Mud Season Speaker Series

Mud Season Speaker Series The Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center and the Brooks Memorial Library invite you to a series of programs based upon the Vermont Reads 2025-26 selection, The Light Pirate, with the themes of climate resilience through community and the un......More

Mud Season Speaker Series The Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center and the Brooks Memorial Library invite you to a series of programs based upon the Vermont Reads 2025-26 selection, The Light Pirate, with the themes of climate resilience through community and the unstoppable power of the natural world. The Light Pirate Named after a catastrophic storm, Wanda is born into a world that’s rapidly changing. Rising sea levels and devastating weather patterns transform her coastal Florida town. As she moves from childhood to adulthood, Wanda adapts to this remade landscape, finding adventure, love, and purpose in a place largely abandoned by civilization. Told in four parts—power, water, light, and time—The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton is a meditation on the beauty and violence of an untamable wilderness. It considers the dissolution of the human-made world, and helps us see how human connection, adaptability, and a little bit of magic might guide us to a new future. Get a copy at the library!   Monday, February 9, 2026 from 6:30-8 Pumpkin and Pye: How Beavers Keep Us Cool Pumpkin was born in a stone culvert under Upper Dummerston Road and orphaned when his mother was hit by a car. Pye was attacked and badly injured by a dog as a yearling. BEEC naturalist Patti Smith will tell how these young beavers came together and into her care. Photos and videos will illustrate the adventures that ensued. Patti maintains that beavers are not just lovable, they are important. She will also talk about their crucial role in holding water on a warming planet and mitigating floods. Find out how communities are solving beaver conflicts in ways that allow beavers to keep us cool.   Monday, March 9, 2026 from 6:30-8 Thirty-Eight: The Hurricane That Transformed New England A hurricane will never surprise us again. But that’s what happened to the people of New England on September 21, 1938. Without any warning, the most destructive weather event ever to hit the Northeast pummeled the coast and blasted its way to Vermont and New Hampshire with torrential rain, flooding, and sustained winds over 100 miles per hour. Stephen Long tells the story of New England’s Katrina, focusing on the devastation to the region’s forests and the daunting challenge facing New Englanders still in the throes of the Great Depression. His presentation is richly illustrated with archival photos of storm damage and the unprecedented recovery operation, making the storm and its aftermath come alive. A journalist and co-founder of Northern Woodlands magazine, Stephen Long is the author of Thirty-Eight: The Hurricane that Transformed New England.    Monday, March 30 at 7 pm Salamander Crossing Brigades: help save salamanders As our planet heats up amphibians are vulnerable. A group of important amphibians in our region depend upon temporary ponds—vernal pools—for egg-laying. These pools can dry much too fast in drought years. They are also vulnerable when they must cross roads to reach their breeding habitat. You can help! Join a Salamander Crossing Brigade. Getting adult amphibians safely across roads is a big way we can make their populations resilient. The Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center has been organizing crossing brigades at known crossing sites for decades. Come to the library to learn more about the amazing amphibians that head for vernal pools in the spring and what you can do to help them.   Saturday, April 4, 10:30-12pm Salamander Tea Party with BEEC Enjoy salamander story books read by our salamander mascot, snack on salamander cookies, and learn all about salamander season in Vermont! Naturalists will be on hand to answer questions about how and where you can take a peek at amphibian eggs or help out with amphibian conservation and community science projects including BEEC’s Salamander Crossing Brigade.   Monday, April 13  from 6:30-8 Vermont Reads Book Discussion: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton Join us for a thoughtful, guided conversation centered on The Light Pirate, a novel that follows one girl’s life as climate change reshapes Florida’s coast—and the meaning of home, resilience, and community. Rachael Cohen, environmental writer and editor, will facilitate this 90-minute discussion, creating space to reflect together on the book’s themes, characters, and emotional impact. Participants will explore themes such as climate adaptation and how people respond—individually and collectively—to environmental change. All readers are welcome, whether the book moved you deeply or left you with lingering questions. Come prepared to listen, reflect, and engage in a meaningful exchange inspired by this powerful and timely novel.  

