Brooks Memorial Library
{{short description|Public library in Brattleboro Vermont}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
File:Brooks_Library_Brattleboro_VT_1905_DetroitPubCo_(cropped).jpg. Detroit Publishing Company, 1905.]]
Brooks Memorial Library is a public library in the municipality of Brattleboro, Vermont. The library was founded in 1887. The current head librarian is Starr LaTronica who joined the library in December 2015.{{Cite web|title = Brattleboro move 'a dream come true' for new library director|url = http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_29258432/brattleboro-move-dream-come-true-new-library-director|website = www.reformer.com|accessdate = 2015-12-20}} The library is part of the Catamount Library Network, which provides a unified library system for over a dozen Vermont libraries.
History
The library was founded in 1887, when the Brattleboro Library Association's "Free Library" was moved to George J. Brooks Free Library.{{Cite web|title = History - Brooks Memorial Library|url = http://brookslibraryvt.org/about/history|website = brookslibraryvt.org|accessdate = 2015-12-20}} Brooks was a successful paper wholesale entrepreneur, and upon his return to his hometown founded the library. The library was designed by New England architect Alexander Curtis Currier.{{Cite web|title = The Old Brooks Library - Brattleboro History|url = http://brattleborohistory.com/literary/brattleboro-free-library.html|website = brattleborohistory.com|accessdate = 2015-12-20|archive-date = 2018-02-11|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180211163720/http://brattleborohistory.com/literary/brattleboro-free-library.html|url-status = usurped}}
File:Brattleboro Library ca1895 Vermont.jpg
The original property was torn down in 1971, when the Brattleboro post office expanded, and the new library was completed in 1967 at its current location. Since then, the library has been funded by a mix of the annual town budget and gifts to the Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library.
The library received national press attention when a reclusive and frugal millionaire, Ronald Read, died and left $1.2 million to the library alongside an additional 4.8 million to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.{{Cite news|url=http://www.reformer.com/news/ci_27453003/local-man-leaves-millions|title=Frugal benefactor leaves millions to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Brooks Memorial Library|last=Weiss-Tisman|first=Howard|date=2015-02-05|work=Brattleboro Reformer|access-date=December 20, 2015}}{{Cite web|title = Frugal Vermonter donates estate worth $8M|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/04/vermont-frugal-man-bequaeths-millions/22880041/|website = USA TODAY|accessdate = 2015-12-20}}
References
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External links
- {{Official website|http://brookslibraryvt.org/}}
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Category:Public libraries in Vermont
Category:Buildings and structures in Brattleboro, Vermont
Category:Libraries established in 1887
Category:Library buildings completed in 1967