Brown Public Library

THE BROWN PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCEPTS AS ITS MISSION THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND CULTURE. IT WILL CREATE AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE READING FOR CHILDREN, LIFE-LONG LEARNING FOR ADULTS AND ACCESS TO THE LATEST TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS. THE LIBRARY SUBSCRIBES TO AND SUPPORTS THE LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS AND ITS INTERPRETATIONS, PARTICULARLY ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SERVICES AND NETWORKS.

THE BROWN PUBLIC LIBRARY (BPL) IS PRIMARILY A LENDING LIBRARY. PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, THE BPL WAS CHECKING OUT ABOUT 1,800 ITEMS PER MONTH. THE BPL WAS CLOSED IN MID-MARCH 2020 AND ITEMS CHECKED OUT FELL TO ABOUT 1,200 PER MONTH. HOWEVER, THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR BEGAN A PROGRAM WHEREBY CUSTOMERS COULD REQUEST ITEMS BY TELEPHONE OR EMAIL. THE PATRONS COULD PICK UP THE ITEMS ON THE LIBRARY'S FRONT STEPS OR THE DIRECTOR WOULD DELIVER THEM TO THE CUSTOMER. THE DIRECTOR INSTITUTED PROCEDURES FOR CLEANING RETURNED ITEMS AND HOLDING THEM FOR 48 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING ITEMS TO THESHELVES. BPL STAFF WERE NOT FURLOUGHED OR HAD THEIR HOURS REDUCED DURING THE LOCKDOWN.

WITH THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, THE BROWN PUBLIC LIBRARY UNDERTOOK VARIOUS RENOVATION PROJECTS INCLUDING THE PAINTING OF THE INTERIOR, STAINING THE WOODWORK, CLEANING CARPETS AND SIMILAR TASKS.

THE BROWN PUBLIC LIBRARY YOUTH LIBRARIAN HOSTS A NUMBER OF EVENTS FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG CHILDREN. THESE INCLUDE A TEEN ADVISORY BOARD, A SUMMER READING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH, A BIWEEKLY STORY HOUR FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIX, A MONTHLY EVENT INVOLVING LEGOS, MAKING AND PAINTING BIRD HOUSES, PAJAMA PARTIES, PUMPKIN CARVING AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. THIS YEAR SHE INITIATED AN INFANT READING PROGRAM. WITH THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, SHE SWITCHED TO HAVING THE STORY HOUR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS OTHER EVENTS. THE YOUTH CHILDREN'S COLLECTIONS ARE CONSTANTLY UPGRADED.

COMPUTER ACCESS AND INTERNET ACCESS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BROWN PUBLIC LIBRARY (BPL). BPL HAS SIX COMPUTER SETUPS FOR PATRONS. IN A TYPICAL MONTH, 30 TO 50 PATRONS USE THE COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS. WITH THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ACCESS WAS NOT PERMITTED. HOWEVER, PATRONS COULD USE WIRELESS DEVICES. IF A PATRON NEEDED PRINTER COPIES, THEY WERE COLLECTED BY THE STAFF, SET IN A PAGE, AND DELIVERED TO THE FRONT STEPS SO THE PATRON COULD RETRIEVE THEM