Board of Trustees
Library Board of Trustees
The Library Board of Trustees meets the first Tuesday of each month (any rescheduled dates are noted on the meeting list) at 5:00 p.m. at Bedford Central Library unless otherwise noted; these meetings are open to the public. If you wish to address the Library Board during the Public Comment portion of the meeting, contact the Library Director at (540) 586-8911 x 1140. Any requests must be received by 5:00pm on the Friday preceding the board meeting. Please see Policy on Public Comments at Library Board Meetings for full details. Note: If you have a disability and need accommodations for meetings, please call 540-586-8911. Please give 48 hours notice to allow us to better serve you.
Members of the library board can be contacted via email using board@bpls.org.
| Members | Office Held | Term End Date |
| Debra Bahouth | 6/30/2027 | |
| Sharene Duncombe | 6/30/2028 | |
| Jennifer Lazowski | Treasurer | 6/30/2028 |
| Olivia Madison | Vice Chair | 6/30/2029 |
| Tracey Reichard | Chair | 6/30/2027 |
| Pamela Palmer | 6/30/2029 | |
| Heather Craver | 6/30/2028 |
Fiscal Year 2026 Meetings
Agendas & Minutes: Fiscal Year 2026
Meeting Agenda available one week before the next meeting date. Meeting minutes are not posted until they have been approved by the Board of Trustees at a subsequent meeting. All meetings begin at 5:00pm at Bedford Central Library unless otherwise noted.
July 1, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
August 5, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
Proposed Circulation Policy Proposed Lost or Damaged Items Policy
September 2, 2025 5:00pm Montvale Library Agenda
Public Notice: The Library Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for September 2nd had been cancelled due to lack of quorum.
October 7, 2025 5:00pm Moneta Library Agenda | Minutes
November 4, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
December 2, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
Postponed to January 12, 2026 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
February 3, 2026 11:30am Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
March 3, 2026 5:00pm Forest Library Agenda | Minutes
April 14, 2026 6:30pm Stewartsville Library Agenda | Minutes
May 5, 2026 5:00pm Big Island Library Agenda | Minutes
June 2, 2026 5:00pm Montvale Library Agenda | Minutes
Fiscal Year 2025 Meetings
Agendas & Minutes: Fiscal Year 2025
Meeting Agenda available one week before the next meeting date. Meeting minutes are not posted until they have been approved by the Board of Trustees at a subsequent meeting. All meetings begin at 5:00pm at Bedford Central Library unless otherwise noted.
July 2, 2024 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
August 6, 2024 5:00pm Moneta Library Agenda | Minutes
September 3, 2024 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
October 1, 2024 6:30pm with a joint BPLS Foundation Board worksession at 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
November 5, 2024 5:00pm Montvale Library Agenda | Minutes
December 3, 2024 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
December 30, 2024 2:00pm Bedford Central Library – Peaks Meeting Room : Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee work session. Two or more members will be present at this meeting.
January 7, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library CANCELLED for weather
February 4, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
March 4, 2025 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes | Selection Criteria Discussion
April 1, 2025 5:00pm Forest Library Agenda | Minutes
Fiscal Year 2024 Meetings
Agendas & Minutes: Fiscal Year 2024
Meeting Agenda available one week before the next meeting date. Meeting minutes are not posted until they have been approved by the Board of Trustees at a subsequent meeting. All meetings begin at 5:00pm at Bedford Central Library unless otherwise noted.
July 11, 2023 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
August 1 , 2023 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
September 5, 2023 5:00pm Stewartsville Library Agenda | Minutes
October 3, 2023 5:00pm Montvale Library Agenda | Minutes
November – No meeting, Election Day
December 5, 2023 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
January – No meeting
February 6, 2024 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
March 5, 2024 5:00pm Bedford Central Library Agenda | Minutes
April 2, 2024 5:00pm Meeting Cancelled
May 7, 2024 5:00pm Big Island Library Agenda | Minutes
June 18, 2024 5:00pm Moneta Library Agenda | Minutes – Postponed for lack of quorum
June 25, 2024 5:00pm online meeting Minutes
Early History of Bedford Public Library System
On November 30, 1900 a group of civic-minded women founded the “Women’s Library Association of Bedford”, starting with a two-room office building located on the present Bridge Street site of the Bedford Central Library. This modest library grew steadily over the next 100 years, and now serves as the headquarters of the Bedford Public Library System, a modern library system serving Bedford County.
The library is the oldest publicly-supported, continuously operating public library in any of the communities surrounding Bedford County, and is one of the oldest public libraries in Virginia. From the beginning the library attracted a remarkable amount of usage and support from the progressive community it serves. Even through years of tight budgets and cramped quarters, the library maintained a reputation for excellence in customer service, quality of collections and children’s programming and for usage by residents of the City (now Town) and County.
Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s the library benefitted from cooperation between Bedford City and County in establishing a regional library, as well as from public/private funding partnerships. This regional cooperation and community support have made it possible to establish modern facilities, collections and services throughout Bedford County.
In 2013, the City of Bedford reverted to Town status and per the reversion agreement Bedford Central Library became a county property and the governing Library Board was reorganized.
November 30, 1900: Women’s Library Association of Bedford founded, and library was established in a two-room office building on Bridge Street. Initial subscription rate was $1.00.
1914: Original building expanded.
1941: Association shares cost of construction of new library with Town of Bedford. Following years of increasing financial support from the Town of Bedford, the Association votes to transfer its assets to the Town. New building constructed next to the old building, which is moved and used as residence.
1942: New building opened to public. The first building built as a library in the Bedford area, it served until 1993, when it closed for renovation and expansion.
1950’s: The Bedford Public Library develops a reputation for excellence in the state, based on financial support, patron registration, collection size and circulation figures.
1968: Following years of discussion of the critical space needs of the library and possible plans for expansion, the City purchases the Louise Wharton house next door. This historic house serves as the Childrens’ Library from 1969 until 1995.
1969: Bedford County and the City of Bedford sign a library services contract to share operating costs based on patron registration figures.