Brooks Memorial Library - Brattleboro VT

Book Launch - Choosing Sides by David Wessel
2024-06-26 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Retired U.S. diplomat, historian and author, David K. Wessel will read from his new novel, Choosing Sides, and speak on how ‘ordinary Germans’ dealt with rising tyranny during the takeover of their country by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

Community Health Care Meeting - Green Mountain Care Board
2024-07-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Main Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join the Green Mountain Care Board for a public community meeting to talk about the local health care system.
This is to review recommendations for the Community Engagement to Support Hospital Transformation project: https://gmcboard.vermont.gov/Act-167-Community-Meetings

The Culinary Pharmacy
2024-07-20 11:30 - 12:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The Culinary Pharmacy is an enriching exploration of the intersection between food and health, written by acclaimed author Lisa Masé. This captivating book delves into the medicinal properties of everyday ingredients found in our kitchens, offering readers a unique and accessible guide to using food as a powerful tool for well-being.
Lisa Masé is a culinary herbalist, holistic nutritionist, and author. With a background in holistic health and a passion for the culinary arts, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge to The Culinary Pharmacy. Her expertise combines the wisdom of traditional healing practices with modern nutritional science, providing readers with a holistic approach to nourishing both body and soul.

Purpose-Driven Portfolios: Understanding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Criteria in Investing
2024-07-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join Jesse Gerstin and Prentiss R. Smith for an explanation and exploration of Socially Responsible Investing. Brief presentations will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion.
Jesse Gerstin is dedicated to promoting values-driven financial decisions, bringing over 15 years of experience on climate finance and clean energy projects. He currently serves as Vice President at Inclusiv, overseeing green finance training for 500+ community lenders across the US. Jesse also serves as Sustainable Investment Advisor at Query Capital, is faculty at Bard College’s MBA in Sustainability, teaching courses on sustainable accounting and impact finance and is also an active angel investor working to enable social entrepreneurs to access early-stage capital. Jesse has led programs to expand access to renewable energy for underserved communities in the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and SE Asia, both at the Clinton Climate Initiative and SimpliPhi Power. He also worked on climate finance models in support of forest and marine conservation, largely in Indonesia and other island nations.
Jesse earned degrees in international development from Oberlin College, environmental economics from the University of London, and an MBA in Sustainability from Bard College.
Prentiss R. Smith is president of Prentiss Smith & Co., investment management, in Brattleboro which manages 400+ million in client accounts. Mr. Smith develops the overall strategy for client accounts, and does research on individual companies. He became President of the company in November, 2017. The mission statement of the company, from their website, reads: “We believe you should have the opportunity to invest your principles, without compromising your financial goals. Our objective is to find investable companies that balance the demands of all stakeholders: employees, customers, and shareholders, but also the wider community and the environment. At the same time, we strive to find investments that will be financially rewarding over the long term. It is our strong belief that these two goals are wholly compatible. In more than forty years of sustainable investing, our investment team has never felt disadvantaged in trying to satisfy both.

Art Exhibit Opening: Mokuhanga Woodblock Prints by Landa Townsend
2024-08-03 10:00 - 18:00 | Main Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
“Dragonfly Habitat at the Edges of Weatherhead Hollow Pond: 2021-2024” by Landa Townsend, Environmental Artist
From August 3 – September 30, 2024, experience the vibrantly colored woodblock prints by Landa Townsend in the Main Reading Room of the Brooks Memorial Library. Join Landa Townsend on September 4th at 7pm at the library for an artist talk.
This collection of prints is the result of two summers of research and observations of dragonfly flight patterns and behaviors, primarily focusing on the Libellula lydia, Libellula luctuosa, and Libellula putchella populations at Weatherhead Hollow Pond in Guilford, VT.
After attending sustainable, non-toxic printmaking workshops at the Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction, Vermont, Townsend proceeded to create a series of abstract images representing this ecosystem. These woodblock prints vividly depict the dragonfly behaviors and environment of this vital and delicate ecosystem, while exploring Japanese woodblock techniques that prioritize non-toxic and sustainable methods.
This project was made possible by an Artist Development Grant, 2021-22, with funding support from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Landa Townsend is an acclaimed environmental artist known for her thought-provoking and immersive artworks that explore the intricate relationship between nature, culture, and humanity. With a deep passion for ecological restoration and a profound understanding of the interconnectivity of ecosystems, Townsend creates captivating installations that invite viewers to contemplate their place within the natural world.