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Art & Exploration at the Library

We are pleased to offer the second iteration of this free 6-week book exploration and art-making course for learners ages 60+, after last year’s successful pilot-program with River Gallery School teaching artist, Kate Milliken. Participants will have the opportunity to ......More

We are pleased to offer the second iteration of this free 6-week book exploration and art-making course for learners ages 60+, after last year’s successful pilot-program with River Gallery School teaching artist, Kate Milliken. Participants will have the opportunity to explore books on a variety of themes including history, food, nature, music, film, and classic novels, and create art in response to those themes through mixed media techniques. This course is perfect for participants new to creating art and interested in a social book club experience. Supplies are provided. Registration is required.  Sign up for one or all sessions in this exciting offering, in collaboration with River Gallery School and Bradley House. To register: stop by or call the circulation desk (802)254-5290 or, email: [email protected].

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Read to a Dog

Come start a new year of reading by reading to a dog! Read out loud to two sweet dogs, Kelso and Gussy! Both dogs are  specially trained to read with kids and LOVE to be petted and cuddled! Come to the Children’s Room to Read to a Dog–available on a first come first ser......More

Come start a new year of reading by reading to a dog! Read out loud to two sweet dogs, Kelso and Gussy! Both dogs are  specially trained to read with kids and LOVE to be petted and cuddled! Come to the Children’s Room to Read to a Dog–available on a first come first serve basis. Bring your own books or come early to pick some of ours! All Ages Welcome.

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Library Board of Trustees

Monthly meeting of the Brooks Memorial Library Board of Trustees. Citizen attendance and commentary welcome! Board of Trustees

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Food, Ecosystems and Community: Lessons from Nature

Join Edible Brattleboro for a winter workshop series exploring the living systems at the heart of a community food forest. Together, we’ll learn how to create regenerative, resilient landscapes-where soil, plants, and people work together in mutually supportive relation......More

Join Edible Brattleboro for a winter workshop series exploring the living systems at the heart of a community food forest. Together, we’ll learn how to create regenerative, resilient landscapes-where soil, plants, and people work together in mutually supportive relationships. The series features nationally recognized speakers Didi Pershouse and Dave Jacke. Didi is an author, educator, and policy strategist, whose work focuses on living soils, carbon cycles, and the role of soil health in resilient ecosystems and communities. Dave Jacke is co-author of Edible Food Forest Gardens and a leading voice in permaculture and ecological design. Jacke will present two talks exploring forest gardening as a model for home and community landscapes, and how ecosystem principles-such as diversity, cooperation, and interdependence-can inform resilient social structures. Together, these speakers bring deep ecological insight and practical wisdom rooted in nature based systems. Whether you’re cultivating a backyard, tending a shared green space, or simply interested in how ecosystems sustain life, this series offers insight, inspiration, and actionable ideas for nurturing landscapes that grow, adapt, and nourish for generations. Speaker Schedule: – Tuesday, January 13 | 7:00 PMDidi Pershouse — Author • Educator • Policy StrategistSoil as a Living System: How Healthy Soil Supports Ecosystems and Communities An exploration of soil biology and the critical role living soils play in climate resilience, food systems, and community health. -Tuesday, February 10 | 7:00 PMDave Jacke — Co-author of Edible Forest GardensGardening Like a Forest: Ecosystem Mimicry for Homes and Communities Healthy forests maintain, fertilize, and renew themselves, naturally.  Wouldn’t you like to grow an abundant food-producing ecosystem like this in your back yard or neighborhood? You can! Edible forest gardens mimic the structure and function of natural forests while growing food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and fun. We can meet our own needs and regenerate healthy landscapes, communities, and ecosystems at the same time.  We will dive into the vision of forest gardening, a little history, some science, a few living examples, and a sampling of some useful perennial edibles you can use in your own gardens. -Tuesday, March 10 | 7:00 PMDave JackeEcosystem Social Structures Functional social interactions between species lie at the core of healthy ecosystems.  Understanding species and community niches, interspecies relationships, food webs, guilds, polycultures, and the principles that undergird these structures greatly improves our ability to design and manage healthy forest gardens—and healthy human societies! -Tuesday, March 24th | 7:00 PM Ricky Baruch and Deb Habib — Founders of Seeds of Solidarity in Orange MA, with over three decades of experience gardening, farming and teaching widely.Grow Food Everywhere! Celebrate spring with this engaging presentation and inspiration for abundant gardens to come. Appropriate for both beginning and experienced gardeners, you will gain ideas for building rich, living soil with local resources and regenerative no-till methods. Learn from presenter experience and interactive conversation as you gather practical ideas for low maintenance and climate resilient methods that grow healthy soil and nourishing food for home or community, and in all settings.  

