Selectmen 'Excited' Over Library Director Pick

You're only new in a job for so long.

That's what director Dr. Mary Ann Tricarico is finding out as she has begun to navigate the waters of budget season and looks to create a team atmosphere amongst her staff.

"I don't know where we are going to go with the strategic plan. I don't know what we are going to see the future of the library become, but I think we are in a very positive direction," Tricarico said.

Tricarico, a veteran of public libraries in Peabody, Lincoln, Newton and Lynn, worked for the past 15 years in academia, before taking over as Dedham's director on Feb. 13.

"Coming back to a public library, I'm smiling everyday," she told selectmen Thursday evening.

Five weeks in, Tricarico soon plans to begin a strategic plan that will help guide the library system for the coming years, and she hopes to distribute a survey to Dedham residents to put a finger on what they want out of a 21st century library.

"Dedham is a reading town. Dedham is a learning town. We are excited to get that message out," selectman Sarah MacDonald said."There are few things that are more important to community than the library."

Tricarico is the first permanent director since after an uneasy relationship with some library board members and some supporters of the library.

Tricarico said she is planning public events to appeal to more people in the community, including nights full of e-readers and coffee. She said she and her staff are looking for ways to appeal to more teenagers in town with different events as well.

The Board of Selectmen said they were eager to see what plans Tricarico has for the libraries.

"There's a real resurgence of engery and excitement in the library system," selectman Paul Reynolds said. "We do expect amazing things to happen."