Mission
Our Community's front porch . . . for learning, for leisure, for life!

Primary Service Responses
Stimulate Imagination
Create Young Readers
Satisfy Curiosity

The first Bedford Public Library, located in a small rented house on Bedford Road, opened on June 30, 1964. In 1968, the Library moved to a larger house on Forest Ridge Drive. In 1972 a new City Hall was constructed nearby and the library moved the collection of 19,800 items to the first floor of the new facility. Construction of the present 17,000 square foot building on L. Don Dodson Drive was completed in 1987. In 2001, the city passed an $8.85 million bond package to build a new library facility. Land for the new facility has been purchased directly east of the current building.

In March 2005, a successful property tax rollback election resulted in decreased funding for city services. As a result Bedford Public Library was closed on March 30, 2005. On April 15, 2005, an anonymous donation of $300,000 was given to the City, with $125,000 earmarked for the library. The Friends of the Bedford Public Library held multiple fundraising events that collected in excess of $21,000. On May 3, 2005, the library re-opened for a reduced schedule of 21 hours a week.

Today, the Bedford Public Library is open 7 days a week for a total of 59 hours. The Library contains over 100,000 items including adult and children’s classics, modern best sellers, paperbacks, magazines, DVDs, music CDs and audiobooks. The Information Services Division prides itself on answering questions using authoritative services and educating patrons in how to use these resources. The Library acts as a bridge for the digital divide by providing public computers, online databases, ebooks, free wireless Internet access and computer classes. The Youth Services Division seeks to instill a passion for reading and learning in the children in our community. A host of program opportunities, including toddler and preschool story times, Mother Goose story time, Library Buddies teen tutoring, Bookworms book club and various adult programs are offered. The library continues to search for new and better ways to provide services and to involve itself in the community.

In 2007 the library conducted a survey to identify the community's needs and how the library might best meet these needs. Using this data, the Library Manager in conjunction with the Library Advisory Board developed a business plan (pdf) that incorporates goals that will provide a blueprint for the library's future.

Please send us your comments, questions and suggestions. We want to hear from you!

Library Manager
Maria Redburn
817-952-2332


Assistant to the Library Manager
Cher'e Bradford
817-952-2330


Information Resources Supervisor
Tony New
817-952-2340


Community Services Supervisor
Jeanne Green
817-952-2370


Circulation Services Supervisor
Barbara Sparks
817-952-2350


Technical Services Manager
Barbara Glassford Johnson
817-952-2360

The Library Board is appointed by the city council to serve as a liaison between the library and the citizens of Bedford. The Board advises the library manager and city council in matters related to the library and its services and promotes the library and its programs.

Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room, 1805 L. Don Dodson Drive.

The public is welcome to attend.

	Name		Position		Term Expires
	Marianne Lanoue		Place 1		2011
	Scott Probasco		Place 2		2011
	Linda Jordan		Place 3		2011
	Bridgett Gimenez		Place 4		2011
	Lori Irvin		Place 5		2010
	Raymond Peters		Place 6		2010
	Ralph Chaney		Place 7		2010
	Ronald Boyer		Place 8		2011
	Karen Kersey		Place 9		2011
	Chris Brown		Council Liaison

Library Board Agendas and Minutes

Bedford Public Library Policy Manual (updated April 2010)

Internet and Computer Access Policy