Pettes Memorial Library was built and donated to Brome Township by Narcissa Farrand Pettes. We are the oldest public library in Quebec. 

Our story began in 1894 with an act of Parliament. We were Quebec’s first and we remain a free public library, still housed in the same heritage building, donated by Mrs. Narcissa Farrand Pettes, and still governed by a board of volunteer trustees. Our staff is tiny but enormously hard-working, and we rely heavily on the dedication of our volunteers.

We live in a time of transition: social, economic and technological. Being a free, public, bilingual library, serving a rural population in a fast-paced world has its challenges. But we have evolved over the decades and we will continue to do so, working and innovating to remain relevant to our community.

Looking forward, we see a bright future for the Town of Brome Lake and an important role for Pettes Memorial as a cultural hub and resource, where people connect with the larger world, their community, and each other.

Our mission

Pettes Memorial Library provides our community free access, in English and French, to a wide range of humanity’s thoughts, ideas, information and expressions of the creative imagination. In addition, the Library offers a welcoming place in which to experience, explore and share them.

Our Values

Our guiding values are accessibility, collaboration, diversity, respect, innovation, creativity, intellectual freedom and fiscal responsibility.