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Holiday Hours 2025

Wednesday, December 24: Open 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 25: Closed
Friday, December 26: Closed
Saturday, December 27: Open 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (York Branch closed)
Wednesday, December 31: Open 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 1: Closed
Regular hours resume on January 2, 2026.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from the Aldrich Public Library staff!

Welcome!

Our mission is to inspire the joy of reading, promote lifelong learning, and strengthen the communities of Barre Town and Barre City. Please use our website to see what we have to offer. See you at the library!

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Visit us at the Aldrich!

6 Washington Street, Barre, VT
(802) 476-7550

Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Closures

Getting To The Library:
Parking lot entrance is located behind the library, off of Jefferson Street. Wheelchair accessibility is also located at our back entrance.

Services:

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Notary Public
Events For All Ages
3D Printing
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Public Restrooms

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." - Albert Einstein

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Our holiday closings for the rest of 2025.

Our holiday closings for the rest of 2025.

📚 Aldrich Holiday Book Fair: Join us this Thursday from 2-4pm to get some holiday shopping done. Meet, browse, and buy signed books from Katherine Paterson, George Woodard, and other local Vermont authors!

🎄 Gingerbread Houses for All Ages: Ages 5-95 are invited to join us on Friday, Dec. 19 from 2-5pm to decorate your own festive gingerbread house! We’ll provide all the supplies and goodies (gingerbread, frosting, and colorful candies), so you can craft anything from a cozy cottage to a sparkling candy castle. It is strongly encouraged to RSVP by calling the library to ensure we have enough supplies.

📚 Aldrich Holiday Book Fair: Join us this Thursday from 2-4pm to get some holiday shopping done. Meet, browse, and buy signed books from Katherine Paterson, George Woodard, and other local Vermont authors!

🎄 Gingerbread Houses for All Ages: Ages 5-95 are invited to join us on Friday, Dec. 19 from 2-5pm to decorate your own festive gingerbread house! We’ll provide all the supplies and goodies (gingerbread, frosting, and colorful candies), so you can craft anything from a cozy cottage to a sparkling candy castle. It is strongly encouraged to RSVP by calling the library to ensure we have enough supplies.

Tomorrow’s book fair will be rescheduled to Thursday, December 18 at 2pm, in anticipation of tomorrow’s weather forecast. Join us on the 18th as we welcome Katherine Paterson, George Woodard, and other local Vermont authors.

Tomorrow’s book fair will be rescheduled to Thursday, December 18 at 2pm, in anticipation of tomorrow’s weather forecast. Join us on the 18th as we welcome Katherine Paterson, George Woodard, and other local Vermont authors.

Adults are invited to join us for a relaxed and friendly collage night this coming Monday, November 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Milne Room. All materials provided, no previous experience necessary.

Adults are invited to join us for a relaxed and friendly collage night this coming Monday, November 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Milne Room. All materials provided, no previous experience necessary.

Great turnout to the premiere of “Bloodstone” at our York Branch in East Barre. You can join us for a showing at the Main Brach tomorrow tomorrow, Friday, October 24 from 2-6pm, along with other Fall Festival activities, including Storyteller Tim Jennings, a family-friendly scavenger hunt, face painting, fall treats, and more!

Great turnout to the premiere of “Bloodstone” at our York Branch in East Barre. You can join us for a showing at the Main Brach tomorrow tomorrow, Friday, October 24 from 2-6pm, along with other Fall Festival activities, including Storyteller Tim Jennings, a family-friendly scavenger hunt, face painting, fall treats, and more!

"Bookmarking Year Two" - a letter from Library Director Kristin Baumann:

As I reflect on year two as Director at the Aldrich Public Library, I am inspired by your generosity and bolstered by your commitment to the library. You came through for us at key moments this year. When the library faced a budget shortfall, the community came together and filled the gap. Across all ages and incomes, you attended programs and held lively discussions, anchoring the Aldrich at the heart of Barre. Growing numbers of you are coming through our doors to read, learn, and connect and we are incredibly grateful for every bit of your participation and support. Your kindness, curiosity, and love for the Aldrich and the community at large made all the difference this year.

We’re matching your enthusiasm with action, your belief with vision, and your hope with momentum. Together, we’re proving that a library is more than a building. It is a living, breathing part of the community, full of energy, ideas, and possibility. Every visit, every donation, every conversation helps make Barre stronger and more vibrant.

There are more challenges ahead and with them, even more opportunities. The October calendar is full of events, culminating with our first annual Fall Festival, October 23–25, featuring local theater, family activities, storytelling, and fall treats with November and December shaping up to be just as eventful. Your support and the dedication of the staff has positioned us to keep moving forward, and I’m excited to see what we accomplish together in year three.

With appreciation,
Kristin

Kristin J Baumann
Aldrich Public Library, Director

"Bookmarking Year Two" - a letter from Library Director Kristin Baumann:

As I reflect on year two as Director at the Aldrich Public Library, I am inspired by your generosity and bolstered by your commitment to the library. You came through for us at key moments this year. When the library faced a budget shortfall, the community came together and filled the gap. Across all ages and incomes, you attended programs and held lively discussions, anchoring the Aldrich at the heart of Barre. Growing numbers of you are coming through our doors to read, learn, and connect and we are incredibly grateful for every bit of your participation and support. Your kindness, curiosity, and love for the Aldrich and the community at large made all the difference this year.

