Brownell's 100th Anniversary
The Brownell Library was dedicated on July 20th 1926. This year the library will celbrate 100 years of serving the community of Essex Junction. Join the library for a year full of events and programs celebrating this exciting milestone.
January 10th 2:30- Join us in the Brownell Library's Main Reading Room to kick off our 100th year! We'll have snacks, games, and other fun activities for all ages. Make sure to keep an eye out for other 100th Anniversary events throughout the year; 2026 will be full of events, contests, and celebrations of Brownell Library and Essex Junction history!
Design Contest- Create a design to be used in special 100th aniverary merch! Submissions due March 1st. Files should be 300 DPI and file format SVG or PDF. Original work only, no AI. Winners will be judged by a panel made up of Librarians, Trustees, and local artists. Three winners will be selected, one child, one teen, and one adult. The winning designs will be printed on merch to be sold through out the year. They will also be printed on high quality DTF (Iron on) sheets so the design can be added to garments and items already owned. This helps to cut down on garment waste and will be most sustainable and cost effective. Proceeds will go to the Friends of the Brownell Library 100th fund to help support the library for the next 100 years!
Commemorative Book- Submit stories, memories, poems, images, and drawings about Brownell Library. These will be collected into a commemorative book celebrating the first 100 years of Brownell Libraries' history. The book will then be for sale at the end of the year. Proceeds will go to the Friends of the Brownell Library 100th fund to help support the library for the next 100 years!
Submission for both the desgin contest and the book can be sent to
April 8th at 7pm- Presentation by the Essex Historical Society about the history of the library and Essex Junction.
May 30th at 12om- Samual Brownell's Birthday Party! Celebrate the libraries' founder Samual Brownell's 184th birthday with cake and t-shirts!
July 10th at 1pm- Retro Circulation Desk- Come experience old library technology like a card catalog, stamps, and vintage handwriting at our retro circulation desk!
July 18th at 4pm- Brownell's 100th Anniversary Party! Celebrate 100 years of Brownell Library will a party including food, games, and more!
October date TDB- Ghost Stories at the Library - Read and share ghost stories from Brownell’s (or any library’s) history