Blue Cross VT Medicare Educational Seminar
2024-08-08 17:00 - 17:45 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
A Blue Cross VT seminar hosted by a licensed agent to educate and support Vermont seniors with Medicare.
We will help you understand what Medicare is and when you can enroll, the benefits available through traditional Medicare (Parts A and Part B), including costs you may be responsible to pay out-of-pocket, as well as the available plan options and benefits offered in addition to Medicare through our portfolio of Medicare plans.
For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call (800) 255-4550 (TTY: 711)

We Had Fun and Nobody Died: Author Talk with Amy Waldman
2024-08-22 16:00 - 17:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Promoter Bio Lifts Curtain on Music Industry
This summer, a new biography from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press shines a light on the career of music promoter and club owner Peter Jest. The funny, irreverent, nostalgia-inducing We Had Fun and Nobody Died: Adventures of a Milwaukee Music Promoter (pub date: June 25, 2024) details how, from a young age, Jest brought national acts to the UW–Milwaukee campus, booked thousands of concerts across Wisconsin and the Midwest, and opened Shank Hall, the beloved Milwaukee venue named after a club in the cult film This Is Spinal Tap.
Author Amy T. Waldman’s compelling narrative follows Jest as he attempts to manage a turbulent band on the road, negotiates with agents, deals with fires (both real and metaphorical), and takes pleasure in presenting music of all kinds—from world-famous acts to up-and-coming local bands. The book also features stories of the lasting friendships Jest established over the years with the likes of John Prine, Arlo Guthrie, the Violent Femmes, and others.
This rollicking ride through Jest’s career is brought to life with dozens of photos, concert posters, tickets, backstage passes, and other memorabilia documenting decades of rock, folk, and alternative shows that helped put Milwaukee on the live music map. As the industry becomes increasingly dominated by profit-driven corporations, We Had Fun and Nobody Died chronicles a one-of-a-kind, fiercely independent promoter whose love of music and dedication to the artists have helped him keep it real in the music business for more than forty years.

About the Authors

Amy T. Waldman is an award-winning writer and editor who has written feature articles, reviews, profiles, and essays for a range of publications, including “Fresh Sounds,” a biweekly column of record reviews for the Marshfield News Herald. She currently works as a reference librarian at the Milwaukee Public Library.
Peter Jest has promoted music in Wisconsin and the Midwest for more than forty years and is the owner of the music venue Shank Hall in Milwaukee. This is his first book.

Advance Response to the Book

“Amy Waldman and Peter Jest weave a thrilling tale of fanhood gone pro. Dreams followed, dragons slain, and the roof of a venerable venue repeatedly blown sky-high. We’re proud to have provided the name [for Shank Hall]; it took men and women of sterner stuff to do the heavy lifting.”
—Michael McKean, actor and comedian, This Is Spinal Tap

“We Had Fun and Nobody Died is a fantastic journey of a Midwest boy, his love of music, and his excitement to be part of it all.”
—Kevn Kinney, lead singer and guitarist of Drivin N Cryin

“Peter Jest’s story is one that conveys a winning combination of friendship, determination, and entrepreneurial insights that led him to a lifelong career in support of the live music industry and the community that comes together in common appreciation of it.”
—Shana Morrison, singer-songwriter

Peter Jest was briefly the tour manager for the Milwaukee band Violent Femmes, pictured here in a 2015 performance in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Robb D. Cohen/Invision/AP)
Peter Jest, owner of Shank Hall, shares his best stories in a new memoir co-authored by Amy Waldman
Wisconsin Public Radio Interview by Lorin Cox, August 7, 2024

Make Your Own Nature Journal with Linda Lembke
2024-08-24 10:30 - 12:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
In this 2-hour workshop, Linda Lembke will teach the basics of bookmaking and guide participants in creating their own nature journal with a pocket for small treasures. All materials will be provided and each participant will take home a journal, ready for recording observations of the natural world.