We’re matching your enthusiasm with action, your belief with vision, and your hope with momentum. Together, we’re proving that a library is more than a building. It is a living, breathing part of the community, full of energy, ideas, and possibility. Every visit, every donation, every conversation helps make Barre stronger and more vibrant.

There are more challenges ahead and with them, even more opportunities. The October calendar is full of events, culminating with our first annual Fall Festival, October 23–25, featuring local theater, family activities, storytelling, and fall treats with November and December shaping up to be just as eventful. Your support and the dedication of the staff has positioned us to keep moving forward, and I’m excited to see what we accomplish together in year three.

With appreciation,
Kristin

Kristin J Baumann
Aldrich Public Library, Director

🍂✨ Announcing the First Annual Aldrich Fall Festival! ✨🍂
📅 October 23–25, 2025 | Free & open to all

Celebrate autumn at the Aldrich Public Library with theater, storytelling, crafts, family fun, and seasonal treats!

Thursday, Oct. 23
🎭 Bloodstone: A Play by Alan Kessler (York Branch Premiere – 2 showings, 6:15 & 7:00pm)
📍 York Branch, 134 Mill St., East Barre — RSVP required due to limited space

Friday, Oct. 24
🎨 Family activities & scavenger hunt | 3–5:30pm, Children’s Room
📖 Spooky storytelling for kids & families | 5:30pm, Milne Room
🎭 Bloodstone – Main Branch performance | 6:15pm, Reading Room (no RSVP needed)
📖 Spooky storytelling for teens & adults | 7–7:45pm, Reading Room

Saturday, Oct. 25
🎃 Halloween Spooktacular Storytime, Crafts & Movie Party | 10am–2pm, Children’s & Milne Rooms
🍁 Check back often—we’ll be adding more events for all ages as the festival gets closer!

🍂✨ Announcing the First Annual Aldrich Fall Festival! ✨🍂
📅 October 23–25, 2025 | Free & open to all

Celebrate autumn at the Aldrich Public Library with theater, storytelling, crafts, family fun, and seasonal treats!

Thursday, Oct. 23
🎭 Bloodstone: A Play by Alan Kessler (York Branch Premiere – 2 showings, 6:15 & 7:00pm)
📍 York Branch, 134 Mill St., East Barre — RSVP required due to limited space

Friday, Oct. 24
🎨 Family activities & scavenger hunt | 3–5:30pm, Children’s Room
📖 Spooky storytelling for kids & families | 5:30pm, Milne Room
🎭 Bloodstone – Main Branch performance | 6:15pm, Reading Room (no RSVP needed)
📖 Spooky storytelling for teens & adults | 7–7:45pm, Reading Room

Saturday, Oct. 25
🎃 Halloween Spooktacular Storytime, Crafts & Movie Party | 10am–2pm, Children’s & Milne Rooms
🍁 Check back often—we’ll be adding more events for all ages as the festival gets closer!

THIS WEEK: Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for a viewing of Join or Die, a documentary that examines social scientist Robert Putnam's "Bowling Alone" theory of how declining community engagement created an American civic crisis. This event is sponsored by the City of Barre, Green United Way, @barresocialclub, the Barre Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club of Barre, and the @barrevtrotaryclub Free refreshments will follow at the Barre Social Club on N Main Street.

THIS WEEK: Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for a viewing of Join or Die, a documentary that examines social scientist Robert Putnam's "Bowling Alone" theory of how declining community engagement created an American civic crisis. This event is sponsored by the City of Barre, Green United Way, @barresocialclub, the Barre Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club of Barre, and the @barrevtrotaryclub Free refreshments will follow at the Barre Social Club on N Main Street.

Our internet has decided to practice its disappearing act today—now you see it, now you don’t!

We’re working on getting everything back up and running smoothly as soon as possible. In the meantime, please enjoy our classic, vintage technology: books, magazines, and friendly staff who don’t need Wi-Fi to answer questions. 😉

Thanks for your patience while we coax the internet back into behaving!

Our internet has decided to practice its disappearing act today—now you see it, now you don’t!

We’re working on getting everything back up and running smoothly as soon as possible. In the meantime, please enjoy our classic, vintage technology: books, magazines, and friendly staff who don’t need Wi-Fi to answer questions. 😉

Thanks for your patience while we coax the internet back into behaving!

Check your email inboxes or tap the link in our Instagram bio to read about our upcoming September events. To subscribe to our email newsletter, visit our website, or call us! As a heads up, the library will be closed for Labor Day on Saturday, August 30 and Monday, September 1.

Check your email inboxes or tap the link in our Instagram bio to read about our upcoming September events. To subscribe to our email newsletter, visit our website, or call us! As a heads up, the library will be closed for Labor Day on Saturday, August 30 and Monday, September 1.

Teen Events This Week at the Aldrich

📅 Tuesday 8/19, 2–4 p.m.
Tie Dye & Lawn Games – Badminton, cornhole, ladder ball, sidewalk chalk, and more! We’ll have shirts and totes to dye, or bring your own cotton item.

