1 2<!doctype html> 3<html lang="en-US" class="color_option_custom"> 4 <head> 5 <meta charset="utf-8"> 6 <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge"> 7 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> 8 <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> 9 10 <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https://yoast.com/product/yoast-seo-wordpress/ --> 11 <title>History - Brooks Free Library</title> 12 <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/history/" /> 13 <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> 14 <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> 15 <meta property="og:title" content="History - Brooks Free Library" /> 16 <meta property="og:description" content="Established in 1880, Brooks Free Library was the first free public library in Harwich. Founded by Col. Henry C. Brooks and originally known as the Broadbrooks Free Library, the Library … Read More" /> 17 <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/history/" /> 18 <meta property="og:site_name" content="Brooks Free Library" /> 19 <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2026-05-04T18:51:12+00:00" /> 20 <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/10500492_10152292954026914_5401603429973489570_n.jpg" /> 21 <meta property="og:image:width" content="960" /> 22 <meta property="og:image:height" content="720" /> 23 <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> 24 <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> 25 <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Est. reading time" /> 26 <meta name="twitter:data1" content="9 minutes" /> 27
27<script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/","url":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/","name":"History - Brooks Free Library","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/10500492_10152292954026914_5401603429973489570_n.jpg","datePublished":"2017-10-20T15:36:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-04T18:51:12+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/10500492_10152292954026914_5401603429973489570_n.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/10500492_10152292954026914_5401603429973489570_n.jpg","width":960,"height":720},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"About","item":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"History"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/","name":"Brooks Free Library","description":"Official Site of Brooks Free Library","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}</script>
27 28 <!-- / Yoast SEO plugin. --> 29 30 31<link rel='preconnect' href='//c0.wp.com' /> 32<link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brooksfreelibrary.org%2Fabout%2Fhistory%2F" /> 33<link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brooksfreelibrary.org%2Fabout%2Fhistory%2F&format=xml" /> 34 <!-- This site uses the Google Analytics by ExactMetrics plugin v10.3.0 - Using Analytics tracking - https://www.exactmetrics.com/ -->
vendor: 59 bytes, lines 34-35
34 35 <script src="//www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=
35G-0FCFHQ1FRT
vendor: 91 bytes, lines 35-36
35" data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" async></script> 36
36<script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript"> 37 var em_version = '10.3.0'; 38 var em_track_user = true; 39 var em_no_track_reason = ''; 40 var ExactMetricsDefaultLocations = {"page_location":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org\/about\/history\/"}; 41 ExactMetricsDefaultLocations.page_location = window.location.href; 42 if ( typeof ExactMetricsPrivacyGuardFilter === 'function' ) { 43 var ExactMetricsLocations = (typeof ExactMetricsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? ExactMetricsPrivacyGuardFilter( ExactMetricsExcludeQuery ) : ExactMetricsPrivacyGuardFilter( ExactMetricsDefaultLocations ); 44 } else { 45 var ExactMetricsLocations = (typeof ExactMetricsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? ExactMetricsExcludeQuery : ExactMetricsDefaultLocations; 46 } 47 48 var disableStrs = [ 49 'ga-disable-G-0FCFHQ1FRT', 50 ]; 51 52 /* Function to detect opted out users */ 53 function __gtagTrackerIsOptedOut() { 54 for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { 55 if (document.cookie.indexOf(disableStrs[index] + '=true') > -1) { 56 return true; 57 } 58 } 59 60 return false; 61 } 62 63 /* Disable tracking if the opt-out cookie exists. */ 64 if (__gtagTrackerIsOptedOut()) { 65 for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { 66 window[disableStrs[index]] = true; 67 } 68 } 69 70 /* Opt-out function */ 71 function __gtagTrackerOptout() { 72 for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { 73 document.cookie = disableStrs[index] + '=true; expires=Thu, 31 Dec 2099 23:59:59 UTC; path=/'; 74 window[disableStrs[index]] = true; 75 } 76 } 77 78 if ('undefined' === typeof gaOptout) { 79 function gaOptout() { 80 __gtagTrackerOptout(); 81 } 82 } 83 window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; 84 85 window.ExactMetricsDualTracker = { 86 helpers: {}, 87 trackers: {}, 88 }; 89 if (em_track_user) { 90 function __gtagDataLayer() { 91 dataLayer.push(arguments); 92 } 93 94 function __gtagTracker(type, name, parameters) { 95 if (!parameters) { 96 parameters = {}; 97 } 98 99 if (parameters.send_to) { 100 __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); 101 return; 102 } 103 104 if (type === 'event') { 105 parameters.send_to = exactmetrics_frontend.v4_id; 106 var hookName = name; 107 if (typeof parameters['event_category'] !== 'undefined') { 108 hookName = parameters['event_category'] + ':' + name; 109 } 110 111 if (typeof ExactMetricsDualTracker.trackers[hookName] !== 'undefined') { 112 ExactMetricsDualTracker.trackers[hookName](parameters); 113 } else { 114 __gtagDataLayer('event', name, parameters); 115 } 116 117 } else { 118 __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); 119 } 120 } 121 122 __gtagTracker('js', new Date()); 123 __gtagTracker('set', { 124 'developer_id.dNDMyYj': true, 125 }); 126 if ( ExactMetricsLocations.page_location ) { 127 __gtagTracker('set', ExactMetricsLocations); 128 } 129 __gtagTracker('config', 'G-0FCFHQ1FRT', {"forceSSL":"true"} ); 130 window.gtag = __gtagTracker; (function () { 131 /* https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/ */ 132 /* ga and __gaTracker compatibility shim. */ 133 var noopfn = function () { 134 return null; 135 }; 136 var newtracker = function () { 137 return new Tracker(); 138 }; 139 var Tracker = function () { 140 return null; 141 }; 142 var p = Tracker.prototype; 143 p.get = noopfn; 144 p.set = noopfn; 145 p.send = function () { 146 var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); 147 args.unshift('send'); 148 __gaTracker.apply(null, args); 149 }; 150 var __gaTracker = function () { 151 var len = arguments.length; 152 if (len === 0) { 153 return; 154 } 155 var f = arguments[len - 1]; 156 if (typeof f !== 'object' || f === null || typeof f.hitCallback !== 'function') { 157 if ('send' === arguments[0]) { 158 var hitConverted, hitObject = false, action; 159 if ('event' === arguments[1]) { 160 if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[3]) { 161 hitObject = { 162 'eventAction': arguments[3], 163 'eventCategory': arguments[2], 164 'eventLabel': arguments[4], 165 'value': arguments[5] ? arguments[5] : 1, 166 } 167 } 168 } 169 if ('pageview' === arguments[1]) { 170 if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[2]) { 171 hitObject = { 172 'eventAction': 'page_view', 173 'page_path': arguments[2], 174 } 175 } 176 } 177 if (typeof arguments[2] === 'object') { 178 hitObject = arguments[2]; 179 } 180 if (typeof arguments[5] === 'object') { 181 Object.assign(hitObject, arguments[5]); 182 } 183 if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[1].hitType) { 184 hitObject = arguments[1]; 185 if ('pageview' === hitObject.hitType) { 186 hitObject.eventAction = 'page_view'; 187 } 188 } 189 if (hitObject) { 190 action = 'timing' === arguments[1].hitType ? 'timing_complete' : hitObject.eventAction;
191 hitConverted = mapArgs(hitObject); 192 __gtagTracker('event', action, hitConverted); 193 } 194 } 195 return; 196 } 197 198 function mapArgs(args) { 199 var arg, hit = {}; 200 var gaMap = { 201 'eventCategory': 'event_category', 202 'eventAction': 'event_action', 203 'eventLabel': 'event_label', 204 'eventValue': 'event_value', 205 'nonInteraction': 'non_interaction', 206 'timingCategory': 'event_category', 207 'timingVar': 'name', 208 'timingValue': 'value', 209 'timingLabel': 'event_label', 210 'page': 'page_path', 211 'location': 'page_location', 212 'title': 'page_title', 213 'referrer' : 'page_referrer', 214 }; 215 for (arg in args) { 216 if (!(!args.hasOwnProperty(arg) || !gaMap.hasOwnProperty(arg))) { 217 hit[gaMap[arg]] = args[arg]; 218 } else { 219 hit[arg] = args[arg]; 220 } 221 } 222 return hit; 223 } 224 225 try { 226 f.hitCallback(); 227 } catch (ex) { 228 } 229 }; 230 __gaTracker.create = newtracker; 231 __gaTracker.getByName = newtracker; 232 __gaTracker.getAll = function () { 233 return []; 234 }; 235 __gaTracker.remove = noopfn; 236 __gaTracker.loaded = true; 237 window['__gaTracker'] = __gaTracker; 238 })(); 239 } else { 240 console.log(""); 241 (function () { 242 function __gtagTracker() { 243 return null; 244 } 245 246 window['__gtagTracker'] = __gtagTracker; 247 window['gtag'] = __gtagTracker; 248 })(); 249 } 250 </script>