This workshop is limited to 15 participants and registration is required by August 17th. It is recommended for adults, and children age 6 and older accompanied by an adult. To register, please email circulation@brookslibraryvt.org or call the Circulation Desk at 802-254-5290, ext. 0.
Also join us for the second part of this nature journaling series on Sunday, August 30th with Patti Smith, who will teach participants the art of nature journaling and how to fill our new journals.
Linda Lembke is the sole proprietor of Green River Bindery in Guilford, Vermont, where she incorporates both traditional and experimental approaches to her limited edition binding. Linda is an artist on the Vermont Arts Council’s education roster, and works frequently on bookmaking projects with teachers, students, and artists. She has been leading bookbinding workshops for many years and is known for her thoughtful instruction and her thoroughness.

Nature Journaling with Patti Smith
2024-08-31 10:30 - 12:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
A nature journal that captures observations and experiences can bring your full attention to the world around you. Keeping a nature journal can be a potent tool for learning or for finding peace and beauty. In this workshop, Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center naturalist Patti Smith will share some tips for creating a beautiful journal that will help you meet your observation goals. Smith will introduce the materials she uses in the field and suggest prompts for observation. She will share her tips for being safe and comfortable outdoors at all times of day and in all seasons. The group will practice sketching exercises that improve observation and drawing skills. Are there books that can help? Of course! We’ll look at some of those too.
Patti Smith has worked at BEEC since its founding in 1991, continuing to develop and share her lifelong fascination with the natural world. Those who read her View from Heifer columns know that some of her best friends are rodents and they will be acquainted with Willow the beaver, Burdock the porcupine, and the other wild creatures she has befriended and cared for. Patti is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and fields the many calls that come in to BEEC about wildlife woes. Her favorite season is winter.

Artist Talk with Landa Townsend: Mokuhanga Woodblock Prints
2024-09-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Main Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
“Throughout history, art has mirrored the natural world, drawing inspiration from its beauty and complexity. My artistic journey began with this very concept – a deep appreciation for the intricate details and vibrant colors found in nature. Witnessing the environmental challenges our planet faces compelled me to take a more proactive role. My art practice evolved from simply imitating nature to actively participating in its restoration. I found myself drawn to Japanese printmaking techniques, particularly their emphasis on natural materials and meticulous craftsmanship. This resonated with my desire to create art that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally responsible. The traditional methods of Japanese woodblock printing, for instance, utilize water-based inks and handmade papers, aligning perfectly with my commitment to sustainable practices.” — Landa Townsend
“Dragonfly Habitat at the Edges of Weatherhead Hollow Pond: 2021-2024” by Landa Townsend, Environmental Artist
From August 3 – September 30, 2024, experience the vibrantly colored woodblock prints by Landa Townsend in the Main Reading Room of the Brooks Memorial Library.
This collection of prints is the result of two summers of research and observations of dragonfly flight patterns and behaviors, primarily focusing on the Libellula lydia, Libellula luctuosa, and Libellula putchella populations at Weatherhead Hollow Pond in Guilford, VT.
After attending sustainable, non-toxic printmaking workshops at the Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction, Vermont, Townsend proceeded to create a series of abstract images representing this ecosystem. These woodblock prints vividly depict the dragonfly behaviors and environment of this vital and delicate ecosystem, while exploring Japanese woodblock techniques that prioritize non-toxic and sustainable methods.
This project was made possible by an Artist Development Grant, 2021-22, with funding support from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Landa Townsend is an acclaimed environmental artist known for her thought-provoking and immersive artworks that explore the intricate relationship between nature, culture, and humanity. With a deep passion for ecological restoration and a profound understanding of the interconnectivity of ecosystems, Townsend creates captivating installations that invite viewers to contemplate their place within the natural world.

