BRATTLEBORO-Julie Perrin has been named the new director of Brooks Memorial Library.
Perrin, who has spent the past nine years leading the Jaffrey (New Hampshire) Public Library, brings extensive experience in library program development, grant writing, and operations management. She will replace outgoing director Starr LaTronica, who is retiring, starting Monday, May 11.
Asked why she wanted the job here, Perrin told The Commons she enjoyed meeting library staff members and town department heads when she visited.
“They seem to be a dedicated and compassionate team of public servants, and I look forward to working with them,” she said. “I’m eager to hear from the community about what they love about Brooks and their ideas for the future, and am really excited about working together.”
“We’re excited to have someone with Julie’s clear passion and original thought to pick up the thread and help write the next chapter at Brooks Memorial Library,” said Brattleboro Town Manager John Potter.
He described her “an experienced leader with a proven track record that includes efficient management, capital fundraising, and facility project management, which is especially important as Brooks undergoes renovations over the next year.”
A lifelong New Englander, last fall Perrin and her husband made a 200-year-old farmhouse here their “forever home.”
“I have had chickens for nearly 30 years and am enjoying the beautiful peace and quiet of rural Vermont,” Perrin told The Commons.
A diverse and future-focused vision
When she was first hired at the Jaffrey Public Library, Perrin was essentially asked to bring a traditional institution into the 21st century.
Part of that work involved expanding the scope of literacy to include not only reading and writing skills, but also to provide opportunities for patrons to become well-versed in a host of other subjects, including technology, finance, science, health, and the environment.
In 2020, Perrin was named Library Director of the Year by the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association for being among the first directors to develop a robust pandemic policy during the Covid outbreak. Shared widely with the Association’s membership, that policy became a model throughout the state.
In the ensuing years, Perrin has initiated numerous learning opportunities that range from coding classes for children to personalized, one-on-one assistance for older adults needing help with online forms.
“Public libraries not only enhance the social and economic vitality of a community but also serve as a safety net for our most vulnerable populations,” Perrin said. “As the biggest library in southeastern Vermont, Brooks has an amazing opportunity to continue building a lasting positive impact, both for Brattleboro and other rural communities throughout the region.”
A good fit
Brattleboro’s Human Resources Director Sally Cruz Nix said of the 22 applicants in the competitive hiring process, all stakeholders felt Perrin was the leader who most aligned with the values and culture of the community here.
Jennifer Rowe, Brooks Memorial Library Board of Trustees treasurer and a member of the hiring team, said Perrin stood out not only for her enthusiasm for Brattleboro, but also due to her diverse skill set.
“Julie has a background in developing imaginative, compelling activities and offerings at the library, and has experience in reaching out to the community and collaborating with different entities in town,” said Rowe.
For example, under Perrin’s leadership, the Jaffrey Public Library focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programming, which was bolstered by a local manufacturing company that provided money for science education.
While Perrin found science intimidating as a youth, she said working with local scientists opened her eyes to the way the subject can introduce children to the natural world.
“I’ve focused on being a strong community collaborator, which I think is an essential function for this position at Brooks,” Perrin said, “especially since Brattleboro is teeming with wonderful community members, organizations, and groups to partner with.”
In her farewell letter to folks at Jaffrey, where she was known as “Ms. Julie,” Perrin wrote that “librarians have the honor of sharing in the heart of a community.”
“As a librarian, a good day in the library is busy and full, knowing our work made a difference in someone’s life today,” she wrote. “Our goal each day is to leave the library and the community better than we found it the day before, and I am proud of all we have accomplished together here in Jaffrey.”
Asked about the role of libraries in today’s AI world, Perrin said that role has “changed dramatically in practice while staying true to our core mission.”
“Libraries are now and have always been centers for lifelong learning. The key to a strong future for libraries is to think beyond the books and redefine literacy for a modern age to include not only traditional literacy but also technological and digital literacy, health literacy, financial literacy and eco-literacy,” she told The Commons.
“Libraries create stronger communities by supporting all their citizens and being a free and accessible space for everyone to come together to learn and connect in a safe, respectful environment,” Perrin said. “A vibrant library is one where you hear many languages, serve every generation, and celebrate diversity.”
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.