Brighton Memorial Library's

Commitment, Vision, and Values

COMMITMENT 
Brighton Memorial Library is committed to ensuring public library services of the highest possible quality for the Brighton community. The  Executive Director oversees all aspects of administration while professionally certified librarians manage reference and online services, collection development and programming. Clerical staff, aides, pages, and provide circulation, technical, business, and community relations support services. 

FUNDING 
Funds for annual operations include tax receipts from the Town of Brighton as determined by the Town Board and revenues from fees, bills for lost and damaged items, copying/printing, and state aid. Special enhancements are made possible by grants, and through the generosity of Friends of Brighton Memorial Library and individual donors throughout the community.

ACCESSIBILITY 
Brighton Memorial  Library is fully accessible and offers a wide range of free media, materials, programs, and services in a variety of formats. 

SERVICES FOR PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES 

• Accessible entrance with ramps and power doors

• Lift for access to the Learning Center

• Magnifiers and one-on-one personal assistive listening devices

• Induction loop in the Learning Center

• Programs signed for the deaf and hard of hearing provided with two weeks advance notice

• Close-captioned videos

• Large print book collection

• Audio book collection

• Walker with book basket

• Wheelchair​

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION 
Brighton Memorial Library grants equal opportunity to all persons without regard to ableism, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, marital status, race, religion or political affiliation. The library complies with all Federal and State regulations dealing with employment practices. 

  

HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY
Brighton Memorial Library was founded in April of 1953 by Dorothy Cumpston, Leroy C. Percy, Jean C. McCurdy, Philip M. Liebschutz, and Charles G. Rittenhouse, a group dedicated to establishing outstanding public library service for the Brighton community.
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The library opened in a 22 feet x 36 feet room in the Brighton Town Hall. It was named as a memorial to the Brighton men who gave their lives to preserve our freedom and way of life, a living, growing, memorial, ever advancing the values for which they died during World War II.
 
On May 25, 1973, following twenty years of growth and professional development, the New York State Board of Regents officially established Brighton Memorial Library as a public library corporation by granting an absolute charter. The Library Board of Trustees were vested with all the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the corporation.
 
An early 1960’s expansion increased the library from 796 square feet to 1,968 square feet; another in 1979 brought it to 12,000 square feet; and the 1999 expansion to 24,000 square feet. The library was renovated in the spring of 2016.

MISSION STATEMENT 
Brighton Memorial Library provides all the public services required by law and tradition under its Absolute Charter from the New York State Board of Regents and serves as the community’s cultural center. 

VISION 
The Library is Brighton’s gathering place providing information access for the entire community while promoting lifelong learning and enrichment for all to enjoy. 
 
VALUES 
Brighton Memorial Library is committed to preserving the highest values in the following areas: 
 
Customer  Service
To provide timely quality service with courtesy, accuracy and resourcefulness
 
Staff
To sustain the highest quality of staff through recruitment, training, and support
 
Environment
To maintain a safe environment that fosters openness, trust and diversity
 
Assessment   
To perform ongoing evaluation of the needs of the community to ensure continuous improvement in library services 
 
Advocacy
To advocate for the library, its staff, and services
 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

To uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion in our hiring practices, policies, procedures and programming.