📅 Thursday 8/21, 3–5 p.m.
Indigo Tie Dye with Artist-in-Residence – Create a one-of-a-kind shirt or scarf with organic indigo and traditional folding techniques. Materials provided.

📅 Friday 8/22, 6–8:30 p.m.
Teen Night – Hang out after hours with pizza, snacks, Switch games, and crafts. Registration required: teen.desk@aldrichpubliclibrary.org / (802) 476-7550.

Teen Events This Week at the Aldrich

📅 Tuesday 8/19, 2–4 p.m.
Tie Dye & Lawn Games – Badminton, cornhole, ladder ball, sidewalk chalk, and more! We’ll have shirts and totes to dye, or bring your own cotton item.

📅 Thursday 8/21, 3–5 p.m.
Indigo Tie Dye with Artist-in-Residence – Create a one-of-a-kind shirt or scarf with organic indigo and traditional folding techniques. Materials provided.

📅 Friday 8/22, 6–8:30 p.m.
Teen Night – Hang out after hours with pizza, snacks, Switch games, and crafts. Registration required: teen.desk@aldrichpubliclibrary.org / (802) 476-7550.

🎶 Porchfest is back at the York Branch!
Join us for free summer concerts on the lawn at 134 Mill Street in East Barre. Bring a blanket or a folding chair and soak up the last afternoons of summer with some toe-tapping tunes.

Upcoming shows:
🪕 Thursday, 8/7 at 3pm – Tin Penny Band
🎸 Thursday, 8/14 at 3pm – Donna Thunder
🎻 Thursday, 8/21 at 3pm – Troy Millette

See you on the lawn! ☀️

🎶 Porchfest is back at the York Branch!
Join us for free summer concerts on the lawn at 134 Mill Street in East Barre. Bring a blanket or a folding chair and soak up the last afternoons of summer with some toe-tapping tunes.

Upcoming shows:
🪕 Thursday, 8/7 at 3pm – Tin Penny Band
🎸 Thursday, 8/14 at 3pm – Donna Thunder
🎻 Thursday, 8/21 at 3pm – Troy Millette

See you on the lawn! ☀️

The Friends of the Library are hosting their annual Heritage Days Book Sale and new this year is a Jewelry Sale!

The Friends will be selling books and jewelry today, Friday, July 25, until 5 p.m., and tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The good stuff is going fast, so come on down and score great deals on books and jewelry!

The Friends of the Library are hosting their annual Heritage Days Book Sale and new this year is a Jewelry Sale!

The Friends will be selling books and jewelry today, Friday, July 25, until 5 p.m., and tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The good stuff is going fast, so come on down and score great deals on books and jewelry!

For Heritage Festival weekend, visit the library to explore Treasures from the Aldrich Archives. Listen to oral histories from Barre’s immigrant communities, hear stories from Prohibition, and learn about the city’s deep roots in industry and manufacturing.

You can also watch the Origins of Blue Gray Granite video, formerly shown at the Rock of Ages Visitor Center, and view portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and the Vermont Samplers Initiative display.

And don’t forget about the Friends of the Library Book and Jewelry Sale on Friday, July 25 from 8am-5pm and Saturday, July 26 from 8am-1pm. And enjoy the delicious @barrevtrotaryclub breakfast on Saturday, July 26 from 7:30-10am on the Library Lawn. Both of these are critical fundraising efforts for us.

We are so proud to be honoring Barre’s rich history and celebrating our community on this Barre Heritage Festival weekend.

For Heritage Festival weekend, visit the library to explore Treasures from the Aldrich Archives. Listen to oral histories from Barre’s immigrant communities, hear stories from Prohibition, and learn about the city’s deep roots in industry and manufacturing.

You can also watch the Origins of Blue Gray Granite video, formerly shown at the Rock of Ages Visitor Center, and view portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and the Vermont Samplers Initiative display.

And don’t forget about the Friends of the Library Book and Jewelry Sale on Friday, July 25 from 8am-5pm and Saturday, July 26 from 8am-1pm. And enjoy the delicious @barrevtrotaryclub breakfast on Saturday, July 26 from 7:30-10am on the Library Lawn. Both of these are critical fundraising efforts for us.

We are so proud to be honoring Barre’s rich history and celebrating our community on this Barre Heritage Festival weekend.

Things look a little different out front 👀

Things look a little different out front 👀

What’s Happening at the Aldrich? Coming next week and beyond.

📚 Book Group – Poverty, By America
Thurs 7/17, 5:30 PM – Conference Room
Join Director Kristin for tea, treats, and conversation on Poverty, By America where Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond examines why the U.S. has more poverty than other rich nations. Copies available at the desk.

🎭 Improv in the Park – For Kids & Teens
Fri 7/18, 10:30 AM (kids) & 1:30 PM (teens) – Currier Park
A fun, confidence-building workshop with games and on-the-fly characters. Rain location: Aldrich Library.

🎨 Craft Programs for Kids
• Craftermorn -- Thurs 7/17, 10 AM – Origami workshop with Scott Bascom (indoors in Milne Room)
• Crafternoon at York Branch – Thurs, 1–4 PM, 134 Mill St, East Barre
Drop in for art, snacks, and fun. No sign-up needed!

