Bradford Public Library was born in 1933 when the Board of Education of the Bradford Public Schools received a pamphlet supplementing the Ohio school laws in regard to a new ruling whereby a school board could establish a public library. The Board took action with the initial help of Lloyd Brubaker and school Superintendent Willis Winkler. After all the preliminaries were taken care of the public library trustees were appointed by the Bradford Public School’s Board of Education. The founding trustees were Willis Winkler, president; J. W. Routson, vice president; Grace Stahl, secretary-treasurer; members – John Detrick, Glenna Robertson, George Deeter and Opal Patty. A letter of application for the librarianship was received, but no action was taken at this meeting. On July 16, 1933, Mr. Detrick made a motion that the new library be called “The Bradford Public Library.” and a budget was authorized to be submitted to the auditors of Darke and Miami Counties for expenses.
Miss Nonda Cottrell was appointed librarian at a salary of $4.00 per week of 15 hours. Committees form the Trustee Board were appointed and authorized to purchase shelving, books, tables and chairs, magazine racks and arrange for heat and light. Mr. Routson reported he had made a trip to Dayton relative to a gift of the Idding’s home as a site for the library. At the October meeting, Mr. A. R. Patty was present, representing Mrs. Lillian Iddings. He presented a deed for the Idding’s 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. The deed was duly accepted. (Excerpts were taken from History of “Bradford Through the Years.” compiled by Robert E. Perry.
This deeded building served the Bradford area community for over sixty-five years. In 2000, a new library building was dedicated with an addition begin built in 2004. The Bradford Public Library has been of service for over 75 years and will continue to meet the needs of its patrons and the school. Stay tuned for more historical information!