Fairfax Community Library

Where Community Connects! ¡Donde la comunidad se conecta! Là où la communauté se connecte!

Open Monday & Wednesday 10-6 | Tuesday & Thursday 10-5 | Friday 10-4 | Saturday 9-1
Auxiliary Library at the Fairfax Town Offices: Thursday 10-5

About

The Fairfax Community Library (the Library)
is a dynamic and welcoming space.

The Library is a department of the Town of Fairfax, Vermont, funded by residents’ taxes.

Page Contents: Staff | History | Strategic Plan | Policies & Procedures | Vermont Statute on Library Confidentiality | Closures

Mission

The Fairfax Community Library (the Library) serves ​the people of Fairfax, Vermont, as well as the students, faculty, and staff of Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax (BFA-Fairfax) in finding knowledge, enrichment, and entertainment through reading and other means of intellectual growth.

The Library offers our Patrons and Community diverse and engaging Collections, Services, Programs, and Literacy Resources to accomplish these goals.

Staff

Public Library
Sue Wade, Public Library Director
Elizabeth LaRosa, Public Library Assistant & Program Planner
Lara Bessette, Public Library Assistant
Noelle Letteri, Library Sub

School Library​
Joy Mercer, School Librarian
Penny Aceto, School Library Assistant
Maegan Garrett, School Library Assistant

History

The Library opened as a combined school and public library in 1973, when the Fairfax Free Library was invited to move into a renovated section of the then-BFA-Fairfax Elementary School. Joining with the High School library and the town Historical Society library, it became known as the Fairfax Community Library.

In 2023, the Library celebrated our 50th anniversary! We look forward to many more years of supporting and connecting with our public, school, Homecard Library System patrons, and wider library communities.

Strategic Plan

What does the Library hope to accomplish in the next few years? View our public library Strategic Plan.​

Policies & Procedures

The Library is structured and guided by these policies:

Vermont Statute on Library Confidentiality

Confidentiality of patrons’ records is supported by the Joint Board and staff in compliance with state law (22 VSA section 172) and federal law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)).

A number code shall be assigned when a borrower registers, which shall be used to sign-out and hold circulating Library materials. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of Library users shall be strictly confidential. Circulation and other records identifying Library users and the Library materials they use are confidential in nature. Such records are not normally available to any agency or individual.

Those who make inquiries for such information, including police, FBI, CIA, or similar law enforcement agency or personnel should be informed that:

  1. The inquiry for such information should be directed to the Town Attorney, who will rule on the legal necessity for disclosure, based upon the showing of good cause, and so inform the Librarian.
  2. The Library staff is not empowered to make such information available until such time as they have received direct authorization from the Town Attorney or a Court Order.
  3. If there is a Court Order or a subpoena, legal advice should be sought from the Town Attorney or from the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF).
  4. If the Court Order is in the form of a search warrant, it is executable immediately.  Ask for legal counsel to be available to assure the search conforms to the terms of the search warrant.
  5. If the Court Order is in the form of a search warrant issued under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (USA Patriot Act amendment):​
    ​a. Request legal counsel to be available.
    b. Respect “gag order,” i.e. the Library staff cannot disclose that a warrant has been served or that records have been produced.
    c. The Library and its staff must comply with this order. 

(State of Vermont)

Closures

Inclement Weather

In inclement weather, the Library closes at the discretion of staff.

If BFA-Fairfax closes due to inclement weather, the Library also closes.

We will post information about inclement weather closures on our Facebook page.

Holidays Observed