Barnet Public Library
🏢 Vermont Department of Libraries Network · Barnet, Vermont
Barnet Public Library
Barnet Public Library is the community switchboard for a Caledonia County town that once produced two Vermont governors and hosted a young Jacques Cousteau — a cozy Church Street gathering place open six days a week including Sundays.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–12pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | 2pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 147 CHURCH ST., BARNET, VT 05821
Phone: +1802-633-4436
Website: barnetpubliclibrary.com
Plus Code: 87P97WWW+GV (BARNET, VT)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Barnet Public Library
Barnet Public Library serves one of Vermont's oldest chartered towns — Barnet received its grant from New Hampshire's royal governor Benning Wentworth in 1763, making it older than Vermont itself. Situated at 147 Church St. in a town of about 1,650 residents on the Connecticut River, the library draws on a remarkable local heritage: two Vermont governors, Erastus and Horace Fairbanks, were Barnet natives, and Harvey's Lake in Barnet is where ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau spent childhood summers conducting underwater experiments with hollow reeds — an early step toward inventing modern SCUBA gear. The library positions itself as a Community Switchboard, hosting yoga classes, meditation sessions, home herbalism instruction, wreath-making workshops, and a seed library as part of its 'One Foot Forward' resilience initiative. Membership is open to anyone with basic contact information, and curbside and delivery services are available for those who cannot visit in person.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open six days a week including Sundays (2–5 pm) — rare for a small Vermont town library
- Seed library — borrow seeds for your garden through the One Foot Forward resilience program
- Curbside pickup and home delivery available for patrons who cannot visit in person
- Community programming: yoga, meditation, herbalism, and wreath-making workshops
- Historic town with ties to two Vermont governors and Jacques Cousteau's early underwater experiments
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Barnet library card connects you to Vermont Digital Newspaper Project and statewide digital lending through the Vermont Department of Libraries.
📚 Services
- Book and media lending (books, movies, audiobooks)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Printing and photocopying
- Fax machine
- Meeting space for community use
- Seed library
- Curbside pickup and home delivery
🎸 Programs
- Yoga classes
- Meditation sessions
- Home herbalism instruction
- Wreath-making workshops
- One Foot Forward resilience initiative
- Kids Space programming (recently reopened)
- Community Switchboard — resource and referral connections
📍 Nearby Libraries in Caledonia County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barnet Public Library really open on Sundays?
Yes — Barnet Public Library opens on Sundays from 2 pm to 5 pm, which is unusual for a small Vermont town library. Full open days are Tuesday (10 am–5:30 pm), Wednesday (10 am–5:30 pm), Thursday (9 am–12 pm), Saturday (10 am–2 pm), and Sunday (2–5 pm). The library is closed Monday and Friday.
What is the Barnet seed library, and how does it work?
The seed library is part of Barnet Public Library's 'One Foot Forward' resilience initiative. Patrons can borrow seed packets for their gardens at no cost. At the end of the season, saving and returning seeds to the library helps replenish the collection for the next year — supporting local food sovereignty and community gardening.
What connection does Barnet, Vermont have to Jacques Cousteau?
Ocean explorer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau spent formative childhood summers at Harvey's Lake in Barnet, where he conducted early underwater experiments using hollow reeds to breathe beneath the surface. Cousteau later credited these experiences as a step toward developing modern SCUBA equipment.
Can I get curbside pickup from Barnet Public Library?
Yes. Curbside and delivery services are available for patrons who have difficulty visiting the library in person. Call 802-633-4436 during open hours to arrange a pickup or delivery.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
🌱 This library has a seed library. See how library seed libraries work — borrow free seeds, grow them, and save some to return — and find other libraries with a seed library seed libraries by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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