An A-Z Guide to Services
and Resources at
Brooks Memorial Library
AIR CONDITIONED READING ROOM: Comfortable
chairs and tables and floor to ceiling windows provide a pleasant
atmosphere to leisurely read newspapers, magazines or
any material from the collection.
ART DISPLAYS: are changed monthly and should
be booked by the artist or display group several months to
a year in advance. To apply please contact the Public Art Coordinator, Christine de Vallet.
AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT RENTAL: A slide projector,
overhead projector, and tape recorder are available for $5.00
per day. A Dell laptop is available for in-library use to download e-audio from ListenUp! Vermont.
BOOK DISPLAYS: are changed monthly and
are coordinated with dedicated months like Black History, Women's
History, Poetry, Health Awareness and seasonal
themes such as holidays, gardening, and book sale month. Brattleboro area organizations may apply for exhibit space. Please contact the Library director brattlib@brooks.lib.vt.us
BROOKS MEMORIAL LIBRARY'S ONLINE CATALOG: can be searched by Author, Title, Subject, and Keywords. A librarian is available to assist with a search if necessary. The database may be accessed from home, office or school.
BUSINESS RESOURCES: Valueline,
a stock and investment service, and Morningstar,
a mutual fund investment service, are available in the library. Reference
USA is a web based database with information on national
companies. It can be searched by company name, type of business,
and geographical location. Is a valuable resource for businesses
and job-seekers. The library subscribes to this service and
it can only be accessed at the library.
CHILDREN'S ROOM: Has its own web site. Please visit http://www.brooks.lib.vt.us/ch_index.htm
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD: Advertising for
community events, music, art, dance. health, education or community
interest. The Bulletin Board is maintained weekly by a volunteer.
DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO: Download audiobooks to your computer and transfer to an mp3 player through Listen Up! Vermont
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES:
Computer Access: Open Source Word is available for
word processing. It is connected to a printer for $.15 a page
or patrons can save to disk that can be purchased for $1.00
at the main desk.
Resources: Use
the Resources to
search the Vermont Online Library, which includes a
variety of full-text magazine databases of general information,
as well as literary,health and medical information. Other databases
include genealogy and local history databases, a news database,
as well as a business information database. All
databases are accessible with a valid Brooks Memorial Library
card, or they may be accessed from computers within the library. Other resources include Rapid Reviews, Interlibrary Loan requests, etc.
Internet Access: The
Gates Foundation, V.P.L.F. (Freeman Foundation), and the federal Library Services
and Technology Act have provided the library with 17 computers with Internet access, some of which have
Open Source applications for Word Processing, spreadsheets, resumes, etc. Please refer to the library's Computer Acceptable Use
Policy. Patrons under 16 years of age need parental permission.
Wireless Internet Access: Brooks Memorial Library offers free wireless (Wi-Fi) access. Power outlets are located on the mezzanine tables and other locations on the main floor. The Library's wireless network is not secure, therefore, information sent between your laptop and another computer could be captured by someone else.
Internet Classes: Basic and advanced classes are offered
in the Fall and Spring on using the internet as a reference tool. Call
the library for dates and times.
GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY ROOM: Volunteers
are available on Tuesday afternoons to assist
patrons with the Genealogy and Local History Room. The Genealogical Interest Group (GIG) meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 10am in the Local History Room in the room.
For more information on this group, please contact Joann Nichols
at 802-254-9554, or by email.
The collection houses Brattleboro high school yearbooks, scrapbooks,
Family bibles, Town directories and histories, newspaper clipping files,
genealogical information for Vermont and New England is available. Newspapers
and census information from the early 1800's to present is available
on microfilm along with two microfilm reader printers. 2593 volumes are
presently held in the local history collection. In addition, queries
may be sent electronically to AncestorAsk.
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: The library is
handicapped accessible and staff are always willing to help
with special needs.
HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-9pm,
Thursday, Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm
(Summer Saturdays
10am-1).
