Events: Rutland County Fall Tour of Libraries

Two Saturdays - October 2 and 9, 2004

Enjoy Vermont hospitality and explore the fine libraries of Rutland County as you take a beautiful fall drive! This celebration of Rutland County Public Libraries offers Vermont library patrons, trustees, and staff an opportunity to see a variety of libraries, big and small, new and old. Many have been recently renovated or expanded; some are examples of adaptive reuse of a building originally intended for another purpose. Among the buildings are converted churches, a grange, a school, and a federal courthouse.

All these libraries have implemented great ideas for organizing space and providing an important resource in their communities. Librarians and trustees will be on hand at the times indicated on the schedule to answer questions and welcome you with refreshments. The tour is self-guided, and you may join or drop out at any time-come to all libraries on both days, or just come to one or two. The times and distances here are approximate.

Bring your questions! Bring your cameras!
Bring your notepads! Bring your imagination!

Please let us know you are coming by contacting the Department of Libraries regional consultant, Lawrence Webster, 802-379-0081;lawrence.webster@dol.state.vt.us

9:00 Pawlet Public Library, 141 School St., Pawlet, 325-3123

Newly renovated school, now a gracious, spacious library. Coffee, tea, and cake.
7.5 miles, 11 minutes to

10:00 Wells Village Library, 5 E. Wells Rd., Wells, 645-0611

Right in the center of the village, on the green, surrounded by maples, this 19th Century Universalist Church became the public library in 1944. Stay for refreshments.
11 miles, 21 minutes to

11:00 Middletown Springs Public Library, 35 West St., Middletown Springs; 235-2435

Episcopal chapel; lovingly transformed to a small, vital library.
7.2 miles, 15 minutes to

12:00 Tinmouth Public Library, Mountainview Road (in the Town Office Building) 446-2498

Resurrected by volunteers, this library is now a lively place in the center of town. Local refreshments.
5.6 miles, 11 minutes to

1:00 Gilbert Hart Public Library, Wallingford; 446-2685

Beautiful old library building lovingly expanded. Light refreshments.
7 miles, 11 minutes to

2:00 Bailey Memorial Library, Clarendon, 111 Moulton Ave., N. Clarendon, 747-7743

Part of an active community center, a former grange, refurbished with historic preservation funds.
10.5 miles, 19 minutes to

3:00 Shrewsbury Public Library, 98 Town Line Rd., Shrewsbury, 492-3410

The Little Library that Grew, all for want of a bathroom. Join us for a cup of tea and cake to finish off your day.

9:00 Proctor Free Library, 4 Main St., Proctor; 459-3539

The Library was started in 1881 by Senator Redfield Proctor; the current building opened in 1913 as a memorial to the Proctors' daughter. Coffee, tea and breakfast snacks-and a book sale!
12.2 miles, 18 minutes to

10:00 Brandon Free Public Library, 4 Franklin St., Brandon; 247-8230

Fresh fruit and cider will be served at the Brandon Library and we look forward to having visitors tour our library with special emphasis on the library book sale.
7.5 miles, 10 minutes to

11:00 Maclure Library, 840 Arch St., Pittsford; 483-2972

1895 Romanesque brick building with stained glass and beautiful woodwork throughout. Refreshments.
8.4 miles, 13 minutes to.

12:00 - 2:00 Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St., Rutland; 773-1860

Built in 1859, Federal Court/Post Office designed by Ammi B. Young is nowone of Vermont's largest and busiest libraries. Bring a brown bag lunch to eat in the former courtroom, now a conference room.
8.3 miles, 14 minutes to

1:00 Chittenden Public Library, Chittenden; 773-3531

Small town library shares the school building. Refreshments.
14.4 miles, 21 minutes to

3:00 Sherburne Memorial Library, 2998 River Rd., Killington; 422-9765

End your tour at this gorgeous new library and community center in the midst of the Green Mountains.