Chamber Small Business Spotlight: Brazil Public Library

The Brazil Public Library, located at 204 N. Walnut St., is still running strong after nearly 150 years of service to the Clay County Community.

Small businesses come in all shapes and sizes.

A rather large, sturdy and time-tested small business in Clay County is the Brazil Public Library, providing residents with a wealth of knowledge since it was first conceived in 1879.

Since then, the library and its staff have been steadfast in benefiting Clay County adults and children, alike. And though times can be tough for “old-fashioned” reading material, the Brazil Public Library still sees hundreds of visitors each month with programs like adult book groups and youth craft times, while serving as a viable resource for companies and area groups to use as a meeting space.

Jill Scarborough, Brazil Public Library director, has spent the last 26 years with the literary institution, saying she has enjoyed every minute.

Nick Wilson Photo

Director Jill Scarborough has been working for the library for 26 years, and has seen many of Brazil’s people grow both in life and in spirit.

The experience, she said, has been unlike any other.

“It’s great to see the kids all the way through their adulthood. I’ve been here long enough that I have seen that,” Scarborough said Monday. I’ve loved every minute of it, and I’ve always had good staff to help with that.”

Brazil Public Library Director Jill Scarborough, from left, Ken Kortum and Heather Sorlie welcome patrons to the library Monday.

Nick Wilson Photo

Dedicated individuals pushing toward a common cause isn’t the only good to be drawn from the library. Other services include a 15-station computer lab and a 1-station family lab, partitioned meeting rooms, printing, books, graphic novels, materials from other libraries and literary services, reading and discussion groups, and craft times for adults and children.

And they aren’t stopping there. New for 2023 is a summer reading program, set to run each Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in June and July.

“They’re family programs, so we invite everyone from ages 0 to 100,” Scarborough said. “We would honor that [101-year-old person] if they came, too.”

Brazil Public Library Children’s Director Tammy Robison and library mascot Carnegie are ready to help children learn and grow; Monday, April 24 marks Carnegie’s 10th birthday, which will be celebrated with a public birthday party at the library on that day.

Nick Wilson Photo

Offering so mamy services to such a wide range of residents can be both uplifting and challenging, she added, saying her staff and volunteers are crucial to those efforts.

“It’s very chaotic. I think our smallest kids programs are 20 [participants], and we’ve had well over 150 at some,” she said. “We get many volunteers from our friends group, and they come over and they help with the crowd control and directions for the kids to go.

“It’s so nice to see all the kids come out.”

However, like most other “old-fashioned” institutions, change is inevitable, and the library must roll with those changes year after year.

“There’s just been so many changes in the library world ... and people are looking electronically,” Scarborough said. “We just have to decide what serves the community best, and take it from there.”

The Brazil Public Library is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday each week, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. It is located at 204 N. Walnut St. in Brazil.

For more information, call 812-448-1981 or visit www.brazil.lib.in.us. More can also be found through the library’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BrazilPL.