The new executive director of the Mystic & Noank Library is back living and working in her favorite part of Connecticut after a 20-year hiatus.

“It’s such a vibrant area,” Christine Bradley remarked.

Bradley, living on Main Street in Mystic, enjoys living near the water and the abundance of places to walk here.

She took the reins at Mystic & Noank in December 2020, when the library had been closed for months.

Patrons had been limited to picking up requested books and communicating with library staff through Zoom conferences until April 5, when the library enjoyed a partial re-opening.

“Patrons are the heart of a public library,” Bradley said. “I look forward to a complete re-opening as we approach summer. The warmer weather will allow us to take advantage of our beautiful grounds here.” Assistant Director and Head of Youth Services Roberta Donahue has planned several outdoor programs for children as well.

Looking ahead, Bradley described another goal called The Literary Crawl, a collaboration with local businesses and the public, in which small groups of individuals gather at a restaurant to read a poem of their choice and tell why they chose it.

“It was very popular in Norwalk,” said Bradley, previously executive director of the Norwalk Public Library.

She hopes to begin this activity for poetry enthusiasts and anyone interested sometime in the fall.

What has Bradley enjoyed most about her latest job? The people — on her staff, the library board, the “friends” of the library, who she said have been “so welcoming, supportive, and amenable to collaboration,” adding, “They are an important aspect of my affection for this part of the state.”

One of the first things Bradley talked about during a recent interview was the One Book, One Region program begun 20 years ago. Bradley was director of Eastern Connecticut Libraries (“my favorite job ever”) when Steven Slosberg, a journalist at The Day, “put the idea in our heads.”

Pete Hamill was the first author to speak about his new book, “Snow in August,” to students at the Norwich Free Academy in 2002, when One Book, One Region was officially born. Connecticut College joined the program in 2016. Bradley and Betty Ann Reiter of Groton Public Library are co-chairing the program now.

Before coming to Mystic, Bradley spent 10 years as executive director of the Norwalk Library, in charge of a staff of approximately 100, including part-time workers. She has worked in libraries for nearly 50 years, beginning with the Boston Public Library, her first job after graduating from Emmanuel College and then Simmons College (now University) where she earned her graduate degree in library science.

Christine grew up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. What brought her to Connecticut? “I married a lawyer named Jack Bradley from Middletown in 1971 and worked for the Connecticut State Library in Hartford,” she remarked.

When asked what her biggest challenge has been so far, Bradley immediately responded with the word “COVID.”

Luckily, many COVID restrictions are now receding, and residents of this area don’t have to wait any longer to begin enjoying the Mystic & Noank Library again. The stacks of books, magazines, DVDs, and other items are available to browse and take home. The online calendar is full of programs and activities each month.

Most important, a helpful, pleasant staff, devoted to their work and headed by Christine Bradley, is at your service.

Jim Izzo, a retired teacher, is a resident of Mystic.