Stowe Free Library

Directions

The Stowe Free Library is located in the historic Helen Day Memorial Building at the corner of Pond and School Streets in Stowe, just one block from Main Street (VT Route 100).

Hours

About the Collection

The Stowe Free Library houses approximately 25,000 book titles, 1,800 film titles, 1,400 audio books on cassette and CD, 200 music CDs, and more than 100 magazine, journal and newspaper subscriptions. Our Vermont Room is a resource area for Vermont and Stowe information and history.

For a full list of our magazine and newspaper subscriptions, please visit Our Magazine and Newspaper Collection.

Inter-Library Loans

As a participant in the Vermont Resource Sharing Network, the library encourages library users of all ages to utilize the free statewide inter-library loan service to request books, audio books, and films that are not in our collection, but may be found in another Vermont library. A minimum period of 1-2 weeks should be allowed for delivery.

Computers, Internet, and Wireless Access

The library offers ten computer work-stations that provide free public access to the Internet via a DSL connection.

• Five PCs are in the main part of the library, in our Vermont Room. All have word processing and spreadsheet software, either with Microsoft Word and Excel or Open Office. You may
  sign up for one 30-min. slot per day.
• Three MACs are in the children’s area for kindergarteners to eighth graders only (half-hour reserve)
• Students in seventh to twelfth grades may use one of our two Mac laptops, given to the Library through a Winnie Belle Learned grant to support computer access for homework and research.

Please sign up at the library (once daily) before using the computers or call ahead to check for available times (802) 253-6145.

The Library is a free Wi-Fi hotspot. Laptop users are responsible for their own connection to our network. Printing is not available from the wireless network. At this time, we do not lend laptops or wireless access cards.

Thanks to our local Internet service provider, Power Shift Online, for their support for library Internet services.

Using the Library

All residents and visitors are welcome to use the library. Browse the stacks, flip through a magazine, use our computers, feel free to ask our staff for help, and relax and soak up the atmosphere of our beautiful library.

Getting a Library Card

If you would like to borrow materials, you need a library card. Library membership is open to all. We offer two types of membership, each has full borrowing privileges.

• Free – With proof of a Stowe address. (e.g. driver’s license, voter registration, Grand List, recent bill, etc…). Homeowners, second homeowners, timeshare owners, and renters in Stowe are all eligible for a free card.
• Fee - Requires personal identification and a $10.00 annual fee per person. We welcome our users from Waterbury and Morrisville to sign up for a card and support the programs and materials of the Stowe Free Library. Children up to age 16 are able to obtain a free card regardless of their place of residence with a paid parent or guardian card.

Children that can write their own names are eligible to have their own card, as long as their parent or guardian also has a card. Parents are responsible for books checked out to any children under age 16; therefore, parents must sign the application for a child’s card.

Patrons 16 and over may obtain their own library card with proof of identification. Students from our surrounding communities aged 16 and over are eligible for free cards.

Borrowing Information

All materials may be renewed 2 times by phone or in person (providing the item is not on reserve for another library user).

Community Meeting Room

The Community Meeting Room is available for use by any community group. All meetings must be open to the public and should be of educational, cultural, or civic interest. No attendance fee may be charged. For information about booking our meeting room, please call the library at 253-6145.

Staff and Contact Information

Please see our Staff and Contact Information page.