Ilsley leaders hoping boiler will hold on

Ilsley Public Library officials are withdrawing their request for a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for the building, in view of a major rise in project cost estimates and the conundrum of where to relocate services while the work is being done.

The Addison County Republicans next week will host an event promoted as the “Gun Rights in Vermont” briefing in Middlebury.

Libraries often reflect, directly and in real time, societal shifts. So while it is true that we aren’t having as many large and raucous gatherings in our Community Meeting Room, other library uses are skyrocketing.

Anyone who writes a good deal knows that it can be an isolating experience. And writer’s isolation was creeping up on me as I got deeply to work on my most recent book, which deals with organizational turbulence.

Middlebury officials have agreed to jumpstart a dormant effort to improve and expand the Ilsley Public Library, whose deficiencies have become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the first year we have worked with the Friends of the Ilsley Public library book sale. Barbara is a new board member and together we offered to set up, take down and generally help with the book sale on the Town Hall plaza.It was a joy to watch v … (read more)

The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival has delivered its most recent installment of “alumni donated” films to the MNFF Collection at Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury. This year, the Festival was pleased to deliver 55 films to the library from its 5th A … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library is beginning a new, post-COVID chapter this month that Ilsley Director Dana Hart believes will boost access to the library’s growing collection of materials.Changes include the abolition of late fees (and am … (read more)

A friend asked me recently what I do to get a break from the demands of my everyday life: from the constant noise, mess, decision-making, and physical labor involved in parenting (and homeschooling) five children — with a husband and a bunch of animals th … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The time just seemed right. Downtown Middlebury was re-opening after the railroad tunnel project, the longtime gardener at The Ilsley Library, Anna Benson had decided to retire, and the front gardens at the library cried out for a facelift.Ba … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — The Bixby Memorial Free Library will reopen with limited capacity starting next Tuesday, May 18. The move comes as Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library has just opened its stacks for limited browsing and Lawrence Memorial Library plans its … (read more)

Bram Allen is eight years old and he loves horror. “I think it’s because I was born in October, and that’s when all the scary stuff happens,” he explained. When Bram learned recently that Mary Shelley only wrote Frankenstein because she and her friends we … (read more)

I would like to express my deep and continuous gratitude for the people and institution of the Ilsley Public Library. In pre-pandemic days, the library was a haven and frequent stop for my daughter and me. We came for books, of course, but also for the cr … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Ilsley Public Library is offering a free four-week course, “Writing for Work,” beginning Tuesday, Nov. 3 and continuing on Nov. 10, Nov. 17, and Dec. 1. Instructor David Weinstock has designed the course for those who write as part of their j … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Local beekeeper Ross Conrad will present a talk on his new book, “The Land of Milk and Honey: A History of Beekeeping in Vermont,” which he co-authored with Bill Mares, on Thursday, March 19, from 6:30-8 p.m., in the Community Room at Ilsley … (read more)