The Arvin A. Brown Library was founded in 1895 when farmer and lumberman Arvin A. Brown left his entire estate to the people of the Town of Richford. It was first housed in the Bank Block (the Masonic Hall ) on Main Street. In 1915 the library moved to the present Town Hall: the Library Trustees had begun negotiations in 1906 to buy the Union Church building and remodel it for this purpose. The Trustees deeded the building to the Town, with the provision that the Town always provide suitable space for the Library. When more space was needed it moved to its present location in 1984, after Library Trustees provided funds for the Town to purchase the “Guertin House”. These funds included grants from HUD, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and a bequest from the estate of Estelle Lahue
The Arvin A. Brown Library is governed by a five-member elected Board of Trustees, which meets almost every month at the Library at 4:30 p.m. on the third Monday. Special meeting are warned by notices at the Town Hall and in the Courier. The public is always welcome to attend.
We are also home to a microfilm collection of Richford Gazettes and Richford Journal Gazettes. We are in the process of digitizing these issues so they can be accessed online. We offer you a sneak peak at some ads and short articles from various issues:
Here is a list of issues which we have on microfilm at the library.
Here is a searchable book of notes on articles published in the Richford Gazette, Richford Journal, Richford Journal – Gazette and County Courier and St Albans Messenger from 1895 to 2008. This is a work in progress – if you find this helpful or interesting your comments may speed up the completion of this project.
If you are interested in accessing the copies that we do have, it is helpful to call ahead to be sure we have enough staff to offer you assistance using the microfilm reader.
Arvin A. Brown Public Library 
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