Brooks Memorial Library - Brattleboro VT

LEGO-Palooza Special Session!
2026-04-23 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join us on Thursday, April 23rd from 1-5pm for an extra-long spring break session of LEGO-Palooza!
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!

Films at the Latchis for National Library Week: "Matilda" & "Lost in Paris"
2026-04-23 14:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | The Latchis Theatre, 50 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont, 05301, United States
To celebrate National Library Week, Brooks Memorial Library is pleased to offer community screenings of “Matilda” at 2pm and “Lost in Paris” at 7pm at the Latchis Theater. Both films are by donation. Sponsored by the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library.

City Nature Challenge Kick-Off Event
2026-04-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Main Reading Room
There is nature all around us! Knowing what species are in our city/town and where they are helps us study and protect them, but the ONLY way to do that is by all of us – scientists, land managers, and the community – working together to find and document the nature in our area.
By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also make your city/town a better place – for you and other species!
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Kick-Off Event
Saturday, April 25
10-11am – Intro to the Challenge & ID Tips – Brooks Memorial Library Community Room
12-1pm – Identification Walk – West River Park (333 West River Road, Brattleboro, VT)
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We’ll start with a Kick-Off Event on Saturday, April 25, from 10am-11am in the Brooks Memorial Library Community Room. It will be followed by a nature walk from 12-1pm at West River Park (333 West River Road, Brattleboro, VT) so folks can apply their news skills, contributing to citizen science. An ID Session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7pm in the Community Room.
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About the ID Session on April 28: whether you’re a seasoned user of iNaturalist and have made many IDs of other people’s observations to bring them to Research Grade, or you’re using iNaturalist for the first time during the April 24-27 observation period of the City Nature Challenge, we’d love to have you join the effort to identify as many of the observations made in Windham County during the Challenge as possible. If you’re new to this, we’ll help you learn how to use the identification features of iNaturalist.
The CNC, held globally by iNaturalist, is the largest annual biodiversity census in the world, and this year, we’re taking part in Windham County! Our local Windham County Nature Challenge is being organized by the Brattleboro Conservation Commission and cosponsored by several local Conservation Commissions, Brooks Memorial Library, and the Connecticut River Conservancy.

POSTPONED: Talking About Tech
2026-04-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Meeting Room D – Quiet Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Illustration AI-generated with Google Gemini. Can you spot the signs?
No Talking About Tech in April
We won’t meet for Talking About Tech on April 25, due to a number of scheduling conflicts. Join us on the fourth Saturday in May, 5/23. Spotlight topic to be announced.
What is Talking About Tech?
Our vision is an interactive gathering a bit like a book club crossed with a crafting group, with a touch of a drop-in bike repair clinic. Each session will begin with a 30-minute guided discussion of a tech topic of interest. One month we might talk about managing passwords, or organizing email and files; how the internet works, or vibe coding with AI.
Then we’ll have a about an hour for mutual tech support, on the focus topic or other areas of need and interest. Maybe you have the answer someone else is looking for! The library’s Electronic Services Specialist, Matt, will be there to provide expert help. Bring your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Do you have a request for a future spotlight topic?
Suggestions are welcome! We want Talking About Tech to be shaped through participation, so bring ideas for a future topic to any session. You can also contact the library with your request. Maybe you’d be the perfect person to lead discussion on some spotlight topic!

SilverCircus - by NECCA
2026-04-25 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 (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).

Brattleboro in Stitches
2026-04-25 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Bring a work in progress to sew, knit, crochet, embroider, or mend. Sewing machines, irons, and companionship will be provided.

Farewell, Starr! Library Appreciation Party
2026-04-25 13:00 - 17:00 | Main Reading Room
Share your library joy by joining us for a party to celebrate libraries and bid a stellar farewell to our exceptional Library Director, Starr LaTronica, who will be retiring in early May after guiding the library through a decade of transformational change.
Enjoy snacks from the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library and express appreciation for Starr’s phenomenal service to the community through the library.
1:30pm Music by The MoonDogs
3pm Remarks, reminiscences, and good wishes from members of the community
Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library.

Financial Empowerment
2026-04-27 17:30 - 19:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Financial Q & A with SEVCA and Mascoma Bank
All are welcome to these programs, held on the 4th Mondays of the month throughout 2026, with different topics for each session and peer support encouraged throughout. Representatives from SEVCA and Mascoma Bank facilitate the discussions, share their expertise, and respond to individual questions and concerns. A light meal will be served at 5:30PM; the focused conversation starts at 6:00 PM.
As a follow-up to March’s discussion on “Credit Reports”, the April topic is “Repairing Credit.”
Registration is required. To sign-up, you can call (802-254-5290), stop by the circulation desk, or email us at circ@brookslibraryvt.org

Green Carnation Reading Group
2026-04-27 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.

Art & Exploration at the Library - Creating Cyanotype Art
2026-04-28 13:30 - 15:00, 2026-05-05 13:30 - 15:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join teaching artist, Evie Lovett, for this free 6-week book exploration and art-making course for learners ages 60+. Participants will have the opportunity to explore books on a variety of themes and create cyanotype art in response to those themes. Cyanotype is a process of making photographs with the sun or UV light. This course is perfect for participants new to creating art and interested in a social book club experience. Supplies provided. Registration is required; stop by or call the Circulation Desk at (802) 254-5290. Or, you can email: outreach@brookslibraryvt.org

Read to a Dog
2026-04-28 15:30 - 16:30 | Children’s Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Read to a Dog is back! 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.

Town Arts Committee
2026-04-28 17:00 - 19:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The monthly meeting of the Town Arts Committee members invites guests and the public to discuss town arts!

