The Brookfield Citizen

Brenda Metterville

Usually in this space, I offer up a smorgasbord of services and events available at your public library. But I would like to present a different slant this month… along with the usual variety.

What is a public library, and where are we going? What is your, the Town of Brookfield taxpayers’ and patrons’, library moving toward? The onset of the 21st century has introduced a remarkable number of technological advances which has introduced a database of confusion and ease to information that changes every 10 minutes.

My remarkably sporadic presence at the library may concern the few (or more) who don’t realize I’ve been attending Fitchburg State College full-time for the past two and half years as a non-traditional student. The goal is to graduate this coming May! And what a mission—this wasn’t a whimsy decision but based on the requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners standards and the law. Library directors in towns with population below 10,000 must have a bachelor’s degree.

The Library Trustees applied for and received a five-year waiver, in order for us to maintain our certification (this expires 2007). This certification allows numerous benefits including Inter-Library Loan, INFOTRAC, State Aid and many other benefits that equal or exceed the annual budget the library is allocated each year from the town. So, on with the education! And how can you, the taxpayer, benefit?

First and foremost, I do not plan on leaving my position as Library Director in the town of Brookfield. Second, this educational opportunity presented an array of fascinating subjects which can only benefit and enhance the library’s reference services! I am first to acknowledge we live in a world with a “fast food” mentality. The circumstance of attending college has only strengthened my dedication to providing intelligent and capable services at your public library.
Please call the library at (508) 867-6339 for more information about the:

Banister Book Group—meets the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Lap Sit for Moms, Caretakers, and Infants—every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
Home Delivery—every Friday (temporary or year-round), sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Read previous columns from the Library