Friends of the Library Ice Cream Social at Gallery Walk
2024-09-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Gallery Walk, Harmony Place, Brattleboro, Vermont, 05301, United States
The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library invite you to an old fashioned ice cream social at September’s Gallery Walk to celebrate Library Card Sign Up Month. Join us at the Harmony Lot on Friday, September 6 from 5-7pm or until the ice cream runs out! Ice cream is by donation.

Tool Time with Master Gardener Cindy Twombly
2024-09-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join Cindy Twombly, who has been a Master Gardener for 20 years, to discuss our favorite, efficient garden hand tools. Gardening is a “labor of love,” but it is labor for sure. There are tools to make the work easier and we will share some of our “tried and true” favorites. You are also invited to bring one or two of your favorite hand tools to share as well. We will also review tools in the Library’s Field to Fork Tool Shed — free for all library patrons to borrow!

Vermont Humanities presents: Action Corps on Ending the US/Saudi War on Yemen
2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Main Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Hybrid event
Action Corps is a non-partisan grassroots initiative that campaigns for humanity around the world and democracy at home. Join the organization’s leaders—Isaac Evans-Frantz of Brattleboro, and Neda Saleh of Yemen and California—as they describe how a small group of organizers helped end the US and Saudi war on Yemen by supporting passage of a bill in the US Congress.
Register for this Free Event

Climate Solutions Caucus - Legislative Recap Workshop
2024-09-23 18:00 - 19:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join Representative Mollie Burke and other local legislators and leaders to learn about recent session successes and challenges, how to take action for the coming election, get your questions answered, and connect with local community members!
Free light bites and refreshments will be available.

Meg Mott: What does the First Amendment Ask of Us?
2024-09-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Main Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The right to protest is one of the people’s most fundamental freedoms, but what about speech that veers toward lawlessness or social disorder? During most of the 20th century, governments put speakers in jail for creating a “clear and present danger.” Under that rule, Eugene Debs went to prison for denouncing the first World War and Charlotte Whitney went to jail for belonging to the Communist Party. As far as the government was concerned, their sentences were too dangerous to be heard in public.
In 1969, the Supreme Court changed the rule. Only words that caused “immanent lawless action” could be suppressed. In the Brandenburg decision, the ACLU successfully defended a Klansman, giving all of us greater freedom from government prosecution. The Black and Jewish advocates who came to the aid of Clarence Brandenburg were able to see the principles of free speech beyond his racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
The question for us post-Brandenburg is, How can we love the principle even when we don’t like the speech?
Co-sponsored by Windham World Affairs, Vermont Humanities, The Commons, Vermont Independent Media: Voices Live, and Brattleboro Community Television.

2024 Zone CEDS Public Meeting
2024-09-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join regional community and economic development partners at this session to review and discuss the proposed 2024-2029 Southern Vermont Zone Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
Input from local residents — including community volunteers, community leaders, business owners, and anyone who is interested in shaping the direction of the region — is critical to shaping this important strategic plan that helps us achieve the vision of the Southern VT Economic Development Zone: “In 2030, the Zone will be home to a resilient, creative, and inclusive community in which businesses and people thrive and prosper.”
In the meeting, we’ll review the progress made on the 2019-2023 CEDS objectives, and look at what goals, strategies and objectives should guide our work as a region for the next 5 years.

SilverCircus by NECCA
2024-10-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-11-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-11-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Strengthen balance and build social connection, all while playing and connecting to your inner child with SilverCircus by the New England Center for Circus Arts. These circus classes are designed for older adults and are welcome to all mobility and cognitive levels. We will work with each student where they are at, while fostering a supportive and playful group dynamic. Activities will challenge the brain and the body, and will be scaled up and down to be the perfect challenge for each participant.

It is not too late to join the circus! Join us at the Brattleboro Memorial Library at 11am on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of October and November (10/12, 10/26, 11/09, 11/23).

Basin 12 - Public Comment Session
2024-10-15 16:30 - 18:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join Windham NRCD and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to learn about the tactical basin planning process for Basin 12. This meeting provides an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed basin plan for protection and restoration of water quality in the basin. Basin 12 includes the Deerfield, Green, and North Rivers and Fall River, and Whetstone, Broad, and Newton Brooks.