✍️ Authors at the Aldrich: Alan Kessler
Thurs 7/24, 6 PM – Milne Room
Learn about Barre’s past and the 1919 Lucina Broadwell case. Refreshments served. More author talks coming soon! Learn more at www.aldrichpubliclibrary.org/authors.

Questions? Call 802-476-7550

What’s Happening at the Aldrich? Coming next week and beyond.

📚 Book Group – Poverty, By America
Thurs 7/17, 5:30 PM – Conference Room
Join Director Kristin for tea, treats, and conversation on Poverty, By America where Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond examines why the U.S. has more poverty than other rich nations. Copies available at the desk.

🎭 Improv in the Park – For Kids & Teens
Fri 7/18, 10:30 AM (kids) & 1:30 PM (teens) – Currier Park
A fun, confidence-building workshop with games and on-the-fly characters. Rain location: Aldrich Library.

🎨 Craft Programs for Kids
• Craftermorn -- Thurs 7/17, 10 AM – Origami workshop with Scott Bascom (indoors in Milne Room)
• Crafternoon at York Branch – Thurs, 1–4 PM, 134 Mill St, East Barre
Drop in for art, snacks, and fun. No sign-up needed!

✍️ Authors at the Aldrich: Alan Kessler
Thurs 7/24, 6 PM – Milne Room
Learn about Barre’s past and the 1919 Lucina Broadwell case. Refreshments served. More author talks coming soon! Learn more at www.aldrichpubliclibrary.org/authors.

Questions? Call 802-476-7550

Learn more each of authors for our upcoming Authors at the Aldrich series, held on select Thursdays at 6 p.m. in July and August.

Learn more each of authors for our upcoming Authors at the Aldrich series, held on select Thursdays at 6 p.m. in July and August.

Join us today, Wednesday, July 2 at 1:30pm for a presentation about the Vermont Sampler Initiative, which is on display in our Vermont Room for the month of July. The VT Sampler Initiative has been documenting Vermont 19th-century schoolgirl samplers and has produced a statewide driving tour to view collections of these post-Revolutionary War samplers. The Aldrich is one of the stops and is hosting 10 of the samplers. Take a break from the heat to view this historic collection!

Join us today, Wednesday, July 2 at 1:30pm for a presentation about the Vermont Sampler Initiative, which is on display in our Vermont Room for the month of July. The VT Sampler Initiative has been documenting Vermont 19th-century schoolgirl samplers and has produced a statewide driving tour to view collections of these post-Revolutionary War samplers. The Aldrich is one of the stops and is hosting 10 of the samplers. Take a break from the heat to view this historic collection!

Announcing our 2025 lineup for Authors at the Aldrich. For more information about each author, visit our website.

Announcing our 2025 lineup for Authors at the Aldrich. For more information about each author, visit our website.

Book it forward at the Aldrich Public Library. Instead of paying with money for books, pay it forward with an act of kindness.

Book it forward at the Aldrich Public Library. Instead of paying with money for books, pay it forward with an act of kindness.

The Aldrich Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 19, for staff to attend the Vermont Library Association Conference. This will be a chance for us to gather fresh ideas and inspiration for our library.

The Aldrich Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 19, for staff to attend the Vermont Library Association Conference. This will be a chance for us to gather fresh ideas and inspiration for our library.

Found in our archives: Schedule and map of the 5th Annual Barre Heritage Festival that took place in 1982. Summer is getting close! What favorite memories do you have of past Heritage Festivals?

Found in our archives: Schedule and map of the 5th Annual Barre Heritage Festival that took place in 1982. Summer is getting close! What favorite memories do you have of past Heritage Festivals?

On Saturday, we had a generous donor walk in our door and offer the Aldrich Public Library $10,000 if we could raise a matching $10,000. This is an exciting moment for our library, unexpected and inspiring...confirming the positive impact we are having in Barre. The donor challenged us to raise the $10,000 by Saturday, April 12th, 7 days from the offer, now 4 days away. We are building a campaign to raise the money and need your help in reaching this goal.

Donations can be made online or by check or cash at the front desk this week (we do not recommend mailing in your check so that we can meet our April 12th deadline).

Thank you in advance for your generous support. We are proud to be your public library and look forward to continuing our mission: to inspire the joy of reading, promote lifelong learning, and strengthen the community. See you at the library!

On Saturday, we had a generous donor walk in our door and offer the Aldrich Public Library $10,000 if we could raise a matching $10,000. This is an exciting moment for our library, unexpected and inspiring...confirming the positive impact we are having in Barre. The donor challenged us to raise the $10,000 by Saturday, April 12th, 7 days from the offer, now 4 days away. We are building a campaign to raise the money and need your help in reaching this goal.

Donations can be made online or by check or cash at the front desk this week (we do not recommend mailing in your check so that we can meet our April 12th deadline).

Thank you in advance for your generous support. We are proud to be your public library and look forward to continuing our mission: to inspire the joy of reading, promote lifelong learning, and strengthen the community. See you at the library!

