ABC FAQs: Full List

The ABC Database lists organizations, groups, clubs, and projects that help neighbors meet basic needs, form supportive connections, and sustain a thriving community. It focuses mostly on free and low-cost activities and services directly available to people in Brattleboro. If your listing is in line with these goals, it probably belongs here!  

What’s the scope of the ABC Database?

In general, ABC is focused on free and low-cost services and activities, including many nonprofits, but public-private partnerships and public programs sponsored by for-profit businesses might qualify if they further the mission of the ABC project.

Organizations, groups, and projects qualify if they directly serve the Town of Brattleboro, whether or not they are headquartered in town. The ABC Database will include area, state, and regional organizations that have local points of service.

Read more details on mission, scope, public vs. private, geography, and collaboration. More questions? We’re happy to help:  outreach@brookslibraryvt.org, or 802-254-5290 ext. 1220 (Help Desk)

Who should sign up and submit information?

You must be a direct representative of the group to submit or edit a listing. If you want your favorite club to appear in ABC but you’re not a club coordinator, please seek out a member who would be authorized within the group to sign up or submit information to the ABC Database.

Organizations that include a variety of service programs with their own identities might include separate listings plus a general listing for the main organization. Different group members can sign up to maintain those records. Group leaders: please consider how to best represent your organization in the ABC database, and please coordinate your efforts internally to avoid duplication or errors.

WANT TO KNOW MORE about about groups with multiple services? Please read on.

What if my group has multiple services or programs with their own identities and missions?

If your organization offers two or more specific services or program series, please consider listing those ongoing programs separately in addition to a general listing for the main organization.

• Different people within an organization can manage listings, and a single person can manage listings for more than one service or program series. However, because of technical limitations, only one person/login can manage each listing at any given time. Please coordinate your efforts to avoid duplication.

• • Do you need to reassign editorial responsibilities for one of your listings? Send us an email and we’ll make it happen: outreach@brookslibraryvt.org.

• Use tags to connect listings within an organization! It will help people find things they might not have expected.

Examples

A specific service or resource:

• The Senior Center is a community resource offered by Brattleboro’s Department of Recreation and Parks. Both Recreation and Parks and the Senior Center can have their own listings, and they can tag each other. That will help searchers discover the connections among different services and programs in the community.

An ongoing program series:

• The Brattleboro in Stitches fiber arts group is sponsored by the Brooks Memorial Library and meets regularly in the library building. Both the stitchers and the library can have their own listings and link up in the database by tagging each other.

Who decides whether a specific series or service qualifies for a listing?

The organization itself. If more than one person in your group is maintaining listings, please coordinate efforts internally to avoid duplication. See the notes above for more details, and let us help if we can! outreach@brookslibraryvt.org.

Can I ever list events?

ABC is not an event calendar, so it isn’t helpful for getting the word out about a single event. For that, we recommend the DBA Calendar.

However, some program series are long-term and have their own identities and fans, which might make them good candidates for separate listings, as described above.

What are categories and what are tags?

Categories and tags work together to paint rich pictures of the organizations and groups in the ABC Database. They make it easier for people to find you.

• Categories are formal, pre-selected words and phrases to describe groups, organizations, and projects based on their interests. They make it possible for people to browse by general subjects. If you cannot find categories that apply to your group, please let us know! We want to address that. outreach@brookslibraryvt.org.
• Tags are descriptive words that organizations, groups, and projects can add to their own entries to enrich the search process. As groups add tags, they will appear on a pop-up list in the relevant field, but you aren’t limited to pre-made tags. Go ahead and add your own words that will help searchers understand what your group is all about.

Other tips on submitting listings?

• Adding or editing listings is much easier on a computer than a mobile device.
• Only a few fields are required, so you can submit a basic record and fill out details if and when you want to.
• Please add tags and descriptions to your listing! Using your own language will help searchers find your group and its interests and values, and you’ll help the database reflect the diversity of our community.
• Logos and other identifying images are great. If you provide services in a specific location, consider adding a picture of your building or front window or sign. Please be sure you have rights to any image you submit.

What is the library’s role in ABC?