Issues forum - Education and Public Safety/Crime
2024-10-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The Government Information Forums will hold an “Issues Forum” moderated by Steve Kempe and open to all, with all in Windham County able to voice their concerns and be heard. Congressional candidate for the Epic Party, Mark Steward Greenstein, will be there to listen. Other candidates, local and statewide, have been invited.
Issues will focus on Housing and Energy, though other Windham issues can be brought forth in the final 15 minutes.
The event takes place in the Community Room with arrivers welcome for “schmooze time” as early as 6pm.

CANCELED - Community Conversations: How Do State Policies Work for Brattleboro?
2024-11-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
This event has been canceled. Please join us for the next session on Wednesday, November 20th.

As the Brattleboro Legislative Delegation gears up for the start of a new biennium in January, we want to talk to folks in Brattleboro about the issues that matter to you and we expect to be diving deep into this winter. Topics will include healthcare, education, climate change, and housing. Please join your Vermont Legislators, hear from experts, and share your experiences.
These conversations are happening on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in November and December. (11/20, 12/4 and 12/18)

Town of Brattleboro Budget Open House
2024-11-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Main Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The Town’s Budget Open House will be held in the Main Reading Room on the ground floor. This is an opportunity to discuss the budget directly with Town staff. More information about this year’s budget process can be found at Brattleboro.gov/FY26Budget

Impacts of and alternatives to the Acceptable Community Conduct Ordinance: a panel discussion
2024-11-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
What is the Acceptable Community Conduct Ordinance that the Brattleboro Selectboard recently passed and what are its impacts and consequences, both intended and unintended? How does this Ordinance align with Brattleboro’s identity as a “compassionate community”? Are there other possible approaches we could take to address the crises we are facing that might be more effective or humane? How are other towns and regions addressing these challenging issues?
Brattleboro is experiencing compounding crises that result in a lot of human suffering, both seen and unseen. We all want a safer community – what does that mean to you and your neighbors? Come to a panel discussion to hear about the impacts, consequences, and alternatives to the Ordinance and to think more deeply about a collective vision for the future of Brattleboro.

Join in person or online. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89313887517?pwd=[REDACTED] Meeting ID: 893 1388 7517 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Masks required to increase the safety of our community. Masks will be provided.
All are invited to bring supplies to donate to our neighbors sleeping on the streets or in tents – especially wool blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, boots, long underwear, thick socks, headlamps, batteries. Thank you!

Organized by The Community Safety Organizing Team (CSOT), a group of community organizers, service providers, experienced leaders, and people with a deep understanding of community safety needs in Windham County.

CANCELED - Community Conversations: How Do State Policies Work for Brattleboro?
2024-11-20 17:30 - 19:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
As the Brattleboro Legislative Delegation gears up for the start of a new biennium in January, we want to talk to folks in Brattleboro about the issues that matter to you and we expect to be diving deep into this winter. Topics will include healthcare, education, climate change, and housing. Please join your Vermont Legislators, hear from experts, and share your experiences.
These conversations are happening on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in November and December. (11/6, 11/20, 12/4 and 12/18)

Green Carnation Reading Group
2024-11-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Meeting Room D – Quiet Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Discussions of books by and for queer people. For more information, please visit the Green Carnation Reading Group Facebook page.

Friends of the Library Book Sale Kick Off
2024-11-29 10:00 - 18:00, 2024-11-30 10:00 - 17:00 | Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The Friends of the Library’s Annual Book Sale will begin on Friday, November 29th and Saturday, November 30th. Remainders will be available through the end of the year during regular library hours.
Most items will be $2 or less and you will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for some fabulous literary-themed gift baskets.
Proceeds from the sale support the patrons of the Brooks Memorial Library by funding programming, museum, passes, and much more!

Saving Money and Surviving the Holidays Financially
2024-12-02 18:30 - 19:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
In this class, you’ll learn practical strategies to manage your finances and avoid holiday debt while enjoying the season. From budgeting tips to smart shopping hacks, we’ll help you navigate the holiday frenzy with confidence and financial peace of mind. Presented by Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) and Mascoma Bank.
This class is FREE. Dinner is provided from 6 PM. Registration is required.