Libraries need your support more than ever. Many of you have asked us what the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services will do to us. The IMLS provides dollars to the Vermont Department of Libraries, which provides the Aldrich with digital databases for research, summer reading program opportunities for children, library materials for visually impaired patrons, and our Interlibrary Loan system (our interlibrary loan system helps us get books we don’t own, or extra books for book clubs).

What can you do to help? One way you can support us right away is by purchasing a Spring Fling ticket for this Saturday, April 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. It is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is a prime opportunity to support your local library while celebrating our community. There will be local food from Morse Block Deli, Pearl Street Pizza, and Vermont Sweet Treats. There will also be fabulous décor by Emslie The Florist and Gifts. Purchase tickets at the Main Desk, or pay online on our website: www.aldrichpubliclibrary.org . This is such a key time to support your local library and we hope you can have a little fun along the way with your friends, family, and neighbors while doing so.

Libraries need your support more than ever. Many of you have asked us what the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services will do to us. The IMLS provides dollars to the Vermont Department of Libraries, which provides the Aldrich with digital databases for research, summer reading program opportunities for children, library materials for visually impaired patrons, and our Interlibrary Loan system (our interlibrary loan system helps us get books we don’t own, or extra books for book clubs).

What can you do to help? One way you can support us right away is by purchasing a Spring Fling ticket for this Saturday, April 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. It is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is a prime opportunity to support your local library while celebrating our community. There will be local food from Morse Block Deli, Pearl Street Pizza, and Vermont Sweet Treats. There will also be fabulous décor by Emslie The Florist and Gifts. Purchase tickets at the Main Desk, or pay online on our website: www.aldrichpubliclibrary.org . This is such a key time to support your local library and we hope you can have a little fun along the way with your friends, family, and neighbors while doing so.

We want to thank the community for the overwhelming positive response about our funding. Your passion and ideas for supporting the library inspires and recharges us. These ideas are exciting ways to help us meet this budgetary moment as well as foster deeper community connections. We look forward to these new opportunities.

Moving forward, our goal is, as always, to have a sustainable funding model that addresses our community's needs. To achieve this in the long-term, we will need your continued participation in the budget process and look forward to hearing your library stories.

In the meantime, mark your calendars for the Spring Fling, our biggest fundraiser of the year, on Saturday, April 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. Reserve your spot online on our website, or at the front desk.

Also, our Friends of the Library group is hosting a book sale on Friday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Your contributions to our PayPal account and donations at the front desk are always welcome.

We look forward to seeing you in the stacks, at the circulation desk, and on the dance floor at Spring Fling. This is our time to celebrate what the Aldrich Public Library means to all of us: our connectedness, our curiosity, our creativity, and our community.

Again, on behalf of the entire library community, thank you for helping us keep the lights on!

We want to thank the community for the overwhelming positive response about our funding. Your passion and ideas for supporting the library inspires and recharges us. These ideas are exciting ways to help us meet this budgetary moment as well as foster deeper community connections. We look forward to these new opportunities.

Moving forward, our goal is, as always, to have a sustainable funding model that addresses our community's needs. To achieve this in the long-term, we will need your continued participation in the budget process and look forward to hearing your library stories.

In the meantime, mark your calendars for the Spring Fling, our biggest fundraiser of the year, on Saturday, April 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. Reserve your spot online on our website, or at the front desk.

Also, our Friends of the Library group is hosting a book sale on Friday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Your contributions to our PayPal account and donations at the front desk are always welcome.

We look forward to seeing you in the stacks, at the circulation desk, and on the dance floor at Spring Fling. This is our time to celebrate what the Aldrich Public Library means to all of us: our connectedness, our curiosity, our creativity, and our community.

Again, on behalf of the entire library community, thank you for helping us keep the lights on!

Tonight, the Aldrich Public Library received a difficult setback as we build our budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Over a month ago, the library presented our budget request to the Barre Town Budget Committee. This committee decides how much money the library receives each year. Last year, the committee level-funded the library, meaning we received no extra funding despite our rising costs.

This year, to meet our rising costs over the last two years, the library presented a $20,000 increase, amounting to $2.49 per resident. Tonight, the committee said no and gave 3%, despite the Town Manager penciling in the 10% increase we originally requested.

Our request was due to rising costs in health insurance, building maintenance and the State of Vermont discontinuing the internet service it once provided to all libraries. That means the Aldrich now has to foot the full costs of providing internet access.

There is also a huge funding gap between what Barre City gives the library and what Barre Town gives of over $80,000. This is despite equal usage of the library by both communities.

But let’s pause right there- because we know that the equal usage of our building is a shining example of how we can come together in Barre. To our patrons- we are so sorry that we could not break through this process to fully support the library you love dearly. We work so hard to find out what information we need to provide and what goals we need to meet but it seems that every year, the goal posts move.

So instead of asking for a $2.49 increase per person to fund the basics, we must make a bigger ask of our community. We must ask that those of you who can give more to give more. It might also mean making difficult decisions. For a library that has been chronically underfunded, those decisions can be painful.

With that said, this post is not meant to inspire hate or disdain against anyone. We are confident that what we do matters for the community and we will work even harder to demonstrate that during the next budget process. But we will need your voices to share your library stories. Thank you for reading and thank you for support.