250 251 <!-- / Google Analytics by ExactMetrics --> 252 <style id="wp-img-auto-sizes-contain-inline-css"> 253img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px} 254/*# sourceURL=wp-img-auto-sizes-contain-inline-css */ 255</style> 256<link rel='stylesheet' id='leaflet-css-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/meow-lightbox/app/style.min.css?ver=1790627726' media='all' /> 257<link rel='stylesheet' id='genesis-blocks-style-css-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/genesis-blocks/dist/style-blocks.build.css?ver=1787332849' media='all' /> 258<style id="wp-emoji-styles-inline-css"> 259 260 img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { 261 display: inline !important; 262 border: none !important; 263 box-shadow: none !important; 264 height: 1em !important; 265 width: 1em !important; 266 margin: 0 0.07em !important; 267 vertical-align: -0.1em !important; 268 background: none !important; 269 padding: 0 !important; 270 } 271/*# sourceURL=wp-emoji-styles-inline-css */ 272</style> 273<style id="wp-block-library-inline-css"> 274:root{--wp-block-synced-color:#7a00df;--wp-block-synced-color--rgb:122,0,223;--wp-bound-block-color:var(--wp-block-synced-color);--wp-editor-canvas-background:#ddd;--wp-admin-theme-color:#007cba;--wp-admin-theme-color--rgb:0,124,186;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-10:#006ba1;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-10--rgb:0,107,160.5;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-20:#005a87;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-20--rgb:0,90,135;--wp-admin-border-width-focus:2px}@media (min-resolution:192dpi){:root{--wp-admin-border-width-focus:1.5px}}.wp-element-button{cursor:pointer}:root .has-very-light-gray-background-color{background-color:#eee}:root .has-very-dark-gray-background-color{background-color:#313131}:root .has-very-light-gray-color{color:#eee}:root .has-very-dark-gray-color{color:#313131}:root .has-vivid-green-cyan-to-vivid-cyan-blue-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#00d084,#0693e3)}:root .has-purple-crush-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#34e2e4,#4721fb 50%,#ab1dfe)}:root .has-hazy-dawn-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#faaca8,#dad0ec)}:root .has-subdued-olive-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fafae1,#67a671)}:root .has-atomic-cream-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fdd79a,#004a59)}:root .has-nightshade-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#330968,#31cdcf)}:root .has-midnight-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381,#2874fc)}:root{--wp--preset--font-size--normal:16px;
274--wp--preset--font-size--huge:42px}.has-regular-font-size{font-size:1em}.has-larger-font-size{font-size:2.625em}.has-normal-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--normal)}.has-huge-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--huge)}:root .has-text-align-center{text-align:center}:root .has-text-align-left{text-align:left}:root .has-text-align-right{text-align:right}.has-fit-text{white-space:nowrap!important}#end-resizable-editor-section{display:none}.aligncenter{clear:both}.items-justified-left{justify-content:flex-start}.items-justified-center{justify-content:center}.items-justified-right{justify-content:flex-end}.items-justified-space-between{justify-content:space-between}.screen-reader-text{word-wrap:normal!important;border:0;clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px;word-break:normal!important}.screen-reader-text:focus{background-color:#ddd;clip-path:none;color:#444;display:block;font-size:1em;height:auto;left:5px;line-height:normal;padding:15px 23px 14px;text-decoration:none;top:5px;width:auto;z-index:100000}html :where(.has-border-color){border-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-color],[style*=";border-color"],[style*="; border-color"]){border-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-top-color],[style*=";border-top-color"],[style*="; border-top-color"]){border-top-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-right-color],[style*=";border-right-color"],[style*="; border-right-color"]){border-right-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-bottom-color],[style*=";border-bottom-color"],[style*="; border-bottom-color"]){border-bottom-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-left-color],[style*=";border-left-color"],[style*="; border-left-color"]){border-left-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-width],[style*=";border-width"],[style*="; border-width"]){border-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-top-width],[style*=";border-top-width"],[style*="; border-top-width"]){border-top-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-right-width],[style*=";border-right-width"],[style*="; border-right-width"]){border-right-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-bottom-width],[style*=";border-bottom-width"],[style*="; border-bottom-width"]){border-bottom-style:solid}html :where([style^=border-left-width],[style*=";border-left-width"],[style*="; border-left-width"]){border-left-style:solid}html :where(img[class*=wp-image-]){height:auto;max-width:100%}:where(figure){margin:0 0 1em}html :where(.is-position-sticky){--wp-admin--admin-bar--position-offset:var(--wp-admin--admin-bar--height,0px)}@media screen and (max-width:600px){html :where(.is-position-sticky){--wp-admin--admin-bar--position-offset:0px}} 275 276/*# sourceURL=/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/common.min.css */ 277</style> 278<style id="classic-theme-styles-inline-css"> 279/*! This file is auto-generated */ 280.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} 281/*# sourceURL=/wp-includes/css/classic-themes.min.css */ 282</style> 283 284<style id="global-styles-inline-css"> 285:root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(6,147,227) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(252,185,
2850) 0%,rgb(255,105,0) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,105,0) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgb(255, 255, 255), 6px 6px rgb(0, 0, 0);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgb(0, 0, 0);}.wp-block-button{--wp--preset--dimension--25: 25%;--wp--preset--dimension--50: 50%;--wp--preset--dimension--75: 75%;--wp--preset--dimension--100: 100%;}:where(body) { margin: 0; }:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body{padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){background-color: #32373c;border-width: 0;color: #fff;font-family: inherit;font-size: inherit;font-style: inherit;font-weight: inherit;letter-spacing: inherit;line-height: inherit;padding-top: calc(0.667em + 2px);padding-right: calc(1.333em + 2px);padding-bottom: calc(0.667em + 2px);padding-left: calc(1.333em + 2px);text-decoration: none;text-transform: inherit;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}
285.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} 286/*# sourceURL=global-styles-inline-css */ 287</style> 288 289<link rel='stylesheet' id='collapscore-css-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/jquery-collapse-o-matic/css/core_style.css?ver=1.0' media='all' /> 290<link rel='stylesheet' id='collapseomatic-css-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/jquery-collapse-o-matic/css/light_style.css?ver=1.6' media='all' /> 291<link rel='stylesheet' id='mgl-css-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/meow-gallery/app/style.min.css?ver=1790627726' media='all' /> 292<link rel='stylesheet' id='ui-font-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-accessibility/toolbar/fonts/css/a11y-toolbar.css?ver=2.4.0' media='all' /> 293<link rel='stylesheet' id='wpa-toolbar-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-accessibility/toolbar/css/a11y.css?ver=2.4.0' media='all' /> 294<link rel='stylesheet' id='wpa-style-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-accessibility/css/wpa-style.css?ver=2.4.0' media='all' /> 295<style id="wpa-style-inline-css"> 296 297.wpa-hide-ltr#skiplinks a, .wpa-hide-ltr#skiplinks a:hover, .wpa-hide-ltr#skiplinks a:visited { 298 299} 300.wpa-hide-ltr#skiplinks a:active, .wpa-hide-ltr#skiplinks a:focus { 301 302} 303 :root { --admin-bar-top : 7px; } 304/*# sourceURL=wpa-style-inline-css */ 305</style> 306<link rel='stylesheet' id='custom-styling-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/style-updates.css?ver=7.1.2' media='all' /> 307<link rel='stylesheet' id='sage/css-css' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/dist/styles/main.css' media='all' />
308<script id="wp-hooks-js" src="https://c0.wp.com/c/7.1.2/wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 308
308
309<script id="wp-i18n-js" src="https://c0.wp.com/c/7.1.2/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 309
309
310<script id="wp-i18n-js-after"> 311wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); 312//# sourceURL=wp-i18n-js-after 313</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 313
313
