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Mission
History
Annual Report
Business Plan
Organizational Structure
Library Board
Policies
Mission

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

Primary Service Responses
Stimulate Imagination
Create Young Readers
Satisfy Curiosity

History

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.

Annual Report
2006-2007 Annual Report
Business Plan

In late 2006 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!

Organizational Structure
Library Manager
Maria Redburn
817-952-2332
mredburn@ci.bedford.tx.us

Assistant to the Library Manager
Cher'e Bradford
817-952-2330
cbradford@ci.bedford.tx.us

Information Resources Supervisor
Tony New
817-952-2340
tnew@ci.bedford.tx.us

Community Services Supervisor
Jeanne Green
817-952-2370
jgreen@ci.bedford.tx.us

Circulation Services Supervisor
Barbara Sparks
817-952-2350
bsparks@ci.bedford.tx.us

Technical Services Manager
Barbara Glassford Johnson
817-952-2360
bjohnson@ci.bedford.tx.us

Library Board

The Library Board is appointed by the city council to serve as a liason 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 2009
Scott Probasco Place 2 2009
Linda Jordan Place 3 2009
Bridgett Gimenez Place 4 2009
Edward Patterson Place 5 2008
Judy Jones Place 6 2008
Ralph Chaney Place 7 2008
  Place 8 Alternate  
  Place 9 Alternate  
  Place 10 Alternate  
Charles Orean Council Liaison

Library Board Agendas and Minutes

Policies

Bedford Public Library Policy Manual

Internet and Computer Access Policy