Tonight, the Aldrich Public Library received a difficult setback as we build our budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Over a month ago, the library presented our budget request to the Barre Town Budget Committee. This committee decides how much money the library receives each year. Last year, the committee level-funded the library, meaning we received no extra funding despite our rising costs.

This year, to meet our rising costs over the last two years, the library presented a $20,000 increase, amounting to $2.49 per resident. Tonight, the committee said no and gave 3%, despite the Town Manager penciling in the 10% increase we originally requested.

Our request was due to rising costs in health insurance, building maintenance and the State of Vermont discontinuing the internet service it once provided to all libraries. That means the Aldrich now has to foot the full costs of providing internet access.

There is also a huge funding gap between what Barre City gives the library and what Barre Town gives of over $80,000. This is despite equal usage of the library by both communities.

But let’s pause right there- because we know that the equal usage of our building is a shining example of how we can come together in Barre. To our patrons- we are so sorry that we could not break through this process to fully support the library you love dearly. We work so hard to find out what information we need to provide and what goals we need to meet but it seems that every year, the goal posts move.

So instead of asking for a $2.49 increase per person to fund the basics, we must make a bigger ask of our community. We must ask that those of you who can give more to give more. It might also mean making difficult decisions. For a library that has been chronically underfunded, those decisions can be painful.

With that said, this post is not meant to inspire hate or disdain against anyone. We are confident that what we do matters for the community and we will work even harder to demonstrate that during the next budget process. But we will need your voices to share your library stories. Thank you for reading and thank you for support.

Upcoming events at the Aldrich. To be the first to know about our events, subscribe to our monthly email newsletter at www.aldrichpubliclibrary.org.

Upcoming events at the Aldrich. To be the first to know about our events, subscribe to our monthly email newsletter at www.aldrichpubliclibrary.org.

How many books will you need to get through the cold? Our forecast says at least 10.

How many books will you need to get through the cold? Our forecast says at least 10.

The Friends of the Aldrich Library have been selected as a nonprofit partner in the Hannaford Bloomin' 4 Good Program for January 2025!

For every specially marked Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet purchased during January 1 through 31, 2025, at the Hannaford grocery store at 456 South Barre Road, the Friends will receive a $1 donation from Hannaford. Look for the red circle sticker on the bouquet to make sure it qualifies for support of the Friends.

The Friends of the Aldrich Library have been selected as a nonprofit partner in the Hannaford Bloomin' 4 Good Program for January 2025!

For every specially marked Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet purchased during January 1 through 31, 2025, at the Hannaford grocery store at 456 South Barre Road, the Friends will receive a $1 donation from Hannaford. Look for the red circle sticker on the bouquet to make sure it qualifies for support of the Friends.

🎄 2024 LIBRARY HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

Tues, 12/24: Open 10am-1pm
Weds, 12/25: CLOSED
Thurs, 12/26: Open 2-6pm
Tues, 12/31: Open 10am-1pm
Weds, 1/1/25: CLOSED

🎄 2024 LIBRARY HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

Tues, 12/24: Open 10am-1pm
Weds, 12/25: CLOSED
Thurs, 12/26: Open 2-6pm
Tues, 12/31: Open 10am-1pm
Weds, 1/1/25: CLOSED

This week’s events at Aldrich Public Library!
🧱 Lego Club: Weds, 12/18 from 4-5:30pm - Ages 4-12 are invited to the Milne Room to test their creativity with LEGO challenges.

🎄Cinnamon Dough Day: Thurs, 12/19 from 2:30-3:30pm - Come join us in the Milne Room to create and decorate holiday-themed dough ornaments. This event is open to all ages.

♟️Chess Club: Thurs, 12/19 from 4 to 5pm - Ages 7 to 13 are invited to the Children’s Room to play Chess! Players of all levels welcome- no prior experience required.

📖 Holiday Reading of Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory: Thurs, 12/19 at 5:30pm - Library Director Kristin invites us to share some tea, cookies, and good cheer as we read through this short story. You can pre-read if you like or just come to listen as Kristin will be reading aloud along with anyone who wants join in.

🔈 Great Friday Night Listen: Fri, 12/20 from 5-6pm - This program is about relaxing and listening. This month’s program is “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” recorded by the author Dylan Thomas. Light refreshments will be served.

⛄️ Sugar-on-Snow Party: Sat, 12/21 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the York Branch. All ages are invited to join us at 134 Mill Street in East Barre for live music, games, sugar on snow, and other treats!

This week’s events at Aldrich Public Library!
🧱 Lego Club: Weds, 12/18 from 4-5:30pm - Ages 4-12 are invited to the Milne Room to test their creativity with LEGO challenges.

🎄Cinnamon Dough Day: Thurs, 12/19 from 2:30-3:30pm - Come join us in the Milne Room to create and decorate holiday-themed dough ornaments. This event is open to all ages.

♟️Chess Club: Thurs, 12/19 from 4 to 5pm - Ages 7 to 13 are invited to the Children’s Room to play Chess! Players of all levels welcome- no prior experience required.

