By Dot Bergin
Carol Bender is looking forward joyfully to meeting-and getting to know-Bedford children and their parents. Her appointment was announced this week by Richard Callaghan, Library Director, who said, “Carol brings the experience and enthusiasm we were looking for to fill this key position.”
For her part, Carol said she was immediately attracted to the Bedford opening after reading the job posting. The programs Bedford offers match her vision of what an outstanding children’s library should be. She’s already visited the Library, has met with Nancy Tegeler, Assistant Children’s Librarian, and has had the opportunity to talk with recently retired Children’s Librarian Sharon McDonald.
For the past six years, Carol has served as Children’s Librarian for the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody, MA. She’s a resident of Gloucester and says she will actually enjoy the drive to Bedford because she will have to time to listen to children’s audio books and music and to keep up with the best in children’s literature.
With so many excellent programs already in place in Bedford, Carol says her first goals will be to get to know her young patrons and the larger community before introducing new ideas.
One explanation for Carol’s enthusiasm for children’s literature may be that she came to the field after a number of years in the business world. A native of Portland, OR, she came to the Boston area in 1988 and began working at the university while taking Harvard Extension School classes. After receiving an Associate’s degree, she went on to finish her bachelor of arts in American Studies at Lesley University. She then began working for Harvard, holding positions of increasing responsibility, ultimately working at Harvard Medical School as Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Student Disability Coordinator.
Then came a life-changing opportunity: Carol was offered a generous severance from the Medical School, which inspired her to enroll at Simmons College to study library science and to “remake herself.” The course work there-and a part time job in the children’s room at a public library-set her on a path she wishes she’d taken earlier in life. From the start she loved working with the children and their parents; helping to instill the love of books in the youngest to the oldest; to sing, to read, to play through programming—all the joys of being a children’s librarian. She has enjoyed serving the children and families of Peabody, and now, she says, “I am excited to be joining the Bedford Free Public Library and bringing my love of this work to their families and patrons.”
As you can see from her photo, taken while exploring Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Carol also loves the outdoors.
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