It’s a time of transition at the William A. Bachelder Library (WABL) in East Andover. Gail Fitzpatrick took over as part-time Director on November 1, replacing Michelle Bengivengo, who has moved south and plans to return to school.

Michelle nurtured the library through a period of significant growth and development, turning the small facility into a warm and inviting place where all library patrons felt welcomed and valued. On resigning her post, Michelle commented that she was “very grateful for my time as the Bachelder Library’s Director; I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed helping and getting to know all the library visitors. Congratulations to Gail – I know she’ll do a great job!”

Gail will already be a familiar face to many library patrons. In addition to teaching for a number of years in the Andover school, most recently as a reading and language arts specialist for the sixth and seventh grades, she has been a regular volunteer at both Andover libraries since her retirement two years ago.

Gail says she’s “thrilled and honored to be the new ‘keeper of the books’ at the Bachelder Library. I have met many former students, families, and old friends my first weeks there, and I’m hoping to connect with more folks to help in any way I can.

“Our little library is brimming with hours and hours of escapism, entertainment, and new knowledge, whether people are looking for a novel, memoir, poetry collection, how- to, local author, audio book, DVD, magazine, bedtime story, cookbook, craft book, or a computer to use. And if we don’t have what you’re looking for, we know where to find it through inter-library loan.

“Also, if you just need a quiet place to read by the fire, we have that, too. Please come visit me at your library; there’s so much waiting for you there, and I’m eager to help you find it.”