BRADFORD — Bradford Public Library(BPL) serves patrons of all ages from both Darke and Miami counties. It caters to the community, family and school.

The village, divided by the Darke-Miami County line, has seen people from both counties using the facility in nearly 80-year history.

The Bradford School Board tossed around the idea of creating a public library after receiving a pamphlet, supplementing the Ohio school laws in regard to a new ruling whereby a school board could establish a library, other than tax levy for support of same, in 1933.

A new school board was elected in 1934 and the superintendent, Willis Winkler, took up the project and, after preliminaries on May 21, 1935, trustees of the public library were appointed by the board of education. The facility would be called the Bradford Public Library. Nondas Cottrell was appointed the first librarian.

Sue Vickroy, a volunteer today in the Robert E. Perry Reference and Historical Room at the library, said the original library was contained in the Bradford YMCA, which was built for railroaders who were staying in town.

“Robert Perry donated old books and magazines from the original library to the new library,” she said. “The board of education in 1933 decided to establish the library here at the present location at 138 E. Main St. It was probably 1936 before it got off the ground.”

Historical accounts stated that at an October board meeting that year, A.R. Patty, representing Lillian Iddings, presented a deed for the Iddings home which conveyed the property entirely, save a reservation, that so long as it remained a library it was the property of the library trustees; otherwise, it would revert to the Iddings estate. It was accepted.

Vickroy said the library has always been in the same location, with the first house acquired in 1936. An addition to the home was done and dedicated on March 23, 1985 and the brand new building was dedicated in 2000.

Vickroy pointed out where [Nate] Iddings Memorial Park is today, just south across the street from the library on Main Street as well. It was once a thriving location.

“Thirty-four businesses and 12 homes were burned to the ground and 25 box cars caught on fire Aug. 3, 1920, she said. “It is believed to have been arson, having started at the lumber company. No one was killed or injured, but there was over a $1 million loss and no insurance at the time, so not many could rebuild.”

She said the perpetrators of the arson were never found.

Buildings on the north side of the street were not affected by the fire, according to her.

Vickroy also talked about the railroad that used to run through town to Indianapolis.

“The Y was tore down in 1938 and a lot of the marble in it is now in the city building,” she said.

Cherie Roeth, director of the library the past eight years, said digital signs were purchased last December for the exterior of the library with money coming from John Scalzi and memorial contributions to the library. She also reported Bradford Public Library, with the help from village council, the school and donations, also purchased a ProScan 3000, a new version of a microfilm/microfiche reader, for $10,000-plus.

Services are numerous at the library. It does more than lend books.

“We offer so much more than checking in and checking out,” Roeth said.

Among services are the showing of movies, Bible study, book clubs and story hours.

“We have a portable MakeSpace, with materials and tools to accommodate such projects as S.T.E.M. activities, cooking and baking, jewelry making, photography, scrapbooking, LEGOS and flower arranging,” Roeth said. “And, we are one of the few libraries who have received 60 to 70 data bases and purchased a number of others needed at Bradford Schools. We make sure we’re integrated with what the schools are doing.”

She also noted that the library offers computer classes, sewing classes and teen librarians gifted in S.T.E.M. There are 14 staff members working part-time at the library, including Roeth.

She said there are plans to hold a pie crust baking class on Nov. 17 with Teresa Stryker; a woodcarving class presented by Butch Clark, a local woodcarver, the first part of November; and the library’s craft show the first Saturday in November, sponsored by the New Friends of the Library.

“In September after Labor Day, we will be starting GED classes every Monday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. offered by Upper Valley CTC,” the director said. “We had them two years ago and they went well.”

The library is open to groups who want to hold meetings or other get-togethers.

“The Southwest Volleyball officials meet here for training meetings,” she said.

Today, is the fishing derby and, on Tuesday, they will celebrate the End of Summer Olympics at the Y-Yard.

Roeth loves working at the library. It has always been very important to her to “give something of herself” back to the community and Bradford Schools. Working with BPL’s staff librarians has developed into a close-knit “book and technology” team.

A graduate of Bradford High School, she is pleased to be able to return to her hometown community as the Bradford Public Library director. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Wright State University in the areas of Elementary Education and a second major in Special Education. She began her educational career in the Versailles Exempted Village Schools as a Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders Teacher.

In the mid 1980s, Roeth went back to college and obtained her master’s degree at the University of Dayton in the areas of School Administration and Supervision. She worked for the Darke County Educational Service Center as the county’s Special Education supervisor and worked with the local and state Special Olympics during these years.

The next educational opportunity came as the elementary principal for Bradford Central Elementary. She was there for 10 years working with the teaching staff, the children and their parents. It was at this point that she recognized how important integrating and sharing resources can be in a small, rural community. The village of Bradford, Bradford Schools and the Bradford Public Library are often joined in their objectives and goals and have worked together on several projects over the years.

She is the choir director for the Piqua Baptist Church and was recently the music director for Town & Country’s production of “Wedding Singer.”