• LIBRARY CLOSED 5/22!

    The Library will be closed all day on Tuesday May 22nd for staff training. Sorry for any inconvenience! We will be open again regular hours on Wednesday 5/23.

  • Reader’s Corner

    Reader’s Corner (which you can find in the left-hand menu, and the top menu) features all the resources you need about books in our library. There are links to InterLibrary Loan and a request form for new books and dvds. Check it out today!

  • THANK YOU!

    We want to thank the 5 communities who voted to continue funding the library this year: Tinmouth, Rutland Town, Rutland City, Mendon and Ira. THANK YOU for continuing to support the library and our work!

  • Get the library’s email newsletter

    Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox on the left side of this page. You can view the March newsletter by clicking here.

  • Borrowing eBooks

    Need help getting eBooks on your eReader? Find step-by-step guides on eReaders and helpful links on our Downloadable Media page.

  • Information about tax forms

    Please see the library’s tax forms page for information about tax forms in 2012.

  • eBooks, eReaders, and iPads – check them out!

    E-books are free to library card holders and downloadable from the library’s website (www.rutlandfree.org) Click on “Downloadable Audio” in the left-hand column and follow directions from there. Happy reading!

First Wednesdays

From October through May, join us the First Wednesday of the month at 7PM for a humanities lecture series curated by the Vermont Humanities Council. The program is sponsored locally by the Friends of the Rutland Free Library and Rutland Regional Medical Center

For a printable color schedule follow this link: FirstWednesdaySchedule2011-2012

Here are the details for this season:

October 5
Virtue and Vice: The World of Vermeer’s Women

Dartmouth professor Jane Carroll examines the stories of courtship,
seduction, and virtue portrayed and the encoded messages presented in
the works of seventeenth-century Dutch painter Jan Vermeer.

November 2
In Search of Nirvana: Rock-’n’-Roll Religion

George Dennis O’Brien, former president of Bucknell University and
the University of Rochester, examines the story of legendary grunge band
Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, which offers insight into the world of rock,
its promise, and its dangers.

December 7
War and the Soul:

Transforming Our Communities to Heal Our Veterans
Drawing on soldiers’ stories from World War I to Iraq, Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder expert Dr. Edward Tick discusses the deep damage
war does to the psyche and considers how communities can help
returning soldiers. Sponsor: Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic Community

January 4
What Makes a Classic Film?

Using clips from twelve of his favorite films, film expert Rick Winston
considers some of the elements of classic films from Hollywood’s
Golden Age, including writing, acting, direction, and cinematography.

February 1
Vermont’s State House at 150 Years

Vermont State Curator David Schütz explores the architectural, cultural,
and political significance of one of the nation’s oldest and best-preserved
capitol buildings.

March 7
The History of Herbal Medicine in America

Expert herbalist Rosemary Gladstar examines the early history of
herbalism in America and how herbs play a role in healthcare today.

April 4
Poetry’s Spiritual Language

Using the poetry of Dickinson, Kenyon, Rumi, and Kabir—poets from
diverse religious traditions—poet Nancy Jay Crumbine examines poetry’s
language of spirituality.

May 2
Horses Like Lightning:

A Story of Passage through the Himalayas
Dartmouth anthropologist Sienna Craig recounts her years spent living
in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Mustang, Nepal