City Nature Challenge - Nature ID Session
2026-04-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Main Reading Room
Join us for an identification blitz as part of the Windham County City Nature Challenge (CNC), on April 28, between 7 and 8:30 pm in the library’s Community Room. Whether you’re a seasoned user of iNaturalist and have made many IDs of other people’s observations to bring them to Research Grade, or you’re using iNaturalist for the first time during the April 24-27 observation period of the City Nature Challenge, we’d love to have you join the effort to identify as many of the observations made in Windham County during the Challenge as possible. If you’re new to this, we’ll help you learn how to use the identification features of iNaturalist.
The CNC, held globally by iNaturalist, is the largest annual biodiversity census in the world, and this year, we’re taking part in Windham County! Our local Windham County Nature Challenge is being organized by the Brattleboro Conservation Commission and cosponsored by several local Conservation Commissions, Brooks Memorial Library, and the Connecticut River Conservancy.

Rhyme Time
2026-04-29 10:30 - 11:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join us on Wednesday mornings @ 10:30 am for 30 minutes of stories, songs, and fun!
Rhyme Time is for kids 5 & under and their caregivers.
Free and open to the public.

Stamp Explorers!
2026-04-29 15:15 - 16:15 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Come explorer the interesting world of postage stamps! Learn about geography, history, literature and pop culture through stamps. Everyone attending will receive stamps to begin their collection. Presented by the Brattleboro Stamp Club and the Children’s Room. Open to all ages! Held in the Community Meeting Room, located next to the Children’s Room.

Portable Solar Demonstration & Home Energy Options Workshop
2026-04-29 17:30 - 20:00 | Main Reading Room
The Town of Brattleboro and the Vermont Energy Education Program are teaming up to try to provide Brattleboro relief from high electric and heating costs. Come see and learn about how portable solar systems and other energy savings tools like heat pumps and insulation can help make a difference for your family’s budget and comfort. Experts will be on site to explain how these tools work, and how they could work for you in your home. Food and childcare will be available to all who attend the event.

If you are interested in learning more about portable solar for your home, please consider filling out this survey.

Questions? E-mail or call Stephen Dotson – Sdotson@brattleboro.gov, 703-431-3075

Game Cafe!
2026-04-29 18:00 - 20:45 | Meeting Room D – Quiet Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
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!

Sing & Dance With Robin
2026-04-30 10:30 - 11:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Designed for ages under 6- all ages welcome! Free and open to the public.
This lovely class is an enriching musical experience for toddlers and preschoolers, designed to support healthy cognitive, physical, and social development. Children will sing, clap, stomp, dance, and play along with the curriculum of traditional and modern folk songs. Parents will be encouraged to fully sing and participate with their child in the class.
Sponsored by the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library.

Open Play Friday
2026-05-01 15:30 - 17:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Happening every Friday in May in the Community Room. Drop in between 3:30 and 5:30 to play and meet friends! This program is for children under six.

Community Conversations with Brattleboro State Legislators
2026-05-02 10:30 - 12:00 | Main Reading Room
As the Brattleboro Legislative Delegation gears up for the start of a new legislative session in January, these monthly sessions are an opportunity to meet the Brattleboro Representatives and discuss issues that matter to you. Topics will include healthcare, education, climate change, and housing. All are welcome to join your Vermont Legislators, hear from experts, and share your experiences.
These conversations are scheduled monthly on the 1st Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM. (Scheduled dates: 2/7, 3/7, 4/4, 5/2, and 6/6.)

BookMarked: A Book Party for Children and Tweens!
2026-05-04 15:30 - 16:30 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join us on the first Monday of the month, 4-5 pm in the Community Meeting Room for a book lover’s party! This is a chance to meet other kids who love to read (you can bring your old friends too!) and swap recommendations in a zero-pressure environment. We will have craft supplies out for open-ended art making. Snacks will also be provided.
This event is for children ages 8+. Registration is NOT required.

Windham County Democratic Committee
2026-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Monthly Meeting of the Windham County Democratic Committee

Brattleboro Great Books Group
2026-05-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Meeting Room D – Quiet Reading Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Monthly discussion of “Great Books”

Mineralogical Society
2026-05-05 18:00 - 20:45 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Join the Brattleboro Mineralogical Society to discuss Minerals and other Geological topics!

-CANCELLED- Rhyme Time
2026-05-06 10:30 - 11:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
Rhyme time will be cancelled on Wednesday, May 6th due to the temporary closure of the top floor of the library.

CANCELLED-Vermont Pastel Society
2026-05-06 15:30 - 17:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
pastel painting

A Lifeline for Difficult Times: The Taking Solace Series
2026-05-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Meeting Room A – Community Meeting Room, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301, United States
The Wednesday, May 6 session of this series is cancelled due to library construction.
Starting this November, Center for Solace (formerly Brattleboro Area Hospice) & Brooks Memorial Library
are inspired to begin an 8-month collaboration on the first Wednesday of each month, from 6-8 pm.
Come join us for a wide range of conversations
on tender topics, from Death Cafes, to film & discussion nights,
speaker panels, a climate-grief dialogue, and more.
Together we’ll explore some of the challenges of being alive in our time.
For instance, how might we navigate illness, caregiving, or loss?
Or beyond that, face a much broader anguish for our fragile planet itself?
Because we know that at least one form of solace
stems from staying connected.
To quote poet David Whyte, “Solace is not meant to be
an answer, but an invitation, through the door of pain and difficulty,
to the depth of suffering and simultaneous beauty in the world
that the strategic mind by itself cannot grasp or make sense of.”
We begin November 5th from 6-8pm
with a Death Cafe in the Community Room.
And to find out about further topics, please follow
Center for Solace or Brooks Memorial Library on Facebook:
centerforsolace.org, or brookslibraryvt.org.
