THETFORD — Library director Peter Blodgett is retiring after nearly 35 years of leading Thetford’s two libraries.
Children’s librarian Emily Zollo will serve as the interim director of Latham Memorial Library in Thetford and George Peabody Library in Post Mills. On Sunday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., there will be a celebration for Blodgett at the Union Village Dam picnic shelter.
“I’m 68 so I’m going to enjoy retirement, I think.” Blodgett said, adding that he is looking forward to traveling with his wife and working on maintenance projects around his Thetford home. He also hopes to resume teaching through Osher@Dartmouth once in-person classes begin again.
“I’m old school that way so I’m looking forward to when Osher begins to offer classroom space,” Blodgett said.
The COVID-19 pandemic also influenced his decision: His father, Put Blodgett, died shortly before the pandemic began and it “made me think about what I want to do with the years that I have left,” said Blodgett, who started at the library in 1986.
Blodgett’s retirement comes around two years after the Latham Library Board of Trustees voted to remove him as director, saying they were developing a new strategic plan and “rethinking current operations.” That set off a debate that centered around whether the board had the authority to remove him and led to a change in board leadership. Blodgett remained in his role.
He said the biggest change during his tenure has been “the increasing role of computers, automation and online services.” Among his accomplishments, Blodgett counts connecting the libraries to fiber optic internet, becoming part of ECFiber as soon as it became available, making computers available to the public and expanding programs for children and adults.
“I’ve always liked face-to-face, helping people find what they need, of all ages,” he said.
During the pandemic, many patrons turned to ebooks, audiobooks and streaming movies. Face-to-face conversations were no longer the norm.
“It allowed us to continue providing library materials, but it led to a lonely year at the library and we’re now doing appointments,” Blodgett said. “People can come in by appointment only and that’s been a real pleasure to see people’s faces and their children’s delight.”
He will continue to be a patron once he retires.
“Libraries transform lives,” Blodgett said. “Make it a habit to visit your library.”
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
