About the library

About the Library

The Bedford Hills Free Library has been serving the people of Bedford Hills since 1915. It was first opened by Mrs. Eliza Gourlie above a local hardware store.

Later the library was moved to the Bedford Hills Community House, using what is now the Audubon Room.

S
P
A
C
E
R

The present building was acquired in 1952. On the second floor two apartments were constructed to help acquire funds for the library. The library was renovated in 1960 and the two apartments eliminated to provide more space for the growing needs of the library. In 1974 the new children's room was opened and named in honor of Mary C. Hyatt, library director from 1947 to 1974.

The library continues to change as technology enhances the use of our collections. The library is staffed by six full and part-time librarians, most of whom live, or have lived, in Bedford Hills and two of whom have worked for the Bedford Hills Free Library for more than 30 years.

The smallest of Bedford’s three libraries, we consider the Bedford Hills library to be one of the jewels of our small hamlet, where our librarians know their patrons and their needs.

The library receives partial funding from the Town of Bedford, and otherwise relies on the generosity of patrons and community members. To make a donation, please click on the "donate" button to the left of this page.

The library is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees, each serving a three-year term. A trustee meeting is held on the second Tuesday of each month at the library 8 p.m. (Summer months excepted)

Trustees

Elin Sullivan, Co-President
Terrie Paladino Viola, Co-President

Susan Kane, Treasurer
Fiona E. Mitchell, Secretary,

Per B. Fog
Nathalie Strauel
Heide Shilstone
Luke Vander Linden

To contact a trustee, please write c/o the library or email.

Staff

Rhoda M. Gushue, Director
Eileen Baer, Assistant Director
Dorothy Bruley, Head of Circulation
Vicki Kriegeskotte, Children's Librarian
Janet Roswell, Collection Development
Kathy Storfer, Special Programming
Volunteers, Pages

Thank you to all our ongoing supporters and to those who
continuously help to maintain the library by donating their time.

Partial list:

Rusticus Garden Club | Al Sulenski, holiday lights | Tony Giardina-plumbing | Knight Security
JC Beach Electric Co. | Wayne Fazzinga & Co. - contractor

Thank you to Terri, Gardener Pedro and Terri's Beagle hound for keeping our planters neat and tidy.

This fall our ornamental, chartreuse colored sweet potato vine that had been growing the library's front planters yielded tubers! What a surprise!

YEARLY PARKING RENTALS AVAILABLE:
The library has a limited amount of parking spaces available to rent. Conveniently located and a short walk to the Bedford Hills Train Station to catch the Harlem Line train.