Ruminations from the Roost: Ilsley’s reincarnation

Addison Independent

August 6, 2026

by Steve Harris

Congratulations, Middlebury! You are about to receive the best present any town could give itself. On July 20, 2026, the building inspector for the State of Vermont awarded the Ilsley Public Library a conditional Certificate of Occupancy, a formal step that will allow the library to move back home with its extensive new furnishings, shelving, digital networks and ultimately its ever-changing book collection. The Grand Opening public celebration is scheduled for Aug. 29, beginning with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., open house, and a film screening at 2 p.m.

This project is a well-designed “bun” that has been in the oven for 20 years of public discussion. This timeframe to launch a public library is unusual, but inevitable in this case due to a long list of challenges Middlebury has overcome sequentially to reach the top of its priority list. Formal dedications and ceremonies are already planned where many individuals will be recognized for their contributions. Amidst all those formalities, I wish to share a few things I have noticed during this lengthy and complex gestation.

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