Monday, May 31, 2010

New Schedule for Library

Dear Readers:

Memorial Day has come and gone, and with it our regular summer Saturday schedule goes into effect, which will run from 10 AM to 2 PM this year.

In addition, this "summer" schedule will continue throughout the year, and after July 1 there will be yet another schedule change.

I am sorry to report that as a result of the March 2010 Town Meeting vote on the proposed FY 2011 budget, the Library has been required to reduce its personnel line item by $16,000.

What this means is a reduction in staff hours and therefore a reduction in the number of hours open each week --from 56 to 50. There will be hours reductions on two days: Thursday, 1 PM to 6 PM (formerly, 10 AM to 6 PM); and Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM (formerly, 10 AM to 5 PM).

The lower budget for FY 2011 has required a reduction of 24 hours per week in part-time hours. While the Library operates on 6 full-time staff, we have 8 regular part-time staff who work between 10 and 24 hours per week to provide our current level of service. Frankly and quite simply stated, the library cannot sustain the same service levels with 1,250 fewer staff hours in a year.

Our part-time workers are valued members of the Library team who work alongside full-time staff to provide the quality level of service that Brooks has been recognized for throughout the State of Vermont. As a matter of note, these employees have a total of 100 years of service among them to the Library and to Brattleboro library users.

How will this reduction affect you after July 1?

The current research states that 95% of library use will still occur even with a 10% reduction in hours open. There may be longer lines at the circulation desks during certain times; longer wait times for a public access computer; longer wait times for new books, CD's, DVD's; reduced access to special collections (Local History & Genealogy) during certain times; and limits on interlibrary loan requests.

If you have any suggestions for improvements, please use our Suggestion Boxes located near the front entry way and in the Children's Room. Or you can contact me at the number or email address below.

I thank you for your continued support of the library in these difficult economic times that we all face.

Sincerely,


Jerry Carbone
Library Director

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Abenaki Artifacts Of Southern Vermont Lecture By Gordon Crandall

Sunday, May 23, 2 PM,
Library Main Room
WigwamGordon Crandall has been practicing archaeology since he was a boy growing up in Northern Vermont.

He calls himself an avocational archeologist and in the past several years has completed several digs in Windham County with students from the Brattleboro schools including homeschooled students in the area.

On Sunday, May 23, at 2 PM in the library's main reading room, Gordon will present a talk on the artifacts discovered in these digs with the students.

The artifacts will be on display during his talk,which include the oldest known pottery chard found in Vermont, will be on permanent display in the Library's Local History and Genealogy Room.

The talk is sponsored by the Fine Arts Commitee of the Brooks Memorial Library. The committee comprised of library trustees, former trustees, and volunteers, is responsible for the care and promotion of the library's collection as well as scheduling and promotion of public art in the library.

Free and open to the public.

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