New Director For Brunswick Community Library
By Amy Modesti
Brunswick Community Library is pleased to welcome its new library director Sara Hopkins. Ms. Hopkins was previously employed by the library as a certified librarian to work with children. She had taken over the role of Director after Natalie Hurteau left to accept a position as a Manager for Adult Services and Outreach for the Upper Hudson Library System.
From Troy, Ms. Hopkins, who is also a visual artist and a certified yoga instructor, has had a fondness for libraries since childhood. She would spend her quality time at the Brunswick Community Library as a library patron. She began working at the library in 2006. She had taken some time off from her job to attend college at SUNY Albany where she earned her master’s degree in Library Science. After receiving her degree, she returned to the library to work as a certified librarian.
Hopkins is thrilled that she is now a library director and has set many goals for herself. One such goal is to create as many community activities as possible. She also wants to remove the stigma of library patrons getting into trouble for overdue books or for talking too loudly. She says reading and conversing with other patrons is fun.
An event that Hopkins is looking forward to is the upcoming Easter Hop, that will occur on April 20 from 10:30 am until noon. Like Trunk or Treat, children and their families at this event receive Easter candy from residents while participating in other Easter-related activities such as having a photo taken with the Easter bunny and face painting. Another benefit event for the library that Hopkins is looking forward to is the annual Garden Day that is scheduled for June 8.
“We have a lot of fun engaging things to do,” exclaimed Hopkins. The Brunswick Community Library offers many free and low-cost events. The library offers a place to fax and print documents, provides coloring books for children and adults, and offers various clubs and classes to join throughout the week in bridge, knitting, book club and yoga. In the future, Hopkins also wants to offer other activities such as chair yoga, crafting, painting, card making, art journaling, paint and sip, and even a fluid art class. Some classes and activities are first come first serve and for some you have to register in advance.
One thing that Hopkins enjoys the most about her library work is that she can watch friendships form through the various activities happening at the library. There are moms that set up play dates for their children to socialize with each other. Some patrons that have become friends often return to the library to relax, have coffee, and play board games. Hopkins sees the library as a “community hub” – a place where people can feel safe in a space where they can be themselves and hang out and chat and feel like they belong.
Congratulations to Sara Hopkins on becoming the Brunswick Community Library’s new director!