314<script id="mwl-build-js-js-extra"> 315var mwl_settings = {"api_url":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/meow-lightbox/v1/","rest_nonce":"f17f2f9323","plugin_url":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/meow-lightbox/app/","version":"1790627726","is_admin":"","diagnostics_url":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-admin/admin.php?page=mwl_settings&nekoTab=diagnostics","settings":{"rtf_slider_fix":false,"engine":"default","backdrop_opacity":85,"theme":"dark-glass","flat_orientation":"below","orientation":"auto","selector":".entry-content, .gallery, .mgl-gallery, .wp-block-gallery","selector_ahead":false,"deep_linking":false,"deep_linking_slug":"mwl","rendering_delay":300,"skip_dynamic_fetch":false,"include_orphans":false,"js_logs":false,"social_sharing":false,"social_sharing_facebook":true,"social_sharing_twitter":true,"social_sharing_pinterest":true,"separate_galleries":false,"disable_arrows_on_mobile":false,"animation_toggle":"none","animation_speed":"normal","low_res_placeholder":false,"wordpress_big_image":false,"right_click_protection":true,"magnification":true,"full_screen":true,"full_screen_start_desktop":false,"full_screen_start_mobile":false,"anti_selector":".blog, .archive, .emoji, .attachment-post-image, .no-lightbox","preloading":false,"download_link":false,"caption_source":"caption","caption_ellipsis":true,"exif":{"title":"1","caption":true,"camera":"","lens":"","date":false,"time":false,"date_timezone":false,"shutter_speed":"","aperture":"","focal_length":"","copyright":false,"author":false,"iso":"","keywords":false,"metadata_toggle":false,"metadata_toggle_start_hidden":false},"slideshow":{"enabled":false,"timer":3000,"autoplay":false},"map":{"enabled":false}}}; 316//# sourceURL=mwl-build-js-js-extra 317</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 317
317
318<script id="mwl-build-js-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/meow-lightbox/app/lightbox.js?ver=1790627726"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 318
318
319<script async data-wp-strategy="async" id="exactmetrics-frontend-script-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/assets/js/frontend-gtag.min.js?ver=10.3.0"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 319
319
320<script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" id='exactmetrics-frontend-script-js-extra'>/* <![CDATA[ */ 321var exactmetrics_frontend = {"js_events_tracking":"true","download_extensions":"zip,mp3,mpeg,pdf,docx,pptx,xlsx,rar","inbound_paths":"[{\"path\":\"\\\/go\\\/\",\"label\":\"affiliate\"},{\"path\":\"\\\/recommend\\\/\",\"label\":\"affiliate\"}]","home_url":"https:\/\/www.brooksfreelibrary.org","hash_tracking":"false","v4_id":"G-0FCFHQ1FRT"};/* ]]> */ 322</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 322
322
323<script id="jquery-core-js" src="https://c0.wp.com/c/7.1.2/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 323
323
324<script id="jquery-migrate-js" src="https://c0.wp.com/c/7.1.2/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 324
324
325<script id="custom-script-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/menu-access.js?ver=7.1.2"></script>
325 326<link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/121" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> 327<link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/?p=121' /> 328 329 <style id="zeno-font-resizer" type="text/css"> 330 p.zeno_font_resizer .screen-reader-text { 331 border: 0; 332 clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); 333 clip-path: inset(50%); 334 height: 1px; 335 margin: -1px; 336 overflow: hidden; 337 padding: 0; 338 position: absolute; 339 width: 1px; 340 word-wrap: normal !important; 341 } 342 </style> 343 <meta name="tec-api-version" content="v1"><meta name="tec-api-origin" content="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org"><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/tribe/events/v1/" /><meta name="og:url" content="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/history/" /><style>.recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}</style><!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
vendor: 65 bytes, lines 343-344
343 344<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=
344G-QS7V6P2QWH
vendor: 13 bytes, line 344
344"></script>
345<script> 346
vendor: 138 bytes, lines 346-350
346window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; 347 function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} 348 gtag('js', new Date()); 349 350 gtag('config', '
350G-QS7V6P2QWH
vendor: 5 bytes, line 350
350');
351</script>
351<link rel="icon" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-BFL-Site-Favicon-1-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> 352<link rel="icon" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-BFL-Site-Favicon-1-192x192.png" sizes="192x192" /> 353<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-BFL-Site-Favicon-1-180x180.png" /> 354<meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-BFL-Site-Favicon-1-270x270.png" /> 355<style id="kirki-inline-styles"></style> <!--Google Fonts--> 356<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cabin:400,700|Raleway:400,700" rel="stylesheet"><link href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/themes/cabin-raleway.css" rel="stylesheet"></head> 357 <body class="wp-singular page-template-default page page-id-121 page-child parent-pageid-6 wp-theme-libbybasic tribe-no-js history sidebar-primary"> 358 <!--[if IE]> 359 <div class="alert alert-warning"> 360 You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a href="http://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience. </div> 361 <![endif]--> 362 363 364<header id="header" class="banner"> 365 <nav class="navbar navbar-default navbar--libby"> 366 <section class="libby--top-menu-wrapper"> 367 <div class="container"> 368 <div class="row"> 369 <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-3 col-lg-4"> 370 <!-- Brand --> 371 <div class="navbar-header"> 372 <div class="row"> 373 <div class="col-xs-9 col-md-12"> 374 <a class="navbar-brand" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/" title="Brooks Free Library Home"> 375 <img src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cropped-BFL-Logo-Website-etc-2-1.png" alt="Brooks Free Library"/> 376 </a> 377 </div> 378 <div class="col-xs-3 col-md-12"> 379 <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#libby--nav-trigger" aria-expanded="false"> 380 <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> 381 <i class="fa fa-align-justify"></i> 382 </button> 383 </div> 384 </div> 385 </div> 386 </div> 387 <div class="hidden-xs col-sm-12 col-md-4"> 388 <ul id="menu-top-nav" class="nav navbar-right libby--secondary-nav"><li id="menu-item-24" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://harwich-brooks.clamsnet.org/">CLAMS Catalog</a></li> 389<li id="menu-item-25" class="cta-btn menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-25"><a target="_blank" href="http://harwich-brooks.clamsnet.org/MyAccount/Home">My Account</a></li> 390</ul> </div> 391 <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-5 col-lg-4"> 392 <form method="get" id="searchform" class="header--searchform" action="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/catalog-search.php" target="_blank"> 393 <input type="text" value="" class="form-control libby-search-input search-input--libby libby-s" id="searchform" name="s" id="s" placeholder="Search"/> 394 <div class="libby-nav--radios-wrapper"> 395 <ul class="libby--search-options"> 396 <li> 397 <span class="libby-radio--wrapper"> 398 <input class="libby--radio button_catalog" type="radio" name="search_select" id="button_catalog" checked> 399 <label class="libby--radio-label" for="button_catalog"> Catalog</label> 400 <div class="libby--radio-label-check"></div> 401 </span> 402 </li> 403 <li> 404 <span class="libby-radio--wrapper"> 405 <input class="libby--radio button_site" type="radio" name="search_select" id="button_site"> 406 <label class="libby--radio-label" for="button_site"> Website</label> 407 <div class="libby--radio-label-check"></div> 408 </span> 409 </li> 410 </ul> 411 </div> 412 </form> 413 </div> 414 </div> 415 </div><!-- /.container-fluid --> 416 </section> 417 <section class="libby--main-menu-wrapper"> 418 <div class="container"> 419 <!-- Nav --> 420 <div class="collapse navbar-collapse libby--main-menu" id="libby--nav-trigger"> 421 <ul id="menu-main-menu" class="nav navbar-nav mr-auto"><li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10714" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-page-ancestor current-menu-ancestor current-menu-parent current-page-parent current_page_parent current_page_ancestor menu-item-has-children dropdown active menu-item-10714 nav-item"><a title="About" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" class="nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-10714">About</a> 422<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-10714" role="menu"> 423 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10749"
