LIBRARY BACKGROUND

Since 1842 Brattleboro readers have been privileged to borrow books: first, from its early Brattleboro Library Association and 40 years later, when the shareholders offered the books to the town, from the Brattleboro Free Library, which moved in 1887 from its quarters in the lower Town Hall to the George J. Brooks Library.

George Brooks spent his boyhood in Chesterfield, N.H., and made his fortune in a wholesale paper business on the West Coast.

Upon his return to Brattleboro he planned and constructed the library building which was presented to the town and at the time was described as "beautiful and commodious".

At its opening in 1887, the collection numbered 5,000 volumes. Early in the 1960's the federal government, needing more space for postal operations on Main Street, negotiated with the library for the purchase of the property at the very time the library's building had become overcrowded and relocation was necessary. The George J. Brooks Library building was torn down, and a new, larger building constructed farther north on Main Street.

In a special meeting in 1965, Brattleboro town meeting members voted bond issues of $243,000 as the town's share of the building project. Other funds were raised from the sale of the property, interested community members, and organizations. The George J. Brooks Memorial Library--completed in 1967--has continued the plans of its founder by providing the town with cultural and educational advantages. Gifts of all sizes have enriched the collection and memorial contributions have continued to make possible the purchase of materials on a wider subject range, and in different formats, than the annual town budget could assure.

There are many factors and events that may affect Brooks Memorial Library in the coming years. As part of the planning process, the planning committee focused on three broad issues: financial support, diversity, and information technology. These three topics were researched by the committee and discussed with the full Board of Trustees at a special working session of the Board and planning committee. In April 1996, while the committee was beginning to draft the final report, a plan was announced to close the Southeast Regional Library in 1999. This could have major impact on the services Brooks provides.

1. Information Technology

During the past five years, there have been some significant changes in information technology which have affected the use of this technology within our local and national society. As of 1993, the personal computer was present in approximately 22.8% of American households, up from 15% in 1989. In the same census report, 36% of the population uses a computer either at home, at work, or at school. The use of the Internet has expanded 300% in the past two years with the emergence of the World Wide Web and good graphical navigational software.

As part of the development of this revision of the long-range plan for the library, the Board considered a number of questions relating to information technology. These included: What are the social and economic implications of the technological changes within our society and economy; How will technology serve the library in fulfilling its roles; Given the costs of change, what technologies can the library afford to sustain?

Information technology can be a useful tool as a means to provide services in a different way. In 1995, the BARN came online for circulation, cataloging, and card catalog functions in Brooks Memorial Library. This helps to make the library more efficient in basic ways. Over the next several years, the library staff and Board of Trustees will continually assess what other information technologies should be added or expanded to enrich the library reference services. The Board will establish a technology committee to focus on the issue.

Now that technological applications and access have become a major component of the library's services budget, the trustees and staff will be faced with a unique challenge. They will need to juggle priorities between expenditures for print resources--the traditional heart and soul of the American public library-- and expenditures for this technology, which gives people access to the ever-expanding resources not available locally.

2. Serving all of the Community

The library has service responsibilities to a diverse population. To what extent do the collection and services meet the needs of people of differing race, ethnicity, language, religion, age, gender, literacy, economic levels, and physical and mental abilities? The issue is a national one, with political, legal, and financial implications.

The town is investigating Title II regulations and what is needed in the library for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. A Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), which makes telephone reference services accessible for this population, was donated to the library in 1996.

Although reduced in 1995 with the elimination of the adult services/outreach librarian position, library service to local nursing homes continues one day a week. More could be done for the homebound elderly.

Brattleboro is growing in ethnic and linguistic diversity, as evidenced by the English As a Second Language (ESL) program for non-English-speaking children in the public schools. By sensitivity to requests for services and through patron surveys, the library staff and trustees will continue to monitor multicultural needs for possible future action at Brooks. The planning committee also considered the question of whether there are many potential users who don't know what the library has to offer them, and if so how these people might be reached. The goal of promoting library services to the widest possible audience addresses this issue, as well as the need for physical and cultural accessibility.

3. Financial Support

The Brattleboro community is committed to the excellence of the library, including the maintenance of the building. As an institution, Brooks Memorial Library receives the 97.5% of its funds from the town's taxpayers as appropriated by the Board of Selectmen and approved by town meeting representatives. The remaining funding is derived from gifts, bequests, grants, and investment income earned on the endowment, trust, and savings accounts.

In the past two years, the library has experienced pressures on its budget, as have all town services. The budget for the library has basically been level-funded. Given inflation, there is a decrease in the purchasing power for materials acquisition. The library endowment and trust accounts were established through a variety of sources, primarily via bequests. The policy of the Board of Trustees is to use these limited funds to uphold the basic mission of the library. Each year the interest from the endowment is used to supplement the town funds in the purchase of materials and in professional development. The trust fund accounts are primarily restricted-use funds which support specific interests. The Board of Trustees plans to establish an asset development committee to investigate the library's best options for the maintenance and steady growth of the endowment and trust funds, which will support the continued maintenance of the collection and services.

History 1821-1882