Ilsley advocates resume repair efforts

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)

MIDDLEBURY — With elections fresh in our minds from Town Meeting Day, the Middlebury Community Classic Film Club will host its second film in the spring series on Tuesday, March 10. “The Candidate” (1972) will screen at 6 p.m. in the Isley Library’s Commu … (read more)

Thank you for your excellent coverage of the Ilsley trustees’ recent decision to pursue a less expensive path for our upcoming renovation. We are excited to be moving ahead again after hiring a superb new director, Dana Hart, and allowing her time to join … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Everyone interested in reducing the amount of plastic in our environment — and anyone else who uses disposable plastics in Vermont — is invited to a program called “A Campaign to Stop Single Use Plastics: A Forum on Next Steps in Combating Pl … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The Ilsley Library Board of Trustees on Monday voted to drop a $9.6-million renovation-and-expansion plan for the historic library building at 75 Main St. and instead explore other designs to address the institution’s space, configuration and … (read more)