423class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-page-ancestor current-page-parent menu-item-10749 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 424 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9097" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9097 nav-item"><a title="Board of Trustees" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/brooks-free-library-board-of-trustees/" class="dropdown-item">Board of Trustees</a></li> 425 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-124" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-menu-item page_item page-item-121 current_page_item active menu-item-124 nav-item"><a title="History" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/history/" class="dropdown-item">History</a></li> 426 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9348" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9348 nav-item"><a title="Loan Rules & Overdue Fees" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/loan-rules-fines/" class="dropdown-item">Loan Rules & Overdue Fees</a></li> 427 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-16" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-16 nav-item"><a title="Location & Hours" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/location-and-hours/" class="dropdown-item">Location & Hours</a></li> 428 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-32525" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32525 nav-item"><a title="Employment" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/employment/" class="dropdown-item">Employment</a></li> 429 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9411" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9411 nav-item"><a title="Make A Donation" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/make-a-donation/" class="dropdown-item">Make A Donation</a></li> 430 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-125" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-125 nav-item"><a title="Policies" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/policies/" class="dropdown-item">Policies</a></li> 431 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-8998" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8998 nav-item"><a title="Rogers Groups" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/rogers-group/" class="dropdown-item">Rogers Groups</a></li> 432 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9425" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9425 nav-item"><a title="Staff" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/staff/" class="dropdown-item">Staff</a></li> 433 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-14534" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14534 nav-item"><a title="Volunteering" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/volunteering/" class="dropdown-item">Volunteering</a></li> 434 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-15672" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-15672 nav-item"><a title="Your BFL Stories" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/your-bfl-stories/" class="dropdown-item">Your BFL Stories</a></li> 435</ul> 436</li> 437<li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-15" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-15 nav-item"><a title="eLibrary" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/elibrary/" class="nav-link">eLibrary</a></li> 438<li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-20856" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-20856 nav-item"><a title="Friends" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/friends/" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" class="nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-20856">Friends</a> 439<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-20856" role="menu"> 440 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9105" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9105 nav-item"><a title="About the Friends" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/friends-of-brooks-free-library/" class="dropdown-item">About the Friends</a></li> 441 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-32849" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-32849 nav-item"><a title="Services we Support" href="#" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="-1" class="dropdown-toggle nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-32849">Services we Support</a> 442 <ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-32849" role="menu"> 443 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-20995" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-20995 nav-item"><a title="Museum Passes" href="https://www2.museumkey.com/ui/?code=brooma02645" class="dropdown-item">Museum Passes</a></li> 444 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-20865" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20865 nav-item"><a title="VITAL" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/library-services-for-people-with-disabilities/" class="dropdown-item">VITAL</a></li> 445 </ul> 446</li> 447 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-14999" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14999 nav-item"><a title="Book Sale & Bookstore" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/friends-of-brooks-free-library/bookstore/" class="dropdown-item">
447Book Sale & Bookstore</a></li> 448</ul> 449</li> 450<li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-17" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-17 nav-item"><a title="Services" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" class="nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-17">Services</a> 451<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-17" role="menu"> 452 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10743" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10743 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 453 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-35041" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-35041 nav-item"><a title="Access to Justice" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/access-to-justice/" class="dropdown-item">Access to Justice</a></li> 454 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9114" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9114 nav-item"><a title="Books on Wheels" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/friends-of-brooks-free-library/books-on-wheels/" class="dropdown-item">Books on Wheels</a></li> 455 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9670" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9670 nav-item"><a title="Commonwealth Catalog & Inter-library Loan" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/clams-commonwealth-catalog-ill-interlibrary-loan/" class="dropdown-item">Commonwealth Catalog & Inter-library Loan</a></li> 456 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-15714" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-15714 nav-item"><a title="Confidential Corner" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/confidential-corner/" class="dropdown-item">Confidential Corner</a></li> 457 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-33509" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-33509 nav-item"><a title="Library of Things" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/library-of-things/" class="dropdown-item">Library of Things</a></li> 458 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-14563" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14563 nav-item"><a title="Adaptive Living Collection" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/adaptive_living_collection/" class="dropdown-item">Adaptive Living Collection</a></li> 459 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-16341" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-16341 nav-item"><a title="Meeting Room" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/thornton-meeting-room/" class="dropdown-item">Meeting Room</a></li> 460 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-15069" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-15069 nav-item"><a title="Museum Passes" href="https://www2.museumkey.com/ui/?code=brooma02645" class="dropdown-item">Museum Passes</a></li> 461 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-23624" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-23624 nav-item"><a title="Printing, Scanning, and Copying" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/printing-scanning-and-copying/" class="dropdown-item">Printing, Scanning, and Copying</a></li> 462 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-23626" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-23626 nav-item"><a title="Public Access Computers" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/public-access-computers/" class="dropdown-item">Public Access Computers</a></li> 463 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-16011" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-16011 nav-item"><a title="Technology Help" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/technology-help/" class="dropdown-item">Technology Help</a></li> 464 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9126" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9126 nav-item"><a title="VITAL" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/library-services-for-people-with-disabilities/" class="dropdown-item">VITAL</a></li> 465 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9302" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9302 nav-item"><a title="Get a Library Card" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/get-a-library-card/" class="dropdown-item">Get