutes. **With me today are Ian Graham, Library Director, Sam Howard, Youth Services Librarian, and Pamela Johnson Spurlock, Reference and Historical Collections Librarian. Ian talks a...
Send us a Text Message.Launch day is finally here!In Episode 1, I talk with Bree Drapa, Library Director at the Westford Public Library in Westford, VT. Bree talks about the history of the library, loaning card tables and chairs, Biblio+ the new streaming service, and many other services the library offers. Of course we also talk about books. Nancy has two historical fiction picks, one about the witchcraft hysteria in England and the other about a young woman who wants to become a surge...