📖 Holiday Reading of Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory: Thurs, 12/19 at 5:30pm - Library Director Kristin invites us to share some tea, cookies, and good cheer as we read through this short story. You can pre-read if you like or just come to listen as Kristin will be reading aloud along with anyone who wants join in.

🔈 Great Friday Night Listen: Fri, 12/20 from 5-6pm - This program is about relaxing and listening. This month’s program is “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” recorded by the author Dylan Thomas. Light refreshments will be served.

⛄️ Sugar-on-Snow Party: Sat, 12/21 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the York Branch. All ages are invited to join us at 134 Mill Street in East Barre for live music, games, sugar on snow, and other treats!

Happy Giving Tuesday! Please help us have a successful Annual Appeal by donating to us (link in bio).

From Storytime to Senior Day, through challenging catastrophic floods and the joyful celebrations of Barre Pride and the Heritage Festival, your contributions enable us to serve our community effectively. We have so many goals ahead including renovating our Vermont Room, adding more furniture to gather, meet, and read, and improving lighting in the building. We hope you will renew your support for a future that is filled with the best Barre has to offer- opportunity, promise, and BOOKS!

Happy Giving Tuesday! Please help us have a successful Annual Appeal by donating to us (link in bio).

From Storytime to Senior Day, through challenging catastrophic floods and the joyful celebrations of Barre Pride and the Heritage Festival, your contributions enable us to serve our community effectively. We have so many goals ahead including renovating our Vermont Room, adding more furniture to gather, meet, and read, and improving lighting in the building. We hope you will renew your support for a future that is filled with the best Barre has to offer- opportunity, promise, and BOOKS!

No Tricks! ALL TREATS! A letter from Library Director Kristin Baumann:

October marks my one-year anniversary at the Aldrich, and I’m thrilled to reflect on a year filled with accomplishments and victories! Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to the library and for every opportunity I've had to connect with you.

A friend once reminded me that it wasn’t just luck that brought me to this role as library director; it was hard work and dedication. She was right, and I still feel incredibly fortunate!

I am inspired by the generous support the Barre community offers to the Aldrich. I am motivated by the role the library plays every day helping residents with the challenges they face. I am proud of our staff and everything they have achieved during their time here.

I look forward to collaborating with them as we continue the traditions of the Aldrich Public Library while also pushing ourselves to reach further, increase our impact, strengthen our community, and enhance your joy.

This past year, I dedicated myself to learning as much as possible about Barre and doing my best in this role. I’m excited to discover even more ways for the Aldrich Public Library to welcome you into this beautiful historic gem and experience public librarianship at its finest.

See you at the library!
Kristin Baumann, Director

No Tricks! ALL TREATS! A letter from Library Director Kristin Baumann:

October marks my one-year anniversary at the Aldrich, and I’m thrilled to reflect on a year filled with accomplishments and victories! Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to the library and for every opportunity I've had to connect with you.

A friend once reminded me that it wasn’t just luck that brought me to this role as library director; it was hard work and dedication. She was right, and I still feel incredibly fortunate!

I am inspired by the generous support the Barre community offers to the Aldrich. I am motivated by the role the library plays every day helping residents with the challenges they face. I am proud of our staff and everything they have achieved during their time here.

I look forward to collaborating with them as we continue the traditions of the Aldrich Public Library while also pushing ourselves to reach further, increase our impact, strengthen our community, and enhance your joy.

This past year, I dedicated myself to learning as much as possible about Barre and doing my best in this role. I’m excited to discover even more ways for the Aldrich Public Library to welcome you into this beautiful historic gem and experience public librarianship at its finest.

See you at the library!
Kristin Baumann, Director

“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” - Jorge Luis Borges

“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” - Jorge Luis Borges

The Aldrich Public Library will be closed on Saturday, October 12 and Monday, October 14 in observance of Indigenous People's Day weekend. When we reopen on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, we will now open at 10 a.m. every weekday at the Main Branch!! See our full hours for the Main Branch in the graphic below.

The Aldrich Public Library will be closed on Saturday, October 12 and Monday, October 14 in observance of Indigenous People's Day weekend. When we reopen on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, we will now open at 10 a.m. every weekday at the Main Branch!! See our full hours for the Main Branch in the graphic below.

Thanks to federal funding, @vtafterschool, and the Vermont Youth Project, the library's Teen Lounge has been transformed with new furniture, decor, games, arts and crafts, and more! We will celebrate the transformation with a grand re-opening. Come for snacks, games, arts and crafts, showcase your talents at an open mic, and a special raffle to win a Nintendo Switch, Beats Headphones, an instant camera and more!

This space is truly made by youth, for youth -- and we are excited to unveil it to the community!

Thanks to federal funding, @vtafterschool, and the Vermont Youth Project, the library's Teen Lounge has been transformed with new furniture, decor, games, arts and crafts, and more! We will celebrate the transformation with a grand re-opening. Come for snacks, games, arts and crafts, showcase your talents at an open mic, and a special raffle to win a Nintendo Switch, Beats Headphones, an instant camera and more!

This space is truly made by youth, for youth -- and we are excited to unveil it to the community!

Fiddler Scott Campbell playing at Porchfest at our York Branch in East Barre!

Fiddler Scott Campbell playing at Porchfest at our York Branch in East Barre!