a Library Card</a></li> 466</ul> 467</li> 468<li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9139" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-9139 nav-item"><a title="Programs" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" class="nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-9139">Programs</a> 469<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-9139" role="menu"> 470 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10744" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10744 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 471 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-243" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-243 nav-item"><a title="Event Calendar" href="https://brooksfreelibrary.libcal.com/calendar/" class="dropdown-item">Event Calendar</a></li> 472 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9903" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9903 nav-item"><a title="Youth Programs" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/youth-programs/" class="dropdown-item">Youth Programs</a></li> 473 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-35047" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-35047 nav-item"><a title="Virtual Author Talk Series" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/virtual-author-talk-series/" class="dropdown-item">Virtual Author Talk Series</a></li> 474 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9140" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-9140 nav-item"><a title="Book Groups" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/book-groups/" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="-1" class="dropdown-toggle nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-9140">Book Groups</a> 475 <ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-9140" role="menu"> 476 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10722" class="visible-xs visible-sm menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10722 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/book-groups/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 477 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-34700" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-34700 nav-item"><a title="Banned and Challenged Book Group" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/book-groups/banned_and_challenged_books_group/" class="dropdown-item">Banned and Challenged Book Group</a></li> 478 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9146" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9146 nav-item"><a title="Morning Book Group" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/book-groups/morning-book-group/" class="dropdown-item">Morning Book Group</a></li> 479 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9152" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9152 nav-item"><a title="4th Tuesday Book Klatch" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/book-groups/4th-tuesday-book-klatch/" class="dropdown-item">4th Tuesday Book Klatch</a></li> 480 </ul> 481</li> 482 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9449" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9449 nav-item"><a title="Knit Lit" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/programs/knit-lit/" class="dropdown-item">Knit Lit</a></li> 483 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-14653" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14653 nav-item"><a title="Local Author Collection" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/local-author-collection/" class="dropdown-item">Local Author Collection</a></li> 484</ul> 485</li> 486<li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9385" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-9385 nav-item"><a title="Reference" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference/" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" class="nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-9385">Reference</a> 487<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-9385" role="menu"> 488 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10755" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10755 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference-overview/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 489 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9341" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9341 nav-item"><a title="Commonwealth Catalog & Inter-library Loan" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/clams-commonwealth-catalog-ill-interlibrary-loan/" class="dropdown-item">Commonwealth Catalog & Inter-library Loan</a></li> 490 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9400" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9400 nav-item"><a title="eBook Help" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference/ebook-help/" class="dropdown-item">eBook Help</a></li> 491 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9395" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9395
491nav-item"><a title="Resources for Readers" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference/resources-for-readers/" class="dropdown-item">Resources for Readers</a></li> 492 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-14257" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14257 nav-item"><a title="Tax Form Information" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/tax-form-information/" class="dropdown-item">Tax Form Information</a></li> 493 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-16012" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-16012 nav-item"><a title="Technology Help" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/services/technology-help/" class="dropdown-item">Technology Help</a></li> 494 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-34058" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-34058 nav-item"><a title="Local Food Assistance" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference/local-food-assistance/" class="dropdown-item">Local Food Assistance</a></li> 495 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-28161" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-28161 nav-item"><a title="Voting and Election Resources" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference/voting-and-election-resources/" class="dropdown-item">Voting and Election Resources</a></li> 496 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-14769" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14769 nav-item"><a title="Disaster Recovery Resources" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/reference/disaster-recovery-resources/" class="dropdown-item">Disaster Recovery Resources</a></li> 497</ul> 498</li> 499<li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9386" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children dropdown menu-item-9386 nav-item"><a title="Youth" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/youth/" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" class="nav-link" id="menu-item-dropdown-9386">Youth</a> 500<ul class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="menu-item-dropdown-9386" role="menu"> 501 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10760" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10760 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/youth-overview/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 502 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-10746" class="visible-xs visible-sm menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10746 nav-item"><a title="Overview" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/youth/" class="dropdown-item">Overview</a></li> 503 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9387" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9387 nav-item"><a title="Kids" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/youth/kids/" class="dropdown-item">Kids</a></li> 504 <li itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://www.schema.org/SiteNavigationElement" id="menu-item-9388" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9388 nav-item"><a title="Teens" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/youth/teens/" class="dropdown-item">Teens</a></li> 505</ul> 506</li> 507</ul> </div><!-- /.navbar-collapse --> 508 </div> 509 </section> 510 </nav> 511</header> <div role="document"> 512 513 514 515<div class="libby--page-header text-center libby--page-header--img" style="background-image: url(https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/10500492_10152292954026914_5401603429973489570_n.jpg);"><div class="container"><div class="libby--page-header-outter-wrapper"><div class="libby--page-header-wrapper"><h1 class="libby--page-header--title">History</h1></div></div></div></div> 516 517 518 519 <section class="libby-page-content-wrapper"> 520 <div class="wrap container"> 521 <div class="content row"> 522 523 <main class="main main--full-width"> 524 525 <div class="libby-page-content"> 526 <div> 527 <p>Established in 1880, Brooks Free Library was the first free public library in Harwich. Founded by Col. Henry C. Brooks and originally known as the Broadbrooks Free Library, the Library is part of a broader legacy left to the town by the Brooks family. The Library has been owned and operated by the Town of Harwich since 1910 and is governed by a 7-member elected Board of Trustees.</p> 528<h4 align="center">Col. Henry C. Brooks<i></i></h4> 529<p>The first member of the Brooks family to make his home in Harwich was Henry’s great-grandfather, Beriah Broadbrooks, who was born in 1676 and arr
