BRANDON — The Brandon Public Library will be forced to close from Aug. 6-16th due to staffing shortages caused by threats issued to their staff.
During the closure, the Rutland Free Library will extend borrowing privileges to members of BFPL. Brandon library users will be allowed to borrow books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs from Rutland for the duration of the closure as if Rutland was their home library.
Brandon Director Molly Kennedy said having the option is a relief.
“Our temporary closure stings a little less because of the generosity of our friends at Rutland Free Library,” she said. “We deeply appreciate Rutland’s support of the Brandon community as they make available to us their library collection. It’s moments like these when we get to see that our community exists beyond our borders, and we are grateful to our library community that rises up to help us meet the challenges we face.”
The library director in Rutland, Randal Smathers, said he had been looking for a way to help since he heard about the threats.
“Everyone at Rutland Free Library deplores the situation Brandon is in,” Smathers said. “Ensuring library access for Brandon’s patrons during this unwelcome closure was the best way to support the staff at Brandon Public Library.
“Libraries need to be safe spaces for everyone, starting with staff members and including the public. We stand behind Director Molly Kennedy and the entire staff of Brandon Public Library in hopes of a quick resolution to this problem.”
Beginning Saturday, August 6, borrowers will simply need to produce identification showing they are eligible to borrow items from Brandon in order to take out items in Rutland. Once borrowed, items can be returned to either library. Rutland forgives all fines for overdue items on return, so there will be no issue with items going beyond their due date in transit.
For more information, contact Molly Kennedy at Molly@brandonpubliclibrary.org or Randal Smathers at randal@rutlandfree.org or 802-683-9778.
