Library 60: Warren Public Library

Richard Nixon's illegitimate son

Library 60! The Warren Public Libary was the 60th stop on my quest to read, write, and knit in as many of Vermont’s public libraries as I can during my sabbatical.

• I read: the conclusion of my manuscript

• I wrote: a note for a friend (and some edits to that conclusion)

• I knit: a parkside hat for Elena

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I visited this library on April 26, 2024.

This town-hall-turned-library was quieter than usual today because the local school is on break. It would normally be swarming with youth at this time, but today it was so silent the only sound we could hear was the 3D printer, printing a pencil case.

Have you ever spent time in a quiet library where the only noise is a 3D printer? It’s creepy. I mean, not like “this library was built of old coffin wood” creepy (Oh hey Lawrence Memorial Library), but still creepy. It was an apt metaphor for the paradox of many small town Vermont libraries: old buildings; new ideas.

Speaking of libraries, I just today learned about a new podcast Where The Books Are Now which features one Vermont public library per episode. This is named after “Where the Books Are,” a book published in 1995 by a librarian from the Aldrich Public Library who embarked on a similar quest 30 years ago to visit every public library in Vermont. She wrote a short historical blurb about each library and included one black and white photo of the exterior. My project is different from hers in that I am not writing about the history of the library, but rather how the library makes me feel and what it makes me think about during the visit and what I can learn about the town’s culture. It’s more autobiographical and ethnographic; less historical.

I listened to the podcast as soon as I got in the car. The first episode features Westford Public Library (my 37th) and their celebrated librarian Bree. Hearing the librarians talk about their libraries in their own voices one of the best thing about this project, and something I am unable to capture in writing.

This was my first time in Warren, and I am not familiar with its personality. The librarian reported: Small town, second homes, great library, famous parade.

Famous parade?

In July each year, 10K people commute to watch the Warren town parade. This is a big deal in Vermont (population ~640K). In California (population of 39.5 million) this would be the equivalent of 645K people showing up to a small town event.

Why do so many people show up to this parade? The primary reason is that anyone can show up minutes before the parade begins, get in line, and march.

The librarians lead the parade each year as the “Book Cart Drill Team.” If my only contribution to the world through this project is encouraging people to understand what a book cart drill team looks like in Vermont, I will call that a success. Here is another example, which is just so wholesome and charming. And another.

In case you don’t care to watch the videos, a book cart drill team typically features about 3-5 librarians, each with a decorated book cart, dancing in a choreographed pattern, stopping occasionally to bang on their cards and chant things like “STOP THE BOOK BANS” and “SAVE INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM.” It’s Vermont at its best.

The parade is also famous for the creative costumes, giant puppets, clever political and social messaging, and celebrations of Vermont’s quirky culture and personality. The volunteer working at the library today (also a knitter) told me of one notable parade character who once walked the parade with a beer can in one hand, a joint in the other, no shirt, and a sign hanging from his shoulders that read “Richard Nixon’s illegitimate son.”

Vermont: you are so weird. Please never change.

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