What a great Heritage Festival weekend we had! Library staff marched in the parade for the first time since before the pandemic. We were all dressed as various book characters. Can you guess which ones?

What a great Heritage Festival weekend we had! Library staff marched in the parade for the first time since before the pandemic. We were all dressed as various book characters. Can you guess which ones?

The Friends of the Library book sale is currently open on the Library Lawn! Stop by until 5pm today, Friday the 26th or from 8am-1pm on Saturday the 27th. Thousands of gently used books at rock bottom prices!! Also, stop by and purchase a bag from the @barresocialclub. All proceeds benefit the library. Buy a bag and fill it with as many books that you can fit!!

The Friends of the Library book sale is currently open on the Library Lawn! Stop by until 5pm today, Friday the 26th or from 8am-1pm on Saturday the 27th. Thousands of gently used books at rock bottom prices!! Also, stop by and purchase a bag from the @barresocialclub. All proceeds benefit the library. Buy a bag and fill it with as many books that you can fit!!

We were so happy to welcome Congresswoman @beccabalintvt to the library to discuss the MEND Act- the Mental Health Emergency Needs In Disaster Act. Thank you to Becca and all of the other local officials who visited the library to discuss this important subject for our community.

We were so happy to welcome Congresswoman @beccabalintvt to the library to discuss the MEND Act- the Mental Health Emergency Needs In Disaster Act. Thank you to Becca and all of the other local officials who visited the library to discuss this important subject for our community.

Come learn about seeds through stories, crafts, and hands-on fun. FREE for kids, families and gardeners of all ages! Seeds to share by High Mowing Organic Seeds and American Meadows. If you have seeds to swap, please bring them in labeled packets. Story to start at 11 a.m.

Come learn about seeds through stories, crafts, and hands-on fun. FREE for kids, families and gardeners of all ages! Seeds to share by High Mowing Organic Seeds and American Meadows. If you have seeds to swap, please bring them in labeled packets. Story to start at 11 a.m.

Barre Rotary members are taking advantage of this sunny day to measure the library lawn for tents for the Heritage Festival in July. It takes a lot of work to put this community event together and we are so grateful for their hard work!

Barre Rotary members are taking advantage of this sunny day to measure the library lawn for tents for the Heritage Festival in July. It takes a lot of work to put this community event together and we are so grateful for their hard work!

The Aldrich Public Library is "On Tap" for Lawson's Finest Liquids Sunshine Fund. To celebrate National Library Week, from April 16-30, The Aldrich will receive 50% of guest donations (the other half will go to other local libraries). Lawson's Finest provides their staff with a livable wage and generous benefit package, therefore 100% of guest donations to the Sunshine Fund will benefit local charitable endeavors. Be sure to make a day trip down to Lawson's Finest location at 155 Carroll Rd in Waitsfield between April 16-April 30 to support the library and have a fun excursion with others!

The Aldrich Public Library is "On Tap" for Lawson's Finest Liquids Sunshine Fund. To celebrate National Library Week, from April 16-30, The Aldrich will receive 50% of guest donations (the other half will go to other local libraries). Lawson's Finest provides their staff with a livable wage and generous benefit package, therefore 100% of guest donations to the Sunshine Fund will benefit local charitable endeavors. Be sure to make a day trip down to Lawson's Finest location at 155 Carroll Rd in Waitsfield between April 16-April 30 to support the library and have a fun excursion with others!

Our phone lines are down, but we will be open from 11am-6pm today at the Main Branch. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our phone lines are down, but we will be open from 11am-6pm today at the Main Branch. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Due to an overwhelming amount of donations, we are unable to take any more books due to lack of storage. Thank you to everyone for your donations and we'll see you at the Friends of the Library's Spring Book Sale on Friday, April 26 from 11-5 and Saturday, April 27 from 10-1.

Due to an overwhelming amount of donations, we are unable to take any more books due to lack of storage. Thank you to everyone for your donations and we'll see you at the Friends of the Library's Spring Book Sale on Friday, April 26 from 11-5 and Saturday, April 27 from 10-1.

Push pin poetry in the Teen Room for National Poetry Month! Grades 7-12: come on down and write a line or two!!

Push pin poetry in the Teen Room for National Poetry Month! Grades 7-12: come on down and write a line or two!!

The library during the eclipse at approximately 3:27pm- what a fun afternoon on the lawn!!

The library during the eclipse at approximately 3:27pm- what a fun afternoon on the lawn!!

The Aldrich Library will be holding an eclipse-viewing party for all ages. Come at 2pm to learn how about solar science and eclipse-viewing safety. Bring along a cereal box if you would like to learn how to make a pinhole projector to safely view the eclipse. Today is a great day to be out on the Library Lawn to enjoy this unique event. Please note that we have very limited numbers of solar eclipse glasses left to hand out.

The Aldrich Library will be holding an eclipse-viewing party for all ages. Come at 2pm to learn how about solar science and eclipse-viewing safety. Bring along a cereal box if you would like to learn how to make a pinhole projector to safely view the eclipse. Today is a great day to be out on the Library Lawn to enjoy this unique event. Please note that we have very limited numbers of solar eclipse glasses left to hand out.

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