INTERLIBRARY LOAN: Items that are not available
at Brooks can be requested from other libraries. There is no
charge but a suggested donation to defray postage. Please see http://www.brooks.lib.vt.us/ill.htm for more information.
LAPTOP: A Dell laptop is available for in-library use to download e-audio. See DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO.
LIBRARY COLLECTION:
Large Print Collection: approximately
600 titles in every genre are located on the main floor.
Periodicals Collection: over 350 subscriptions which
includes14 daily newspapers, hundreds of magazine titles, journals and
newsletters. Six magazines may be borrowed at a time.
Non-Print Materials: 937 videos,
158 compact discs, and 1,318 cassettes including music and audio books
are available.
Fiction: Approximately 14,500 titles are in the adult
collection and 3,000 in the Children's Room.
Non-fiction: Approximately 29,000 titles are in the
adult collection and 6,300 in the Children's Room.
New books: Over 700 new books circulate in the adult
library. Due to high demand, the lending period is 14 days. Over 200
new books are located in the Children's Room and the lending period is
28 days.
Non-print Collection: Approximately
4,000 titles include phonograph records, compact discs, audio books,
music cassettes, and videos.
LISTEN UP! VERMONT: Download audio to your computer. For more info . . .
LOW VISION MAGNIFIER/SCANNER/READER: This machine can magnify
print up to 60X and is located in the Main Reading Room.
MEETING ROOM: This space may be reserved
free of charge for groups that charge no fee and are open to
the public. The space is limited to 50 people and is available
during regularly scheduled hours.
A TV and VCR as well as other AV equipment is available for use in that
room.
OUTREACH: Presently four volunteers serve
area nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
PHOTOCOPY MACHINE: Located on the main floor
and copies are $.10 each.
RECORD, TAPE, AND CD PLAYER: Earphones are
available to listen or record audio material. There is also
capability for recording material.
READERS ADVISERS: Visit the library and get book recommendations from the staff and Readers Advisors' displays of highly recommended books on the A-frame in the main room. Also, visit the library database, Novelist for fiction and literature recommendations.
READING DISCUSSION AND LECTURE SERIES: Programs are held throughout the year in conjunction with the Vermont Humanities Council and the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont. Programs are advertised in the Brattleboro Reformer, The Brooks Reader (Friends of Brooks Memorial Library newsletter), Brooks Event Calendar, and postings.
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT: A reference librarian
is available to answer questions, find information, and help
with research topics. Over 3,000 volumes are held in the reference
collection.The Reference Department may be reached by calling
802-254-5290 Ext 109, or by completing an Ask-A-Librarian request
form.
RESERVES: Patrons may be put on a waiting
list for books that are currently charged out. They will be
notified when the book has arrived for them.To place a hold
on a book, please go to the electronic catalog, search for the title, and if it is out click on  to place a hold for the title.
STUDY SPACE: Three tables with lamps and electric outlets for laptops are located
on the mezzanine. There are two carrels for individual study space.
SUGGEST A TITLE: Patrons may be suggest titles for purchase and e put on a waiting list. They will be notified when the book has arrived for them.To suggest a title and place a hold please go to the Request
Form to send a request electronically.
TAX FORMS: January through April tax forms
and instruction books are available for both state and federal
returns. Reproducible forms are available to photocopy for
$.10 and other forms can be located on the internet and printed
for $.15 a page.
TEEN ROOM: The young adult books are located on the main floor. It is designed to help with the young adult
transition from the Children's Room to the Adult Room. Titles
of interest both fiction and non-fiction, classics, graphic
classics, comic books, and magazines are on display. Many other
young adult titles are shelved in the stacks.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Many opportunities to help out at Brooks Memorial Library. Applications available at the main desk or call Therese Marcy at 802-254-5290 x 106 or email for more information.
WALKING TOUR BROCHURE OF FINE ARTS COLLECTION:
Twenty-seven works are on display on all three levels of the
library. Each location on the tour has a placard describing
the piece.
Questions or need to contact the library by email? Contact us at BRATTLIB@BROOKS.LIB.VT.US
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