THE BIXBY BULLETIN

April 2025

First and foremost, we are so grateful that voters approved funding for the Bixby Library at last month's town meetings. These funds, together with your donations to the annual appeal, spring fundraiser, and the Friends of the Bixby plant and book sales, help us continue to serve all members of our community. 

I also appreciate those of you who have reached out in support of the Bixby, given the news about the Trump Administration’s Executive Order to defund the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences, the sole federal agency who provides grants and resources to small and rural libraries across the country. One visible impact would be on our much-loved interlibrary loan service, which allows us to borrow books from other libraries when we don’t have them in our collection. We will keep you posted as we learn how these changes will affect us.

For those of you who would like to take action, the Vermont Library Association has developed this list of some simple and meaningful ways to get involved.

In the meantime, the seed library is sprouting, more student field trips are on the calendar, librarians have curated sumptuous book displays to spark your reading interest, preschool artists’ artworks grace the Children’s Room walls, and we remain committed to our vital role in the lives of our five-town community members.

With gratitude,

Catharine Hays

Library Director

Every shelf, story, and smile at the Bixby is touched by the hands of volunteers. From staffing the circulation desk to organizing book sales, preserving historical collections, and keeping our building beautiful, volunteers are essential to every part of what we do. Their time, energy, and dedication allow us to be the welcoming space our community relies on.

As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week April 20th through 26th, please join us in giving a heartfelt thank you for their generosity and hard work. We are endlessly grateful for all the ways our volunteers bring joy to the Bixby.

A strong community starts with listening, but it doesn't end there. That's why the American Library Association visited the Bixby to develop a case study about the processes and outcomes of our Libraries Transforming Communities Accessibility Grant.

We’re grateful for this opportunity to share our story and for the thoughtful research by Knology, a non-profit organization that studies social change. Photos by Caleb Kenna beautifully capture the heart of Bixby and the people who make it special.

Click here to read the case study on the American Library Association’s website.

Thanks to a wonderful collaboration with local school librarians, the Bixby Library welcomed two classes for a pair of memorable visits in March. First, 4th and 5th graders joined us for an author talk with Lora Senf. The talk—full of curious questions and sparks of inspiration—marked the culmination of a unit led by school librarians Amy Foley (VUES) and Erin Ackerman (FCS).

Then, a group of eager VUES kindergarteners and their teachers joined us for a walking field trip. We began in the lobby, where we marveled at the stained-glass dome, then wound our way through the stacks and ventured upstairs to examine exhibits from our Local History Collections. We concluded with a Storytime connected to their school project, an illustrated book about what they want to be when they grow up.

We are so grateful to provide a space for exploration and imagination at the Bixby Library.

For years, local educator Josh Brooks has brought the Bixby's historical collections to life, inspiring curiosity for the past. Now, Josh returns to the Bixby Library to read from his self-published book, Anunnaki Tales: The Gods, Goddesses, and Kings of Ancient Sumer. Illustrator Jason Fearon will provide insights into his artistic process and the visual storytelling behind the book.

Join us on Thursday, April 17th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM to uncover the myths of the world’s first urban civilization. You can attend this event in person, in the comfy couches of the Bixby's Community Room, or join us from home via Zoom.

Cedar Winslow, Community Engagement Manager

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Bixby Library opened its doors to readers of all ages in 1912, the same year that, The Secret Garden found a spot on the shelves. This dear little book offers an approachable glimpse into the sensibilities of that era, enjoyable for children and adults alike. The narrative beautifully explores growth, both personal and natural, through acts of nurturing and shared experience. The story celebrates the individual journey of self-discovery and understanding, emphasizing that realizations bloom in their own time. Ultimately, it underscores the power of collective imagination, suggesting we achieve far more together.

We invite folks of all ages to check out a copy at the circulation desk, and enjoy a discussion of the book at The Secret Garden Book Club on April 22nd from 6-7PM.

Catharine Hays, Library Director

Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell

Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell was just acquired by the Bixby and what a great read! Each of the short, 5-8 page chapters covers a different endangered mammal, and provides the reader with quirky traits and behaviors that most of us wouldn’t know. Though written for an adult, my grandkids found the information pretty fascinating, too. Did you know that a seahorse’s jaw is not hinged? It is stuck together. So how do they eat? Seahorses eat by vacuuming food through their snouts. Who knew?

Vanishing Treasures is a perfect book for most anyone reader, so well written by Rundell that it feels like a poem at times. Enjoy!

Anonymous, Bixby Volunteer

In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

"Once upon a holocaust, there were three butterflies."

In the Time of the Butterflies hits differently when read it in early 2025. The story of the Mirabel sisters, their depth, bravery, and challenges as they square off against the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, still comes through. But reading today, I see the background players more. The changing allegiance of their father over time. The enablers behind the Trujillo regime, and the pandering by even the most courageous to achieve their own ends. And the fear at the heart of the regime's opponents, who did not have the courage or the resources to speak out. For a book that's now more than 30 years old, it's incredibly timely.

Mike Winslow, Bixby Volunteer

Questions or comments on this month's newsletter?

Contact Bixby Bulletin Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Winslow.

Library Hours:

Tuesday–Thursday: 10 AM–7 PM

Friday–Saturday: 10 AM–3 PM

(802) 877-2211

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