BARBARA BLOSVEREN has been the Director of the Stratford Library since 2007. She has been with the library for 26 years and served as Assistant Director prior to her appointment as Director. Previous to this, she served as Senior Manager for Personnel and Youth Services. When selected as Director, Chairman of the Search Committee Steven Unger said, "Barbara has made a significant contribution over the years to the library. Her creativity and leadership have clearly played a role in making the library the essential town asset it has become."
Barbara Blosveren was responsible for creating the nationally recognized and award-winning Teen Services Department at the Stratford Library. She established the library's monthly Youth Review Board in 1987, a program which continues to provide young people with the opportunity to share ideas, impressions and critical evaluations of the books they read. The Youth Review Board was cited by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and the American Library Association for its "Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults", one of the nation's outstanding programs. In addition, the Teen Services Department received the 2001 Excellence in Public Library Service Award given by the Connecticut State Library and the Connecticut Library Association.
Mrs. Blosveren has served on American Library Association national committees including the 2001 Michael L. Printz Award which annually selects the outstanding young adult book in the nation and the 2006 Margaret Edwards Committee which nationally recognizes a young adult author for lifetime achievement. Mrs. Blosveren is a YALSA trainer, providing professional development for public library staff interested in providing quality service to young adults on topics including collection development, programming and youth involvement. She has presented workshops on youth services at libraries and universities and at state, regional, and national conferences. She has also written numerous articles which have appeared in state and national publications.
Mrs. Blosveren was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Meritorious Contributions to Librarianship from the Southern Connecticut State University Department of Information and Library Science from which she received her Master's Degree. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to a graduate of the program who has made outstanding contributions to the library/information science profession.
She is an active member of the Connecticut Library Association, Young Adult Library Services Association, Stratford Youth and Family Advisory Board, Stratford School Readiness and Child Care Advisory Council, Stratford Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Community Organizations Council, Square One Theatre Advisory Board, and the Fairfield Library Group Administrators.
“It is an exciting time for the Stratford Library, Mrs. Blosveren said, “I’m pleased with the technologies available to our patrons including SAT PrepMe, IM reference services, the availability of free WiFi access for laptop users and virtual reference service 24 hours a day, 7 day a week at www.stratfordlibrary.org.” Her ongoing vision for the Stratford Library is to provide an extensive collection of materials in a variety of formats, programming for all ages, a continual collaboration with town agencies and a comprehensive outreach to the entire community of
Stratford Library Association
2203 Main St., Stratford, CT 06615
203-385-4166