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Game Cafe!

Come join game enthusiasts in playing Magic the Gathering in various formats (including Commander/EDH) as well as other fun and creative board & card games. Bring your favorite games- All Ages Welcome!

Meeting Room D – Quiet Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Beyond I Have A Dream

All are welcome to this public discussion entitled, “Beyond I Have A Dream”, an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month. Key speakers will include Etan Nasreddin-Longo, Reverend Arnold Thomas, and others who will deliver short presentations, respon......More

All are welcome to this public discussion entitled, “Beyond I Have A Dream”, an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month. Key speakers will include Etan Nasreddin-Longo, Reverend Arnold Thomas, and others who will deliver short presentations, respond to Q&A, and join in the free discussion. More details to come.

Main Reading Room

POSTPONED-Sing & Dance With Robin

Sing & Dance With Robin is POSTPONED until further notice.

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

LEGO-Palooza Winter Session!

Join us on Thursdays after school from 3-5pm to play with LEGOs! We provide the LEGOs. You build. Do not bring your own LEGOs. Children cannot keep LEGOs, but if there is enough room, we will display them in the window. Free and open to the public!

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

SilverCircus - by NECCA

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 (NECCA). These circus classes are designed for older adults and are welcome to all mobility and cognitive lev......More

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 (NECCA). 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 Brattleboro Memorial Library at 11am on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays in January through May (01/10, 01/24, 02/14, 02/28, 03/14, 03/28, 04/11, 04/25, 05/09, and 05/23).

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Brattleboro in Stitches

Bring a work in progress to sew, knit, crochet, embroider, or mend. Sewing machines, irons, and companionship will be provided.

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

LIBRARY CLOSED

The library will be closed in observation of Presidents’ Day.

Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Art & Exploration at the Library

We are pleased to offer the second iteration of this free 6-week book exploration and art-making course for learners ages 60+, after last year’s successful pilot-program with River Gallery School teaching artist, Kate Milliken. Participants will have the opportunity to ......More

We are pleased to offer the second iteration of this free 6-week book exploration and art-making course for learners ages 60+, after last year’s successful pilot-program with River Gallery School teaching artist, Kate Milliken. Participants will have the opportunity to explore books on a variety of themes including history, food, nature, music, film, and classic novels, and create art in response to those themes through mixed media techniques. This course is perfect for participants new to creating art and interested in a social book club experience. Supplies are provided. Registration is required.  Sign up for one or all sessions in this exciting offering, in collaboration with River Gallery School and Bradley House. To register: stop by or call the circulation desk (802)254-5290 or, email: [email protected].

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Building the Beloved Community

Building the Beloved Community: Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of a global society based on justice, equity, love, and peace, where all individuals are cared for and have a sense of belonging. It is a community free from poverty, hunger, and all forms of discrimina......More

Building the Beloved Community: Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of a global society based on justice, equity, love, and peace, where all individuals are cared for and have a sense of belonging. It is a community free from poverty, hunger, and all forms of discrimination and prejudice, and is achieved through nonviolent social change and a shared commitment to the common good. Join local story weaver, Djeli, in breathing new life into the Beloved Community. The presentation will combine storytelling with community discussion to create the building blocks for the Beloved Community.

Main Reading Room

SEVT Audubon Society

Join South Eastern Vermont’s Audubon Society for a monthly program featuring nature and the environment.

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Friends of the Library

Monthly meeting of the Friends of the Library. Community attendance and commentary is welcome! Friends of the Library

Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States

Game Cafe!

Come join game enthusiasts in playing Magic the Gathering in various formats (including Commander/EDH) as well as other fun and creative board & card games. Bring your favorite games- All Ages Welcome!

Meeting Room D – Quiet Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States