Medford Selects Next Steward Of Public Library

MEDFORD, MA — The city has chosen its successor to longtime Library Director Barbara Kern.

Assistant Library Director Sam Sednek is slated to take over the role at the beginning of the month. Sednek has 13 years of experience working for the library at 111 High St., including the last three in her current position. After graduating from Boston University in 2006, Sednek spent two years in the African country of Lesotho working for the Peace Corps. Her introduction to the library field began when she pursued a Master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois. Before coming to Medford, Sednek served as the Teen Services Librarian in Haverhill.

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“Sam (Sednek) brings a high level of expertise to her new position, having been with the Medford Public Library for over a decade, and seeing many phases of the building, programming, and visitors,” Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said. “Sam has big shoes to fill, but we are confident that she will be another successful leader for one of our community’s most valued resources.”

Sednek served on the Building Committee that oversought the library’s most recent reconstruction in 2019. As Assistant Director, she established the 3D-printing services, the Library of Things, and expanded adult programming.

"Since she started, Sam (Sednek) and her endless energy has been a force in the Library's success and I know that with her as Director, the Library will keep getting better and better," Kerr said.

Kerr announced her retirement in early April after more than 40 years working for the library. She was Assistant Director for 23 years before becoming the leader, which she has been for the last 10. Throughout her career, Kerr published three books documenting Medford’s history.

“Barbara (Kerr) has been there longer than I’ve been alive. Her impact on the library is something you see day in and day out,” City Councilor Justin Tseng said. “I remember when the library was running on twine and she held it together… she is the godmother of the Medford Public Library.”

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