Brooks Memorial Library Launches Online Directory, Access Brattleboro Community
Brooks Memorial Library is launching a new public resource, Access Brattleboro Community (ABC), a comprehensive online directory of local organizations and projects that promote quality of life in the Brattleboro area. The directory goes live today, April 20, 2026, to coincide with National Library Week, which celebrates the vital role libraries play in transforming lives and strengthening communities.
For years, Brooks Memorial Library has served the community by maintaining and distributing an annually updated print resource guide. ABC is designed to modernize this effort, providing a more easily searchable and up-to-date online platform for patrons seeking local assistance and information.
“We want the ABC Directory to be a first stop to discover all of the organizations and services that help our community thrive,” said Information Services Librarian Jeanne Walsh. “Even at this early stage, ABC contains a nice variety of resources large and small, formal and informal.”
ABC is the result of a collaborative effort with numerous community organizations that have partnered with the library to create detailed profiles. These profiles list essential information, including websites and contact details. Organizations will be able to edit and update their information directly, ensuring accuracy for users.
Users of the platform will be able to search by keywords or categories. Simply clicking the search button will point the public to every entry in the directory.
“The mission of BML is to connect people and resources to inspire, inform, and empower our diverse community,” said Library Director Starr LaTronica. “Libraries are committed to gathering, organizing, and disseminating information, and we recognize that the wide array of good work being done by a remarkable panoply of agencies, organizations, and institutions comprises one of most valuable resources of this community. This project is the result of the perseverance and technical troubleshooting of Brooks’ staff, resulting in a platform that’s simple to use for both the public and the organizations looking to share information about their services.”
She said the project first took shape through the work of Beth Johnson, who joined the library a few years ago through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Johnson gathered data on local organizations and created a database that was instrumental in drafting an early version of the print resource guide. From there, a core team of library staff developed and tested the online directory.
LaTronica said library staff frequently receive requests for help, referrals, and information about local services, and ABC will serve as a definitive guide, helping staff members more effectively direct these conversations and connect patrons with the resources they need.
Local agencies and organizations are encouraged to sign up and create a listing in the directory by visiting brookslibraryvt.org/abc-sign-up. For more information about creating a profile, Brooks has published a detailed guide for users at brookslibraryvt.org/abc-faqs.
The community is encouraged to visit the Access Brattleboro Community directory from the Brooks Memorial Library website at brookslibraryvt.org/communityabc.
Copies of the print resource guide are distributed at the library, and a PDF version is available on the ABC directory.