529ived in Harwich in 1694, the same year it was incorporated. He had fifteen children by two different wives. By an act of the Massachusetts legislature, passed March 14, 1806, Beriah’s great-grandson, Obed Broadbrooks had the family name changed to Brooks. Obed had nine children, including Henry, but only a few grandchildren. Henry and his sisters, Tamesin, Harriet, and Sarah never married. Brother Sidney married but had no children. Obed owned the first store in Harwich and his sons became businessmen, traders, and educators.</p> 530<p>Henry Cobb Brooks was born May 16, 1824 and was Obed’s youngest son. At the age of 14, he left Harwich for Boston, where he worked as a clerk. Eventually he became a partner in a firm supplying ships in Boston Harbor, and later built ships and operated a sailing line to Australia. He was a prominent member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and acquired the title of Major by meritorious conduct in the Militia and that of Colonel by virtue of his appointment on the staff of Maj. Gen. Samuel Andrews.</p> 531<p>While Henry pursued his business in Boston, his brothers and sisters were busy in Harwich. Obed, Jr. was a shopkeeper & merchant, commissioner of the Mashpee Indians and was a founding officer of the <a href="http://www.capecodfive.com/">Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank</a> and the Cape Cod National Bank. Formed in 1855, the bank was originally housed in the Greek Revival building that today is part of the Brooks Free Library. Sidney founded and built the Pine Grove Seminary, today’s <a href="http://www.harwichhistoricalsociety.org/">Brooks Academy Museum</a>. The school offered young people an opportunity to extend their education beyond the elementary level, and offered courses in navigation, mathematics, music, art, languages and other subjects. More that 1000 young men and women, “scholars”, passed through the doors of his school in its 20 year history. Sarah built and left a parsonage to the First Parish Church, known today as <a href="http://www.firstchurchofharwich.org/index2.cfm">First Congregational Church.</a> In addition to serving as the first librarian for the Brooks Free Library, sister Tamesin, who was legendary for her business skills and temperance activities, willed Brooks Park to the <a href="http://www.harwich-ma.gov/">Town of Harwich</a>.</p> 532<p>In the 1880 Henry built a multi-use structure in Harwich Center, the Brooks Block, to house several stores, a free public library and have other uses. Over the years various shops occupied the first floor, including C.S. Hunt, Dry Goods and Furniture; Frank Snow, Parlor Stoves; and Small and Snow, Curtains and Wallpapers. Several upstairs rooms and a small apartment were also rented. The rooms were often let to lawyers for offices or to dressmakers, milliners, and even a barber. Rental monies from these enterprises were meant to support the library, which was located on the east side of the second floor.</p> 533<p>With construction of the Brooks Block complete, a reception and open house was held at the library on Thanksgiving Day, 1880. The reference collection was spread out on a large oak table, and the shelves held a collection of 2,500 volumes of fiction, poetry, history and biography, donated by Henry Brooks, as well as a selection of juvenile literature and files of Boston newspapers. Plaster busts of Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, Burns, Dickens, and Washington Irving, which can be seen today in the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor Reference area, were on display.</p> 534<p>On January 1, 1881, the library officially opened with Miss Tamesin Brooks, age 60, serving as the first librarian. The Brooks family was very much involved in the operation of the library. Henry Brooks built the building and conceived of the plan to support the library. His brother Sidney and their two sisters, Tamesin and Sarah, arranged, numbered and cataloged the collection.</p> 535<p>In June of 1881, Pliny Nickerson of Harwich donated 40 Rogers Groups Statues to the Library. A room adjacent to the library room was opened to house the new collection. The Rogers Groups were plaster statues, very popular at the time, which stood two to three feet tall and depicted themes of contemporary America, the Civil War and everyday life.</p> 536<p>The Brooks family ran the library through its early years. Tamesin Brooks served as librarian without pay until her death in 1891. When other members of the Brooks family, Sarah, and Henry Brooks Davis, found the maintenance and managing of the library to be too difficult, an association of interested townspeople was formed and the family conveyed the property to the Brooks Library Association in 1896. The following year the name was changed to the Broadbrooks Free Library Association but in 1908 it was changed back to Brooks Free Library Association.</p> 537<p>The February 1910 Town Meeting accepted the gift of the Brooks Free Library, “the real estate known as the Brooks Block and the books, statuary and personal property therein.” Brooks Free Library became a municipal library, with the transfer of property taking place in April 1910. The library was open Saturday afternoons from 1:30 to 5:30, and these hours remained the same until 1947.</p> 538<p>In 1933, Brooks Free Library received needed repairs under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program that was directed by the State’s Division of Public Libraries. The only expense to the town were supplies and the housing of the workers.</p> 539<p>The Second District court of Barnstable was moved to the first floor of the Brooks Block in 1936 and the building was again renovated under the auspices of the WPA. Rooms included the main courtroom, the juvenile court, and small rooms for lawyers and probation officers. A modern heating was installed throughout the building except for an unused room on the upper floor. Several partitions were removed upstairs to create a large young people’s room and the Rogers Groups were moved across the hall to the south room, which was painted a pale blue.</p> 540<p>The library received a permanent loan from the U.S. Government of 10 pencil sketches done by Lawrence Robbins under the WPA. The sketches were of various Harwich scenes and vistas, some of which no longer exist, and included the Moody Farm, Bell’s Neck, the Herring River, and Pleasant Bay.</p> 541<p>In 1947 Virginia (Ginny) Doane was hired as librarian and served in this position for forty-two years until her retirement in 1989. Library hours were expanded at this time to include Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7-9 pm, in addition to the Saturday afternoon hours.</p> 542<p>The library continued to grow and by the late 1960’s it was using the entire second floor and the third floor attic. In 1967 the town purchased the Greek Revival building next door on the corner of Bank and Main Streets, which had begun its life in 1855 as home to Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank and the Cape Cod National Bank. In 1914 the bank moved across Main St. to a building constructed for that purpose, which now serves as <a href="http://www.harwich-ma.gov/">Harwich Town Hall</a>. The building then became home to the Telephone Exchange.</p> 543<p>In 1970 the Second District Court moved to Orleans and Town lost its tenant on the lower floor of the Brooks Block. The Library had grown and needed additional space and dedicated parking. In 1971 town meeting voted to purchase the Bank St. lot behind the Brooks Block for a parking lot for the library and in 1972 Town Meeting voted to renovate the Brooks Block and Telephone Exchange buildings for library use. The old telephone building was turned into a reading room with special glass cases installed to display the Rogers Groups. The library’s collection had expanded from the original 40 pieces given by Pliny Nickerson to 69. Since the sculptor, John Rogers, had only had 80 of his pieces ever mass-produced and cast in plaster, the collection at the library was thought to be the largest outside of New York City.</p> 544<p>
