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Where The Books Are Now
A podcast about Vermont's Public Libraries. In each episode we visit with library staff from one public library in Vermont and learn about its history and some of the awesome resources for the community (Did you know many public libraries lend more than books? You can find snowshoes, telescopes, tables and chairs, fishing poles, portable scanners and laminators, cake pans, games, and more). But we don't forget about books and in every episode we'll give you a few of our book recommendations. These are not your grandma's libraries! **Update** WTBAnow is on a recording hiatus for a few months. We hope to be back recording in January of 2025. Stay tuned!
Where The Books Are Now
Episode 10 - Bennington Free Library - Bennington VT
In today's episode, I chat with Wendy Sharkey, Library Director at the Bennington Free Library in Bennington, VT. Bennington is located in southwestern Vermont. Wendy told me the library has been operating in the same location for 160 years (as of next year)! The library began as a gentleman's reading club. In 1936 a new library building was built right next door, and over time it became too small, so a connector was constructed between the original library and the newer building. The current library operates in both buildings and the connector.
Wendy also told me about the Memory Book collection geared toward caregivers of people with memory issues. Each kit contains 6 books and is available through interlibrary loan as well. The Bennington Library of Things collection includes snowshoes, a pass to a local ski resort, a telescope, and more. Every spring the library hosts a craft supplies swap which is very popular and they have started a new sewing program.
I had a lot of fun sharing book recommendations with Wendy. She shared a picture book that asks the question, "Can pizza save your life?" and two delightful mystery books featuring an elderly lady. The non-fiction book Wendy highly recommends is about the 1921 Tulsa race massacre.
The two books I recommended for episode 10 are both novels and both have a woman as the main character, one is in a relationship with bread, and the other is maybe, don't know, possibly in a relationship with another woman. At least everyone around them thinks so.
Thanks for listening! Show notes for all episodes and all the books we talk about can be found at https://www.wherethebooksarenow.com/ and please visit us at Facebook for more Vermont public library tidbits. If you would like your Vermont library to be featured on an episode of WTBAnow, please use the contact information on the website or send a Facebook message!
