251 Club Librarian gives neat account

[Fairfax Librarian]

A neat story from a VT librarian - Helen Linda:

Vermont is purported to have the greatest number of public libraries per capita in the United States -- approximately 175 of them. As a member of the Vermont 251 Club, I have made it my mission to visit all of them.

I’m sure there was a time when I didn’t know what the 251 Club was but now I can’t imagine life without it. Started in 1954, the club challenges its members to adventure through the 251 towns & cities of our great state. 251ers are not about just passing through places and checking names off a list. We stop by, meet folks, shop around, dine, and generally try to feel out what makes each community unique.

Everyone has some sort of mission, something that makes them feel as though they can cross a town off the list. Back when the club was started, 251ers visited every post office and got a stamp. Now people choose their own adventure. My best road trip buddy eats in every town. A fellow librarian has to visit with the whole family. I take pictures of libraries. In towns without libraries I photograph whatever suits me. Some towns are so small that there is nothing with the town name on it save the border marker on the county route.

Without intent, I am documenting every public library in the state. Whenever I tell folks about my “251ing The Library” project, they say I need to share it. So now I am. This is something I do for fun, so I didn’t really have the forethought to write down something about every town or take detailed notes. I just remember my favorites. For instance, did you know that both Richford and Bellows Falls have the best thrift store shopping in the state? Are you a fan of taxidermy? I am, and most libraries have at least a handful of taxidermied critters. The most impressive collection I’ve found so far is at the library & museum in Westfield. It kept me busy for over an hour.

I post my pictures online in a public photo album called 251 Club Evidence, organized in the order I visited the towns. A large chunk of pictures are also collected in my Vermonavigation album from when I circumnavigated the state last summer with the aforementioned road buddy. If you want to see where I have been, check out my personal map on the 251 Club website.

[LauriH]

Alright, you talked me into it!  I have heard of this before and toyed with the idea then, but never made the commitment.  I think I will stick close to home to start out and venture farther south next year when the weather warms up and we can camp out.

[Fairfax Librarian]

Wow!  Great!  What will be your focus? 
Want to do a blog or post pictures of your trips/stops?

[LauriH]

So I really haven't thought much past "you talked me into it".  I did take a quick trip to their website.

[lena6]

My husband and I did the 251 a number of years ago.  It took us about 4 years as we did it only in the summer and only on week-ends.  It was amazing to see towns we had never heard of.  Lewis has 0 population and only a pond to prove you were there.  Some day we want to do the covered bridges.  Maybe when gas is a little cheaper.

[Sue W.]

We're trying to fish in each town.  If not fish, I guess we'll eat!  We did Lewis 2 summers ago, nice pond not too much for fish but pretty.  Brownington & Charleston today, brrr....snow up there.