544In early March of 1976 the Boston Globe carried a large feature story on the new interest among art collectors in Rogers Groups statuary. A few weeks later, on April 1<sup>st</sup>, while the Finance Committee met across the street at Town Hall and a small crowd of voters gathered at the High School on Oak Street for a special town meeting, the Brooks Library was burglarized and 56 Rogers Groups statues were stolen. The Brooks Block did not have a security system and thieves broke in the back door, ripped the drapes from the windows and used them to wrap the fragile plaster statues. They carried the statues out the back door and across the vacant lot to a waiting van. Despite a FBI investigation that continued for years, none of the stolen Rogers Groups statues have ever been recovered.</p> 545<p>Automation came to the Brooks Free Library when the it joined the newly formed <a href="http://www.clamsnet.org/">Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS)</a> consortium in 1989. Inputting of cataloging records took place over the next few years and live circulation on the automated system began in 1991.</p> 546<h4 align="center">Renovated and expanded Library – south side, parking lot entrance</h4> 547<p>Like the town, the Library continued to grow, and after many years of planning, a renovation and expansion project was presented to residents. On May 7, 1996 the Harwich Town Meeting voted unanimous support of the library renovation project. The following month, on June 17, 1996, 65% of Harwich voters agreed to a debt exclusion ballot vote which asked for $3.1 million dollars to fund the project. Later a $1.3 million dollar federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) construction grant was received from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This LSTA grant reduced the cost of the library renovation and expansion project for Harwich taxpayers to $1.8 million. The <a href="http://brooksfreelibrary.org/about/friends-of-brooks-free-library/">Friends of Brooks Free Library</a> contributed additional funds to purchase the adjacent lot on Bank St. for additional parking, to finish the basement to create a meeting room, and to provide furnishings for the renovated facility.</p> 548<p>In October 1996 Brooks Free Library moved to temporary quarters at the Star Market Plaza in Harwich Port, thanks to a generous $1 dollar per year lease from Tedeschi Realty. The project was complete in early 1998 and the Library reopened in the renovated and expanded facility in February 1998. The project won a Historic Preservation Award from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for successfully maintaining the historic character of the building.</p> 549 </div> 550 </div> 551 </main><!-- /.main --> 552 553 </div><!-- /.content --> 554 </div><!-- /.wrap --> 555 </section> 556 </div> 557 <footer id="footer" class="content-info"> 558 <div class="container"> 559 <div class="footer-inner-wrapper"> 560 <div class="row"> 561 <div class="col-xs-12 col-lg-3"> 562 <div class="libby--footer-menu-wrapper"> 563 <section class="widget text-5 widget_text"><h3 class="footer--widget-title">Library Hours</h3> <div class="textwidget"><p><b>Monday – Thursday </b>10 AM – 7 PM<strong><br /> 564Friday & Saturday </strong>10 AM – 4 PM<br /> 565<strong>Sunday </strong> Closed</p> 566</div> 567 </section> <hr class="hidden-md hidden-lg"> 568 </div> 569 </div> 570 <div class="col-xs-12 col-lg-3"> 571 <section class="widget text-2 widget_text"><h3 class="footer--widget-title">Contact</h3> <div class="textwidget"><p>739 Main Street<br /> 572Harwich, MA 02645<br /> 573<a href="tel:(508) 430-7562">(508) 430-7562 ext. 1</a><br /> 574<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> 575</div> 576 </section> <hr class="hidden-md hidden-lg"> 577 </div> 578 <div class="col-xs-12 col-lg-2"> 579 <div class="libby--footer-menu-wrapper"> 580 <section class="widget nav_menu-4 widget_nav_menu"><h3 class="footer--widget-title">Follow Us</h3><div class="menu-follow-us-social-container"><ul id="menu-follow-us-social" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-8894" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8894"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrooksFreeLibrary"><i class="fa fa-facebook"></i> Facebook</a></li> 581<li id="menu-item-11272" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-11272"><a href="https://instagram.com/739brooksfreelibrary"><i class="fa fa-instagram"></i> Instagram</a></li> 582<li id="menu-item-8895" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8895"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Brooks_Free_Lib"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i> Twitter</a></li> 583<li id="menu-item-13656" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-13656"><a href="https://youtube.com/brooksfreelibrary"><i class="fa fa-youtube"></i> Youtube</a></li> 584<li id="menu-item-13899" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-13899"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@739brooksfreelibrary"><i class="fa fa-TikTok"></i> TikTok</a></li> 585</ul></div></section> </div> 586 <hr class="hidden-md hidden-lg"> 587 </div> 588 <div class="col-xs-12 col-lg-4"> 589 <section class="widget text-6 widget_text"><h3 class="footer--widget-title">Subscribe</h3> <div class="textwidget"><p>To receive our newsletter via email subscribe below.</p> 590<p><a class="btn btn--rounded btn--contrast" href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/BhQkaPt/bflnewslettersignup">Subscribe</a></p> 591<p><a class="btn btn--rounded btn--contrast" href="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/bfl-newsletter-archive/">Newsletter Archive</a></p> 592<p> </p> 593</div> 594 </section>
594<section class="widget zeno_fr_widget-4 Zeno_FR_Widget"><h3 class="footer--widget-title">Resize Font</h3> 595 <div class="zeno_font_resizer_container"> 596 <p class="zeno_font_resizer" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> 597 <span> 598 <a href="#" class="zeno_font_resizer_minus" title="Decrease font size" style="font-size: 0.7em;">A<span class="screen-reader-text"> Decrease font size.</span></a> 599 <a href="#" class="zeno_font_resizer_reset" title="Reset font size">A<span class="screen-reader-text"> Reset font size.</span></a> 600 <a href="#" class="zeno_font_resizer_add" title="Increase font size" style="font-size: 1.3em;">A<span class="screen-reader-text"> Increase font size.</span></a> 601 </span> 602 </p> 603 </div> 604 </section> </div> 605 </div> 606 </div> 607 </div> 608 <div class="container"> 609 <div class="row"> 610 <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-offset-8 col-sm-4"> 611 <div id="google_translate_element"></div> 612
612<script type="text/javascript"> 613 function googleTranslateElementInit() { 614 new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en', layout: google.translate.TranslateElement.InlineLayout.SIMPLE}, 'google_translate_element'); 615 } 616 </script>
616 617
617<script type="text/javascript" src="//translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit"></script>
617 618 </div> 619 </div> 620 </div> 621</footer> 622<section id="footer-credit"> 623 <div class="container"> 624 <div class="libby--copyright"> ©2026 Brooks Free Library, All Rights Reserved. </div> 625 </div> 626</section>
627<script type="speculationrules"> 628{"prefetch":[{"source":"document","where":{"and":[{"href_matches":"/*"},{"not":{"href_matches":["/wp-*.php","/wp-admin/*","/wp-content/uploads/*","/wp-content/*","/wp-content/plugins/*","/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/*","/*\\?(.+)"]}},{"not":{"selector_matches":"a[rel~=\"nofollow\"]"}},{"not":{"selector_matches":".no-prefetch, .no-prefetch a"}}]},"eagerness":"conservative"}]} 629</script>
629 630
630<script> 631 ( function ( body ) { 632 'use strict'; 633 body.className = body.className.replace( /\btribe-no-js\b/, 'tribe-js' ); 634 } )( document.body ); 635 </script>
635 636
636<script type="text/javascript"> 637 function genesisBlocksShare( url, title, w, h ){ 638 var left = ( window.innerWidth / 2 )-( w / 2 ); 639 var top = ( window.innerHeight / 2 )-( h / 2 ); 640 return window.open(url, title, 'toolbar=no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, menubar=no, scrollbars=no, resizable=no, copyhistory=no, width=600, height=600, top='+top+', left='+left); 641 } 642 // Open share popup via data attributes; never reads executable context from the DOM. 643 document.addEventListener( 'click', function( e ) { 644 var el = e.target && e.target.closest( '[data-gb-share-url]' ); 645 if ( ! el ) { return; } 646 e.preventDefault(); 647 genesisBlocksShare( el.getAttribute( 'data-gb-share-url' ), el.getAttribute( 'data-gb-share-label' ) || '', '600', '600' ); 648 } ); 649 </script>
649 650
650<script id='kirki-viewport-lists'>var kirkiViewports = {"md":{"value":1200,"scale":1,"minWidth":1200,"maxWidth":1200,"title":"Desktop","icon":"desktop","activeIcon":"desktop-hover","id":"md","type":"max"},"tablet":{"value":991,"scale":1,"minWidth":991,"maxWidth":991,"title":"Tablet","icon":"tablet-default","activeIcon":"tablet-hover","type":"max","id":"tablet"},"mobileLandscape":{"value":767,"scale":1,"minWidth":767,"maxWidth":767,"title":"Landscape","icon":"phone-hr-default","activeIcon":"phone-hr-hover","type":"max","id":"mobileLandscape"},"mobile":{"value":575,"scale":1,"minWidth":575,"maxWidth":575,"title":"Mobile","icon":"phone-vr-default","activeIcon":"phone-vr-hover","type":"max","id":"mobile"}};</script>
650<script id='kirki-variable-lists'>var kirkiCSSVariable = {"data":[{"title":"Colors","key":"color","modes":[{"title":"Default","key":"default"}],"variables":[]},{"title":"Numbers","key":"size","modes":[{"title":"Default","key":"default"}],"variables":[]},{"title":"Text Styles","key":"text-style","modes":[{"title":"Default","key":"default"}],"variables":[]},{"title":"Font Family","key":"font-family","modes":[{"title":"Default","key":"default"}],"variables":[]}]};</script>
650<script id="kirki-api-and-nonce"> 651 window.wp_kirki = { 652 ajaxUrl: "https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php", 653 restUrl: "https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/", 654 siteUrl: "https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org", 655 apiVersion: "v1", 656 postId: "121", 657 nonce: "f17f2f9323", 658 call_from: "", 659 templateId: "", 660 context: {"id":121,"type":"post"} 661 }; 662 </script>
662<script> /* <![CDATA[ */var tribe_l10n_datatables = {"aria":{"sort_ascending":": activate to sort column ascending","sort_descending":": activate to sort column descending"},"length_menu":"Show _MENU_ entries","empty_table":"No data available in table","info":"Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ entries","info_empty":"Showing 0 to 0 of 0 entries","info_filtered":"(filtered from _MAX_ total entries)","zero_records":"No matching records found","search":"Search:","all_selected_text":"All items on this page were selected. ","select_all_link":"Select all pages","clear_selection":"Clear Selection.","pagination":{"all":"All","next":"Next","previous":"Previous"},"select":{"rows":{"0":"","_":": Selected %d rows","1":": Selected 1 row"}},"datepicker":{"dayNames":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"dayNamesShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"dayNamesMin":["S","M","T","W","T","F","S"],"monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesShort":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesMin":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"nextText":"Next","prevText":"Prev","currentText":"Today","closeText":"Done","today":"Today","clear":"Clear"}};/* ]]> */ </script>
662<script id="jp-tracks-js" src="//stats.wp.com/w.js?ver=202640"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 662
662
663<script id="jp-tracks-functions-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/jetpack_down/jetpack_vendor/automattic/jetpack-connection/dist/tracks-callables.js?minify=false&ver=a8b23de97e9658b5993f"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 663
663
664<script id="tec-user-agent-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/the-events-calendar/common/build/js/user-agent.js?ver=da75d0bdea6dde3898df"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 664
664
665<script id="collapseomatic-js-js-before"> 666const com_options = {"colomatduration":"fast","colomatslideEffect":"slideFade","colomatpauseInit":"","colomattouchstart":""} 667//# sourceURL=collapseomatic-js-js-before 668</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 668
668
669<script id="collapseomatic-js-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/jquery-collapse-o-matic/js/collapse.js?ver=1.7.2"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 669
669
670<script id="siteworks-footer-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/libby-core/public/js/footerAppend.js?ver=1.1.0"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 670
670
671<script id="wp-accessibility-js-extra"> 672var wpa = {"skiplinks":{"enabled":true,"output":""},"target":"1","tabindex":"1","underline":{"enabled":false,"target":"a"},"videos":"","dir":"ltr","viewport":"1","lang":"en-US","titles":"1","labels":"1","wpalabels":{"s":"Search","author":"Name","email":"Email","url":"Website","comment":"Comment"},"alt":"","altSelector":".hentry img[alt]:not([alt=\"\"]), .comment-content img[alt]:not([alt=\"\"]), #content img[alt]:not([alt=\"\"]),.entry-content img[alt]:not([alt=\"\"])","current":"","errors":"","tracking":"","ajaxurl":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php","security":"7af1a14f28","action":"wpa_stats_action","url":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/about/history/","post_id":"121","continue":"","pause":"Pause video","play":"Play video","restUrl":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-json/wp/v2/media","ldType":"button","ldHome":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org","ldText":"\u003Cspan class=\"dashicons dashicons-media-text\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"screen-reader\"\u003ELong Description\u003C/span\u003E"}; 673//# sourceURL=wp-accessibility-js-extra 674</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 674
674
675<script data-wp-strategy="defer" defer id="wp-accessibility-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-accessibility/js/wp-accessibility.min.js?ver=2.4.0"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 675
675
676<script id="wpa-toolbar-js-extra"> 677var wpatb = {"location":"body","is_rtl":"ltr","is_right":"reversed","responsive":"a11y-non-responsive","contrast":"Toggle High Contrast","grayscale":"Toggle Grayscale","fontsize":"Toggle Font size","custom_fontsize":"0","custom_location":"standard-location","enable_grayscale":"false","enable_fontsize":"true","enable_contrast":"false","factor":""}; 678var wpa11y = {"path":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-accessibility/toolbar/css/a11y-contrast.css?version=2.4.0"}; 679//# sourceURL=wpa-toolbar-js-extra 680</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 680
680
681<script data-wp-strategy="defer" defer id="wpa-toolbar-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-accessibility/js/wpa-toolbar.min.js?ver=2.4.0"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 681
681
682<script id="zeno_font_resizer_fontsize-js-extra"> 683var zeno_font_resizer_script = {"element":"html","resizemax":"24","resizemin":"10","resizesteps":"1.6","cookietime":"31"}; 684//# sourceURL=zeno_font_resizer_fontsize-js-extra 685</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 685
685
686<script id="zeno_font_resizer_fontsize-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/zeno-font-resizer/js/zeno-font-resizer.js?ver=2.0.0"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 686
686
687<script id="genesis-blocks-dismiss-js-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/plugins/genesis-blocks/dist/assets/js/dismiss.js?ver=1787332849"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 687
687
688<script id="sage/js-js" src="https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-content/themes/libbybasic/dist/scripts/main.js"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 688
688
689<script id="wp-emoji-settings" type="application/json"> 690{"baseUrl":"https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-includes/js/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=7.1.2"}} 691</script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 691
691
692<script type="module"> 693/*! This file is auto-generated */ 694var e="script#wp-emoji-settings",t=document.querySelector(e);if(!(t instanceof HTMLScriptElement))throw new Error("Element missing: "+e);const r=JSON.parse(t.text),s=(window._wpemojiSettings=r,"wpEmojiSettingsSupports"),o=["flag","emoji"];function i(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(s,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function c(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data);e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0);const r=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data);return t.every((e,t)=>e===r[t])}function p(e,t){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var n=e.getImageData(16,16,1,1);for(let e=0;e<n.data.length;e++)if(0!==n.data[e])return!1;return!0}function u(e,t,n,r){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf6","\ud83c\udde8\u200b\ud83c\uddf6")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!r(e,"\ud83e\u1fac8")}return!1}function f(e,t,n,r){let a;const s=(a="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):document.createElement("canvas")).getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(s.textBaseline="top",s.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(e=>{o[e]=t(s,e,n,r)}),o}function a(e){var t=document.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,document.head.appendChild(t)}r.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},new Promise(t=>{let n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(s));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(o),u.toString(),c.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"});const a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=e=>{i(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}i(n=f(o,u,c,p))}t(n)}).then(e=>{for(const n in e)r.supports[n]=e[n],r.supports.everything=r.supports.everything&&r.supports[n],"flag"!==n&&(r.supports.everythingExceptFlag=r.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&r.supports[n]);var t;r.supports.everythingExceptFlag=r.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!r.supports.flag,r.supports.everything||((t=r.source||{}).concatemoji?a(t.concatemoji):t.wpemoji&&t.twemoji&&(a(t.twemoji),a(t.wpemoji)))}); 695//# sourceURL=https://www.brooksfreelibrary.org/wp-includes/js/wp-emoji-loader.min.js 696</script>
696 697
697<script type="module" src="https://static.cloudflareinsights.com/beacon.min.js/v31edd6df95cf4e85bb4c19e7a9bdbcba1788362987495" integrity="sha512-iIg7k2xntmwu6/uSb5tpc/hySgZc4eoL31yB29W6tJFo2akwjPWcEqnCEdJvGexCL0KEQwVYv5BlowfhVz26hg==" data-cf-beacon='{"version":"2024.11.0","token":"3fe8095707b64f0cbed218533fabefb6","r":1,"spa":2}' crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
697 698</body> 699</html>
Line numbers count LF bytes from the start of the resource, as the search results do. Vendor segments are library code the classifier recognised; they are stored but not indexed. Bytes are shown as Latin1 characters, one per byte.